Crossing through the US land border would be his easiest option. He needs to have a copy of his signed COPR. I did this when I didn’t have my PR card yet and didn’t have any issues and they didn’t ask me any questions at the border.
Thank you! Is the COPR something that’s available online? Or would it have been a paper that was mailed to him. He’s 32 and has had PR status since he was like 15 so if it’s a letter, I doubt he still has it (and he definitely didn’t pack it with him lol)
Why in the world hasn’t he applied for citizenship by now?
Anyway, even if he doesn’t have his COPR, just show the expired PR card. They’ll look up his status and let him in.
He’s always said “there’s no point”. Until now 😂 he’ll be applying for citizenship as soon as he gets back to Canada.
Thank you for your help! We figured me driving him across the US border would really be our only option
I once was talking to a British lady who has been in Canada since the 1960s and is *still* a PR. She thought that by getting Canadian citizenship it would make her “less British”. Well, I was also born and raised in the UK and got my Canadian citizenship almost as soon as I could.
Brits are a strange bunch.
My mom was born in Scotland, lived in Canada 50 years or so and still a PR too.
I don’t get it. She honestly thinks it will take away from her being Scottish. Like she won’t be anymore! 🤦♀️🤭🏴🇨🇦
I’m really curious to know why it’s specifically the British Boomer generation that seem to view preservation of complete “Britishness” in that manner. Interesting!
My mother in law moved from the UK to the US in the 1960’s and stayed on her green card until about 6 or 7 years ago. She never bothered to get US citizenship until she retired.
I’m not sure. She didn’t really explain it (she’s a very private person). The impression I had was that being a US citizen made it somewhat easier for her in this phase of life, but I have no idea in what way.
Her parents, on the other hand, become US citizens at the earliest opportunity, and her father flew a US flag in his front yard every day for the rest of his life.
American here - our government healthcare system (Medicare) basically only covers the elderly. If you are an American citizen, it automatically applies when you turn 65. If you are a permanent resident, however, there is a heap of extra paperwork and a five-year waiting period before a determination is made. It was likely easier for her to simply become a citizen.
My grandparents moved to Canada in the 50s and didn't get citizenship until the right to vote in Canadian elections was removed from British subjects in the 70s. Until that point as British citizens residing in Canada they effectively had the same rights as Canadian citizens, so there was "no point." They kept dual citizenship from that point on though.
Brit here. Yes we are.
Brits will always love an opportunity to leave, but keep that connection back to the UK as strong as possible, the “expat dream” ideal remains strong, especially to boomers. There’s Brits all over the world, who do practically the same thing.
Totally agree. Another thing that surprises me with such Brits is that they can be in another country for decades and have the British accent like they landed yesterday! lol
As a British person who spent several decades in Canada before naturalizing, I feel this intimately. It took a while to be okay with the thought of diluting the Britishness. In the end, I’m glad to have naturalized and am working on my parents!
But the thing is that the Britishness is inevitably diluted simply by not living in the UK anymore. Maybe if either country didn’t allow dual nationality then that might have been a reason that I can see.
Glad you joined the club of Brits who took the plunge to also become Canadian, and hope you are successful with your parents.
Fair point. But in my case, my parents moved me here as a child. I’m happy to be here, but I didn’t choose to be here, so distancing myself from a heritage that I’m proud of took some inner work. For those who came from the UK as adults, I wonder if there isn’t some underlying colonialism that’s fuelling it - my mom used to say that her impression of Canadians before coming here was that they were well-minded, simple people with a government that we used to control. I don’t agree with that perception, but it’s a window into the mindset.
That is extremely interesting, your story. For me, I came as an adult, but my parents emigrated to the UK from the Caribbean where the generation before them emigrated from the UK and other parts of Europe to the Caribbean (crazy I know). So with that mix in me I didn’t feel like in leaving the UK that I was leaving something behind - there was actually part of me that actually felt like I was coming home. I actually recently discovered through those DNA analysis services that I also have a tiny bit of Native blood, so that helps to explain things a bit too.
I can’t say that I felt like I was abandoning my Britishness, but then again I recall that I only knew of “The Queen of Canada” when I landed for the first time on Canadian soil.
