Permanent Resident Card - Advice Please

[Coys1882]

So after a 100 days, and my application upgraded to urgent with a month to spare the CIC still won't be able to get my Permanent Resident card to me in time to leave for my Disney cruise on December 6.

Are there any other Permanent Residents on the forum? Have you traveled without a valid card? What was your experience?

I know everyone will be tempted to say "Just apply for Citizenship" - I get it, and I'm going to.

[Locke]

Can you get a travel visa?

I really dont know.

[CubicleGeek]

I can offer no words of comfort, but CIC sucks.

Long story short, I applied for a replacement citizen card 9 months before I was scheduled to travel, as I needed it to renew my passport. The process was supposed to take 6 months according to their web site and it ended up taking 11 resulting in me missing my friend's wedding and I was on the wedding party. After the card came in, the passport only took 3 days =/.......

[Phaneufenstein]

perhaps approach an immigration lawyer for advice?

[HockeyIlliterate]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

So after a 100 days, and my application upgraded to urgent with a month to spare the CIC still won't be able to get my Permanent Resident card to me in time to leave for my Disney cruise on December 6.

Are there any other Permanent Residents on the forum? Have you traveled without a valid card? What was your experience?

I know everyone will be tempted to say "Just apply for Citizenship" - I get it, and I'm going to.

Are you from a Visa Exempt country?

It is my understanding that you don't need the card if you are--you just show the record of landing papers (or whatever they are called).

Consider posting your query on the Canada Immigration forum (Canadavisa.com); lots of allegedly knowledgable people there.

[Swift]

Not sure what the question is, but if you're talking about entering foreign countries, wouldn't your passport do? If you're talking about coming back to Canada, you should have a letter saying that your residency has been approved and you'll be in their system.

[Coys1882]

I'm a UK citizen with a valid British Passport. The PR allows me to enter Canada again using commercial travel.

I'm curious as to if anyone has tried to come back to Canada without one and what their experience was like.

[Swift]

Irish, here. I'm pretty sure I've traveled back to Canada while my application was still being processed (though not whilst waiting on my card). It really shouldn't be an issue.

[stampsx2]

Originally Posted by CubicleGeek

I can offer no words of comfort, but CIC sucks.

Long story short, I applied for a replacement citizen card 9 months before I was scheduled to travel, as I needed it to renew my passport. The process was supposed to take 6 months according to their web site and it ended up taking 11 resulting in me missing my friend's wedding and I was on the wedding party. After the card came in, the passport only took 3 days =/.......

CIC might be the worst federal department to get things done. Third world countries know how to do it better.

It's almost impossible to call in and ask about the status of an application, their number is usually busy. The website has limited info and all the offices in the city are now closed.

All you can do is mail your application in and hope they're working on it for the next few years.

[Coys1882]

It's strange that I need this card to fly home - but I could fly to Kalispell and then drive across with a fax copy of my Record of Landing.

[oilyfan]

My experience has been before the permanent resident card became common place, travelled many times on my passport with the landing papers attached, no problem.

But to be sure I would call Canada Border Services Agency and ask the direct question. http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/help-aide/faq1-eng.html

[nickerjones]

First off how do you get your application moved to "Urgent"? I have been waiting for 6 months and there has been no movement on my PR App. I am on a visitors Permit and flew home to the States for Thanksgiving.

I got back in Canada really easy. When I travel I take a copy of my application and correspondence with CIC. When I went through customs they asked how long I plan to stay.. I told them I'm married to a Citizen of Canada, here is application currently in process, and open my passport to my Visitors Permit. I asked them a few questions about application stuff and work permits. The agent admitted most of the agents don't know how the process goes. She kindly left her podium , took me to the immigration office, and went to the back and checked on my application. She reported what I already knew. It's in the LA Consulate Office but that's all it says about the file.

I'm sure that doesnt help but at least it's an experience about traveling while awaiting PR stuff.

[Coys1882]

They upgraded my application to URGENT when I provided proof of travel for December 6.

