What options do I have to enter Canada by land?

[TimTom420]

For the practical crossing question, the Rainbow Bridge at Niagara Falls is a possible pedestrian option. You could arrange transportation to the US side and walk to Canadian border inspection, provided you can legally enter the United States first.

However, crossing on foot does not avoid immigration checks, and an expired PR card does not by itself mean PR status has been lost.

The more serious concern is the potential cessation of refugee protection following acquisition of another country's citizenship. That is separate from the residency obligation, even if time spent abroad with a Canadian spouse may count toward that obligation.

Given the possible consequences for your PR status, I would strongly recommend consulting a Canadian immigration lawyer experienced in cessation cases before travelling or applying for a new PR card.
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[armoured]

If your real concern is about saving your PR status despite no longer being a person in need of state protection, since you have acquired state protection from another country (by becoming a citizen), again sorry, you crossed that bridge and there's no going back.

As a small note on this point: if presenting at a land border, the question will clearly arise of how/on what basis the individual entered the USA (that is, using what documents).

And since the answer is almost certainly "using the new/acquired citizenship and associated passport", it seems to me unavoidable that IRCC/CBSA will be aware of - and likely record - the new passport/citizenship details.

It may or may not (as noted) affect the ability of the PR to enter the country without a long examination and lots of questions, but the base assumption should be that IRCC will know about the new citizenship.

Worth noting that - assuming no other issues - renouncing and then being sponsored by spouse should not be particularly difficult. It will, of course, make settling in Canada more complicated (whatever timeline is currently in mind may not be realistic).

But if the goal is to retain PR status without actually settling in Canada - that's a somewhat separate issue, although it may not be that realistic either (in the long term anyway).

Also worth noting that if 'moved to a different country' was done using the passport of the country of origin (from which a refugee)*, then that may also be deemed 'availing oneself of protection.' (There may be other scenarios in which this occurred, but IRCC still likely to eventually inquire.)

 

[Fielando]

I’d be really careful with the land-border option in your situation. From what I understand, an expired PR card doesn’t automatically mean you’ve lost your status, but the refugee cessation issue makes this much more complicated than a normal return to Canada. IRCC says that travelling by bus or train generally requires a valid PR card or a PRTD, while returning by land in a private vehicle can be different.

Personally, I’d speak to a Canadian immigration lawyer who specifically handles refugee cessation cases before applying for a PRTD or making travel plans. I wouldn’t want you to risk your status based on advice from a forum. Since you don’t drive, I’d also get legal advice on whether a hired vehicle would qualify before spending money on that route.