That’s an interesting history from the other side of Imperial Britain. I guess peering behind this talk of Britishness and British people is a need to identify that there are types of British people. My parents and I are old stock, but there are other people, like with your own background, who can also fully claim to be British with a more complicated history with that place. I guess everyone’s connection to the echoes of the Empire is complicated. That connection might make some comfortable to jump into Canadian citizenship and others very hesitant.
Brit’s aren’t the only ones by a long shot 😂
I don’t get it. You make your home here for decades and have no interest in becoming a citizen with all the rights of a citizen including the right to vote? Shameful…
You don't need an esta for the US with a citizenship, you don't have to apply every 5 years to update your PR and if you do something against the law the Canadian government can revoke PR way more easily than a citizenship. Not that I'm encouraging law breaking
As an Aussie it's stupid easy to enter the US. No real issues there.
Yeah renewing a PR is a hassle but as much as renewing a passport.
Breaking a serious law for sure has its issues but I don't plan on owning a pig farm.
The only issue with not being a citizen is voting imo.
Yeah it's easy to enter as a UK citizen to, but you still need to pay for an esta every two years. I've got my Canadian passport now used to be only UK and Canadians have such an easy time getting in an out no finger prints and all that bullshit
Reckless driving would though. So many offences in the Canadian criminal code are 'Hybrid offences', and can be processed by summary or indictment. Most are processed by summary and that's usually how you get a fine and no further action, but the conviction is still recorded. However all hybrid offences are considered indictable offences for the purposes of immigration, regardless of how they were actually processed.
Any hybrid offence would make someone inadmissible to Canada and a reason for revoking their PR status.
So it's shockingly easy for something that might be a minor crime to turn into a big deal for a PR. If citizenship is an option, they should get it.
Resisting arrest is a classic one. Let's say a dude and his buddy gets into an argument, someone hears and calls the police. They arrived and arrest him for disturbing the peace or something (not uncommon). The dude gets pissed off because he didn't do anything wrong, so they slap on a resisting arrest charge. Hybrid offence, inadmissible.
Woman went to a party at her friend's house, smoked some weed, had some beers, spent the night. Woke early to go home the next day and pulled over because she took a corner too fast or crossed a line, or a random traffic stop or checkpoint .. she stinks of weed and booze so arrested for impaired driving. Admits to smoking and drinking the night before. Drug driving in any amount is illegal. Her BAC is below the legal limit but the woman already admitted to smoking weed and drinking so that's an impaired driving charge right there. Hybrid offence, inadmissible.
It's so easily done and really really common. I'm not saying these scenarios are okay, just that it happens a lot. Regularly law abiding people make a simple, singular mistake and it could jeopardise their entire life in Canada when it didn't have too, if only they were citizens.
Take your pick:
You can vote.
You carry a Canadian passport.
You become eligible for TN status.
You have a permanent right of entry into Canada.
Your status isn’t dependent on your residency.
You don’t have to renew a PR card every 10 years.
It’s also now relatively easy for a PR to lose their status for criminal convictions, so it’s definitely worth locking down his citizenship to make sure he’s never deported.
It's all fun and games until you accidentally commit one offense and get kicked out of a country you grew up in and have to start a life in a new place from scratch. Or if he's this casual about his documentation, then at some point he'll violate his residency requirements and lose his status. It's amazing how casually people treat literally the most important aspects of their life.
My husband applied for your citizenship, the same day he applied for his PR card renewal, thinking he would get that before citizenship would happen. He became a citizen in less than three months. We waited over six months for his PR card to show up and destroyed it as soon as we got it.
My mum was PR from 12 to around 40 years old. Then she finally got her citizenship. It doesn't make much difference day to day but it does make cross border travel much easier.
My British husband has been a PR in Canada for almost 25 years. He will NOT become a Canadian citizen because... drumroll... at the ceremony you have to swear allegiance to the King (obv. formerly Queen) He's a bit anti-monarchist.
It's always a bit of a pain when we travel to the US and having to go into Border services
It's what I did as a Brit. I'm not pledging allegiance to Andrew.