[Ben_in_Canada]

Every time I have come back through customs I produce my PR card and they don't even want to look at it, just my passport.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

It's strange that I need this card to fly home - but I could fly to Kalispell and then drive across with a fax copy of my Record of Landing.

The Permanent Resident Card is not required to enter Canada as long as you can satisfy the CBSA Officer that you are a Permanent Resident. Where you may have a problem is the airline may not allow you on their aircraft without the Permanent Resident Card due to liability issues.

The PR card is the only thing that the airline can use to determine you have a right to enter Canada. If you don't have it they will likely not let you on. If an airline brings someone to Canada who gets refused entry, they are liable for the costs of returning that person back to where they departed from so they don't want to take a chance of you getting refused entry, which you wont because you have the right to enter Canada since you are a Permanent Resident. The same entry rights as Canadian Citizens. If you drive across the border you wont have an issue returning to Canada.

[Swift]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

The Permanent Resident Card is not required to enter Canada as long as you can satisfy the CBSA Officer that you are a Permanent Resident. Where you may have a problem is the airline may not allow you on their aircraft without the Permanent Resident Card due to liability issues.

The PR card is the only thing that the airline can use to determine you have a right to enter Canada. If you don't have it they will likely not let you on. If an airline brings someone to Canada who gets refused entry, they are liable for the costs of returning that person back to where they departed from so they don't want to take a chance of you getting refused entry, which you wont because you have the right to enter Canada since you are a Permanent Resident. The same entry rights as Canadian Citizens. If you drive across the border you wont have an issue returning to Canada.

This makes zero sense to me. I've flown into Canada a few times since I got my PR, and not once has an airline ever asked to see it. Nor have they ever asked if I have a right to enter Canada. If that was the case, wouldn't the airlines basically be asking every single passenger to provide proof of rights to enter Canada? They don't.

Also, contrary to the post previous to this, I've always been asked to show my passport and PR card to the Customs Officer.

[Coys1882]

I called American Airlines and they didn't seem to bothered. We'll see how it goes I guess. I might have to fly to Kallispell and drive across from there maybe??

Funny experience with CIC today though. Told the CSR I wanted to speak to a manager, he told me I get put on a list and can expect a call within 24-48 hours. I got the call today but missed because I was in a meeting. The voice mail had no name, no number just that they'd tried to call me back again in 24-48 hours.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Cameron Swift

This makes zero sense to me. I've flown into Canada a few times since I got my PR, and not once has an airline ever asked to see it. Nor have they ever asked if I have a right to enter Canada. If that was the case, wouldn't the airlines basically be asking every single passenger to provide proof of rights to enter Canada? They don't.

Also, contrary to the post previous to this, I've always been asked to show my passport and PR card to the Customs Officer.

Whether it makes sense to you or not, that is the law. If you are traveling on a passport from a VISA exempt country, they are likely not going to ask to see your PR card unless they know you are a PR of Canada. If they board you without the card they can be liable to fines and removal costs should the Canadian government levy them.

The airlines doesn't ask everyone if they have the "right to enter" Canada but they do ask everyone to provide the appropriate travel document as set out in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act Regulations Section 52.

As I explained. One does not need a PR card to obtain entry into Canada but would require one to board an aircraft if they did not have a passport in general or a passport from a VISA exempt country. The PR card waives the requirement for a entry VISA.

If that was the case, wouldn't the airlines basically be asking every single passenger to provide proof of rights to enter Canada? They don't.

They may not ask you the question but they are making the determination if you have a right to seek entry by looking at your travel document. If you have travelled over seas you will see this done more thoroughly. They will inspect your passport more closely than when traveling from the US. If they allow someone to board the aircraft with a fraudulent passport or as an imposter AND that person is discovered trying to enter Canada without the proper document OR makes a refugee claim, the airline will be financially liable to return that person to the original place of embarkation.

[Bagor]

Is it just the card you need? i.e. You already have the PR form stapled to your passport? If so, that will get er done.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Is it just the card you need? i.e. You already have the PR form stapled to your passport? If so, that will get er done.

If it is the IMM-1000 that form is no longer valid for travel.

If it is copy 3 of the Confirmation of Permanent Residence it says right on the form, not valid for travel.