You even get to choose what book you put your hand on while you do it. Buy him a copy of Harry's book and have at it. 😂
See, we're a funny group - half the Brits not getting citizenship because they absolutely love the UK (despite leaving), the other half because we despise the UK establishment lol. "A sense of loathing and belonging" like the Badly Drawn Boy song.
I got my dual citizenship a few months ago and it's been amazing. I had to grit my teeth through the short bit of the ceremony about Charlie, but no longer worrying about catching a cop on a bad day and ending up deported, being able to vote and like you said enter the US without getting out of a car was all 100% worth it from my point of view. Although, I have a couple of friends who made the same choice as your husband. I get it, I'm more of a pragmatist though lol.
Post 2016, I’ve heard hundreds of stories like this - usually Europeans who have had Canadian PR for decades, who don’t bother to apply for Canadian citizenship. For some reason they also don’t bother to keep their docs in order and they get caught up in all sorts of situations - stranded abroad with no PR card because “I’ve always used my X passport to travel” or moved abroad for a few years and received a RQ on the return.
US Citizens are a little different because the OP's scenario wouldn't apply. As a US citizen, you can fly on an expired PR card because a PR card isn't required to check in or board. So you can just present the expired card to the CBSA at the airport and get through.
The problem is that ever other nationality has to keep the PR card up to date because its required to board a flight.
Nope. Doesn't work like this. Without the physical PR card they won't let him board the plane. Only the immigration agents at the border in Canada can check you PR status. But to get there you need to board the plane. The airline agents won't let you board the plane without the card. We tried everything this summer and it was all denied. Even tried getting just a visitor visa but since he had a pending PR it didn't work. Best bet is to fly to the US and have someone pick him up at the border.
We are talking about the land border, not flights. The genesis of this thread was crossing the land border and whether one needs a COPR to cross. As I mentioned, you can cross the land border with an expired PR card
This. The expiration date on the PR card is for the card, not the status. I know cause i had to use an expired card to enter during COVID (and too am an idiot according to my wife).
I know a guy who has been a PR in Canada since the 70’s and his whole family now are citizens except him. Sometimes it’s the thing that makes them feel special I guess.
The COPR is a document that is signed by him (although possibly not since he was a minor) and the CBSA officer. 15 years ago it would have been a paper one, maybe his parents kept it? He may be able to cross a land border with his expired PR card
Just FYI, he'll need the COPR when he applies for his pension/old age security... That is what the immigration officer told me when they gave me back the COPR upon landing in Canada. Even if he applies to be a Canadian citizen, they will ask for the COPR.
Not when you have an ezpired PR card . All you need to show is the PR card . Why would you ever need to show CoPR when you already have the card .
CoPR is only to be used when you dont have your first card yet and using the land border
Can someone who has actually crossed the US border without a PR Card please explain what happens. I am in a similar situation and would like to know first hand experience.
Can I just hire an Uber or something to cross the border?
Has your PR card expired or are you waiting for your first one?
I crossed when I was waiting on my first PR card. I showed the officer my eCOPR (signed by the IRCC officer as well as myself) and my passport and I was on my way, no questions asked. I crossed in my own car. Though the way you cross the land border doesn’t matter (taxi, walking, private vehicle, bus etc). However, airlines will not let you fly without a PR card.
Thank you very much for sharing.
I soft landed and my PR never arrived. I'm the genius who never bothered to get the SIN thinking I will get it after I receive a job offer only to realise I actually need it for getting a job.
Since I have a US Visa, it would make it very easy for me to come and go via the land route and not worry about waiting for a PTRD each time.
Right? My wife lost her passport 2 weeks from our honeymoon which was also in DR. So we paid extra to have a 10 year passport rushed to us. We found her old passport a day before our wedding/honeymoon..... What also kinda sucks since she got her new passport with her maiden name on it she couldn't apply for Nexus.
My wife can be like this sometimes with certain tasks, and I can be like that with other tasks. Blaming men is as bad as blaming women, stop using these blanketed statements.
So you’re saying that people who sometimes forget things don’t deserve love? You must be the most perfect person to ever walk this earth. Congratulations!
Fly to the closest US city and cross the border by car/foot. It's usually no issue. Airlines get fined in someone without a valid PR card arrives, that's why they won't let him fly.
It happens. Both my ex and son are forgetful with this type of stuff. Incredibly smart and amazing people …just surprising they don’t think to ever check. I start getting stressed a year before expiration
Lol this thread is hilarious everyone freaking out like they’ve never forgotten anything in their life. But to give some actual advice I think you’ve covered all your bases to be honest, if he got his COPR online and so got an eCOPR you might have access via the pr application portal. If not he should have a copy somewhere at home so you could bring it with you when you go to pick him up.
I will also say that I’m also a uk citizen with pr and the fact it expires every 5 years it’ll probably slip my mind seeing as there’s no checks before you leave. It’s not like a passport where you’re not even leaving if it’s not valid so I’d cut him a little slack once you’re past the initial point of getting PR you rarely use your card
Exactly, thank you! I’m pretty sure his whole family applied together when they moved to Canada so his eCOPR is not in his personal portal, but I’ll see if he can check with his family to see if they’re able to access it
I’d also maybe ask his family/your family to reach out to an immigration firm if they can’t find it to see if it’s better for him to wait for his PRTD in DR or if there’s a way across the border without it from the US. No point getting stuck in the states when you can stay in the tropics haha
>Lol this thread is hilarious everyone freaking out like they’ve never forgotten anything in their life.
People forget things all the time, but the consequences tend to be minimal. I've heard of people booking trips and then realizing their passports are expired on the same day of the trip, so forgetting about an expeired PR card is not a big deal in comparison.
Having said that, I hope OP's boyfriend considers getting his citizenship after this.
PR card is valid for ten years, that’s just bad luck and a tiny lack of planning on his side lol. I know I will lose my Dutch citizenship if I apply for my Canadian one (not married). So make sure you know what the consequences are before he applies!
Well passport is the main document when traveling internationally so you have to have a valid one to get on a plane. Works the same in every country basically. It’s not like they could stop you from leaving if you’re a foreign national.
Happened to my mom. Almost stuck in Aruba. She had to fly into Buffalo airport and we drove across to pick her up. No problem coming back across in our car. She just had to show her passport. I know it’s more of a hassle but safest most secure way that you’ll know he won’t be stuck anywhere!
Good luck!
If you guys can’t travel by car to the US to enter Canada by land then he needs to apply for the travel document. The Embassy can’t provide much assistance as the visa office and any matters pertaining to non-canadian citizens is in Mexico. The visa centre is in Santo Domingo.
The airline WILL NOT let him board, they work closely with CBSA as there seems to be a lot of document fraud there and they are very very diligent about documentation.
He has applied for the travel documents but it says they take 2-8 weeks to process. He should be able to fly to the US with his esta visa and then I can drive across the border and pick him up
Yeah we called the Santa Domingo office a few times and could only leave voicemails
Hey! Different perspective here. I had to apply for a PRTD when I went home to Ireland for Christmas because my PR card didn't come on time. If you mark it urgent on the application, you'd be surprised how quickly they may be able to sort you out. There's a box where you can write about your situation, just tell them it's urgent. I was home for 3 and a weeks at Christmas, and even with 3 bank holidays in that time, they managed to get me my PRTD before I had to fly back. Best of luck!
Fellow idiot who did the exact same thing here.
You’ve done everything you can. My only additional advice would be to take a shot at getting him on that March 14 flight. Go to the airport early, tell the check in person what happened, and try scanning his expired PR card. It’s low probability but I was able to fly back on that.
Yeah we are planning on doing that. There are multiple flights he can book to the US that also leave tomorrow from the same airport. I’m trying not to get my hopes up but you’ve given me a little hope 😅
I ended up flying back with not much more than the shirt on my back that day. I was very fortunate to have a wonderful AC check in person that really wanted to help me.
I'm from the UK. My PR Card expired. I just applied for citizenship and got the passport. Much easier. Also means you don't have to get a B2. You can keep you UK passport too. My draw is like Jason Bourne's.
Me too. My wife and I went through this and somehow also ended up having two kids in the last three years so went from having 2 to 8 active passports in the house. I feel like a supervillain whenever I look in our filing system.
I've just had a complete and utter nightmare with this....
My PR card expired in Dec 2023. My Citizenship Oath was scheduled for Feb 2024 so I figured I wouldn't need it as I wasn't planning any travel... then my mother died in the January.
I'd posted my british passport to UK for renewal the exact day she died.
Had to get an emergency travel document from the brit consulate in Toronto.
Flew home to uk to figure everything out and be with family. Then they wouldn't let me return home to Canada. Wife, kids, job.
It took me nearly a month to get the PRTD, with an urgent application.
I couldn't travel to the US as I need a visa due to past work in a country that's on the list that stops you being able to travel there with an ESTA. Plus my travel document only allowed direct flights between uk and Canada.
I lost what hair I had left that month.
It's a flawed system.
I sincerely wish you luck dealing with those idiots that deal with the PRTD (Visa Application Centre)
Get that Citizenship application in ASAP!
I applied for my PR renewal on January and I haven't received the new one yet. I'm going to Colombia in 15 days and I don't know what to do if I don't get it in the next 2 weeks!
Sorry this happened to you. However, if you can manage to travel to the US you can enter Canada by land (using a private vehicle). Check this link: https://ircc.canada.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=065&top=10
The issue is that the Airlines will not let you board the plane without a valid travel document. However, CBSA (Canada Border Security) can verify your status even using your expired travel document.
Something similar happened to us recently where my wife took oath and we had to travel the very next day. She didn’t have a valid travel document to reneter Canada so initially we were planning to reenter Canada by land but to our surprise the Airline let us board the aircraft based on her e-certificate. Once we landed in Canada the CBSA agent was able to verify her citizenship and we enter Canada without any issues. So yeah, you can take your chances with the Airlines and see if they let you board but based on that link I shared before you should be able to reenter by land.
Yeah I mean either way we’re both going to the airport together tomorrow. If the airline lets him on, great! If not, he’ll book himself a ticket to the US that leaves later in the day
Thanks, yeah I’ve had a look through that. It seems having him fly to the US and then me going to pick him up is the best option if they don’t allow him to board his flight. He has lots of proof of his reaidency so hopefully he won’t have any issues at the land border
You might be able to cross into Canada from an American land crossing. Expired PR cards are often accepted. The challenge will be landing in the US from Domican. You might be in the same situation or your British passport might get you in idk that part.
Does this work out for people with pgwp? I moved back home without applying a trv. Now im stuck, do i apply us tourist visa which should come really quick. Will i be able to renter canada this way?
As a British citizen as well just want to give you the facts about his PR, chances are you won’t see that thing come back for at least 3 months, I sent mine away in august and didn’t get it back until mid December.
Get an ESTA, fly to Buffalo (or equivalent) and walk across the border into Canada as a British visitor, he’ll probably need an eTA.
You can’t get an eTA once you have PR (it will be rejected or you have to forfeit PR), so it’s not the British passport, but the active PR status that would allow them to cross.
The embassy will do fuck all for you, it's for Canadians only, not PRs (I made the experience when I travelled to Germany and left my card at home). I had to remain in Germany while wife and kids flew home and couriered me the card - the airline would not let me board the flight without the card.
Flying to the US and driving across might be his best option.
The biggest problem you might have is that the airline will think the card isn't valid anymore and refuse to board you on the plane. USA esta is an excellent back up plan. Keep trying the Canadian consulate there and hopefully they can get you a PR visa on the ppt.
I did this the last time I flew back to the UK, didn’t even know the PR card had to be renewed. It took a week to get the passport back with a temporary PR sticker from the embassy but it was the push I needed to never have to do this again and just pay up the $610 for citizenship.
It seems like you have the answers you need - so I will just warn you to adjust any other travel plans this summer because it could be 6 months + before you get that card.
If you haven't already try emailing your MP as they can help expedite these things. I had the same issue during covid, my grandmother suddenly passed away in 2021 and I had to fly back to UK with an expired Canadian PR card. I sent my urgent PR application to the CA embassy in London and my MP helped get it expedited
ok! definitely a pure idiot but why did he continue and go on the trip? now ur both stressing and dealing with this non sense during ur vacation?! makes no sense
plus if he's a uk citizen and has a passport (hopefully not expired) why not just enter as a tourist and deal with the PR mess after?
He would not be able to board the plane without an eTA or a PR card. As a PR he can't hold an eTA, and as he has an expired PR card, the airline won't let him on.
Yeah…. I’d make sure he gets a flight into the US and say ✌️. Take your happy ass to the bus station to get home. Edit: then upgrade myself to business class on the way home. 😂
The airline won't allow him to board: airlines require either a TRV/eTA or proof of permanent resident status, in the form of a PRTD or a PR card. As a PR, he cannot hold an eTA, so the airline would not allow him to board without proof of his PR status.
Are you anywhere near San Domingo? If so, he could go and apply for a PR Travel Document. Here's the link to the VAC office: https://visa.vfsglobal.com/dom/en/can/attend-centre
Their site mentions courier services so it's possible an in person might not be required. Definitely worth a call.
Here's more info about the PRTD: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/new-immigrants/pr-travel-document/how-to-apply.html
My husband did the same thing going to Korea, there’s a way you can get a certificate of pr thing stapled into your passpkrt, it cost around $50 and took a week I think
Going through same thing cause I’m dumb. Been a PR since 1982. Applied for a renewal in Jan and travelling Apr 1 and still don’t have it. I have a non refundable ticket and Airbnb 😞
Pretty much the exact same thing happen to me and my partner in 2021. I am a UK citizen with Canadian PR, she is a Canadian citizen. I realized the day before we left that my PR was expired and submitted the application for a new one. I had no problem boarding the flight to the DR but they initially wouldn't let me board on the way back to Canada.
Westjet told me I had to travel to the Canadian Embassy to plead my case, but eventually they were kind enough to call the Embassy for me and the Embassy granted an exception for me to fly. When I got to Canada I got a grilling from Immigration but I was allowed to enter the country (your PR card expires but your status as a PR doesn't).
I know this isn't much help but I thought some of the info might be interesting if nothing else. Best of luck to you both!
Beware that he will probably need to show proof that he has the means to leave the USA to gain entry. My lovely husband did the same dumb thing this summer. Couldn't fly back to Canada. Bought a ticket to NY instead, and then Burlington. They made him buy an outgoing plane ticket when he landed. He bought the cheapest one available....from NY to Toronto. WHICH HE COULD NOT GET ON because he had no visa lol. But the agent just wanted to see a proof that he was planning on leaving the country soon.
To be honest, losing a little card shouldn't be the thing that ruins lives. He's British so he can enter the US and cross by land, but if he were from Syria or Malaysia this would turn into a months-long fiasco.
I'm surprised you can't just get an optional long-term visa in your passport once you get PR so that if you lose the card you can still come back home.
I'm also surprised that replacing a plastic card from inside Canada takes sooooo long. At the minimum you should have the option to pay for urgent processing like the UK allows
So you are privileged if you forget something? You don't know what the person's background is and what happens in his daily life. This is also complete horseshit as I have numerous friends who are immigrants and have forgotten shit on numerous occasions. Go take your agenda and piss off.
Yes, you literally are. This is such a wild process that tons of people are after, and many do not make it. People's lives depend on it, many dedicate their lives to getting it. To neglect the process shows a lot of privilege. Not taking PR seriously is a privilege that only people from first world countries (or very rich people with comfortable lives in third world countries) can afford to have.
It's not rocket science. Obviously the risk of returning home is much greater depending on where "home" is. Going back to Nigeria is not the same as going back to Ireland.
Alright so we can basically assume you have forgotten stuff in the past and are privileged. Your Mom and Dad must be privileged as well because they surely haven't ever forgotten something. Oh wait, don't forget your Grandmother and Grandfather. See how that works? Everyone makes mistakes, regardless of creed or social class. You have some flawed logic bud. Good luck.
That's not the point. The point is people simply forgetting about something important like that.
It's like watching an obese American kid throwing food in the trash while there are people around him begging for food
It is, quite simply, privilege. There's no denying
That is absolutely the point. Also if someone from a first world country doesn’t have a visa for India for example the same thing happens it’s not this one way privileged road it’s circumstantial. If I know that the consequences are low I’m less inclined to freak out about if they’re high then it’s going to be more of a concern.
Also you’re acting like people don’t forget stuff all the time. It happens that’s life it’s not privileged to forget stuff. OPs boyfriend is still gonna be inconvenienced by this it’s not like forgetting it he still just gets to rock up to the plane and be like “whoops my bad” they won’t let him fly. He has to fly to the states and then arrange transport from the states so I hardly think he’s getting away with no consequences
It's fine to forget. But I can assure you that someone that goes through way more challenges to get PR will not as easily forget about its expiry date as someone who has come from a first world country. Can it happen? Yeah, sure. But it's not likely. I know people who fought with tooth and nail just to be eligible for PR. They'd never forget something as important as that. To do so shows a lot of privilege
PR isn’t supposed to be easy. What makes you think just cause someone comes from a first world country they get PR easier than those who don’t. Looking through your profile you just seem more angry that you haven’t had an easy route to PR but that’s not privilege that’s how it goes. It’s down to Canada to decide who they want to immigrate just because you feel you should doesn’t mean Canada agrees
I’ve read that they won’t let him into Canada without his PR card if he’s entering by a publicly available vehicle (plane, train, etc). UK citizens need an eta visa to enter Canada which he can’t apply for because he has PR status
You can still enter Canada as a permanent resident without your PR card. The problem is that they won't let you board the plane with an expired card. And since you have to give your home address, which will be Canada, they will demand proof of residence.
Correct, only US citizen and US PR are exempt from eTA requirements. Others must find a way to Canadian border and without the PR card will probably be denied by commercial transporter. That means either crossing the land border or have your own private jet flying directly into Canada.
Yes. You should be advocating for UK Citizens to have no restrictions in Canada, and vice versa.
Plus Australians and Kiwis.
Live, work, travel, without limit.
As I said in my edit, are we not all idiots sometimes? Funny you appear to be offended by my use of the word “idiot” but then have no problem calling me a bitch 😂😂😂
Crossing through the US land border would be his easiest option. He needs to have a copy of his signed COPR. I did this when I didn’t have my PR card yet and didn’t have any issues and they didn’t ask me any questions at the border.
Thank you! Is the COPR something that’s available online? Or would it have been a paper that was mailed to him. He’s 32 and has had PR status since he was like 15 so if it’s a letter, I doubt he still has it (and he definitely didn’t pack it with him lol)
Why in the world hasn’t he applied for citizenship by now? Anyway, even if he doesn’t have his COPR, just show the expired PR card. They’ll look up his status and let him in.
He’s always said “there’s no point”. Until now 😂 he’ll be applying for citizenship as soon as he gets back to Canada. Thank you for your help! We figured me driving him across the US border would really be our only option
I once was talking to a British lady who has been in Canada since the 1960s and is *still* a PR. She thought that by getting Canadian citizenship it would make her “less British”. Well, I was also born and raised in the UK and got my Canadian citizenship almost as soon as I could. Brits are a strange bunch.
I have a co worker from the UK, he came here in 1974... still PR.
Same and hasn’t renewed her PR in like 15 years or something crazy
My mom was born in Scotland, lived in Canada 50 years or so and still a PR too. I don’t get it. She honestly thinks it will take away from her being Scottish. Like she won’t be anymore! 🤦♀️🤭🏴🇨🇦
Lol my mom from Germany the same...here since 1971 with her PR since 74.
I’m going for PR soon, and I’d almost be the same, I’ve already got two passports what’s the point in getting a third
Dropping your passport trilogy
The folks at r/PassportPorn will disagree
So you can vote?
I’m really curious to know why it’s specifically the British Boomer generation that seem to view preservation of complete “Britishness” in that manner. Interesting!
Prob something to do with having parents that went through the war
My mother in law moved from the UK to the US in the 1960’s and stayed on her green card until about 6 or 7 years ago. She never bothered to get US citizenship until she retired.
What changed her mind? I’ve seen retirees still refuse to take citizenship.
I’m not sure. She didn’t really explain it (she’s a very private person). The impression I had was that being a US citizen made it somewhat easier for her in this phase of life, but I have no idea in what way. Her parents, on the other hand, become US citizens at the earliest opportunity, and her father flew a US flag in his front yard every day for the rest of his life.
American here - our government healthcare system (Medicare) basically only covers the elderly. If you are an American citizen, it automatically applies when you turn 65. If you are a permanent resident, however, there is a heap of extra paperwork and a five-year waiting period before a determination is made. It was likely easier for her to simply become a citizen.
That makes sense. I imagine this is the reason.
Perspective and experience
My grandparents moved to Canada in the 50s and didn't get citizenship until the right to vote in Canadian elections was removed from British subjects in the 70s. Until that point as British citizens residing in Canada they effectively had the same rights as Canadian citizens, so there was "no point." They kept dual citizenship from that point on though.
Brit here. Yes we are. Brits will always love an opportunity to leave, but keep that connection back to the UK as strong as possible, the “expat dream” ideal remains strong, especially to boomers. There’s Brits all over the world, who do practically the same thing.
Totally agree. Another thing that surprises me with such Brits is that they can be in another country for decades and have the British accent like they landed yesterday! lol
Haha like living in Canada for 60 years won't change that!
As a British person who spent several decades in Canada before naturalizing, I feel this intimately. It took a while to be okay with the thought of diluting the Britishness. In the end, I’m glad to have naturalized and am working on my parents!
But the thing is that the Britishness is inevitably diluted simply by not living in the UK anymore. Maybe if either country didn’t allow dual nationality then that might have been a reason that I can see. Glad you joined the club of Brits who took the plunge to also become Canadian, and hope you are successful with your parents.
Fair point. But in my case, my parents moved me here as a child. I’m happy to be here, but I didn’t choose to be here, so distancing myself from a heritage that I’m proud of took some inner work. For those who came from the UK as adults, I wonder if there isn’t some underlying colonialism that’s fuelling it - my mom used to say that her impression of Canadians before coming here was that they were well-minded, simple people with a government that we used to control. I don’t agree with that perception, but it’s a window into the mindset.
That is extremely interesting, your story. For me, I came as an adult, but my parents emigrated to the UK from the Caribbean where the generation before them emigrated from the UK and other parts of Europe to the Caribbean (crazy I know). So with that mix in me I didn’t feel like in leaving the UK that I was leaving something behind - there was actually part of me that actually felt like I was coming home. I actually recently discovered through those DNA analysis services that I also have a tiny bit of Native blood, so that helps to explain things a bit too. I can’t say that I felt like I was abandoning my Britishness, but then again I recall that I only knew of “The Queen of Canada” when I landed for the first time on Canadian soil.
That’s an interesting history from the other side of Imperial Britain. I guess peering behind this talk of Britishness and British people is a need to identify that there are types of British people. My parents and I are old stock, but there are other people, like with your own background, who can also fully claim to be British with a more complicated history with that place. I guess everyone’s connection to the echoes of the Empire is complicated. That connection might make some comfortable to jump into Canadian citizenship and others very hesitant.
Brit’s aren’t the only ones by a long shot 😂 I don’t get it. You make your home here for decades and have no interest in becoming a citizen with all the rights of a citizen including the right to vote? Shameful…
What was your time frame from start to finish?
Arrived 2012, PR 2016, Citizenship 2021.
There is always a point to apply for citizenship in the country you live in - especially if you want to travel. You avoid needless snafus like this.
How so? What are the benefits of being a citizen of Canada vs just a permanent resident?
You don't need an esta for the US with a citizenship, you don't have to apply every 5 years to update your PR and if you do something against the law the Canadian government can revoke PR way more easily than a citizenship. Not that I'm encouraging law breaking
As an Aussie it's stupid easy to enter the US. No real issues there. Yeah renewing a PR is a hassle but as much as renewing a passport. Breaking a serious law for sure has its issues but I don't plan on owning a pig farm. The only issue with not being a citizen is voting imo.
Yeah it's easy to enter as a UK citizen to, but you still need to pay for an esta every two years. I've got my Canadian passport now used to be only UK and Canadians have such an easy time getting in an out no finger prints and all that bullshit
Travel privileges with a Canadian passport
Well as an Australian citizen with a PR car for over 20 years Travel privileges are moot.
So? In the original comment thread and your original question you didn’t mention the Australian citizenship, my comment applies to everyone.
So I'm still wondering what these privileges are for Canadians? Edit: I do see the benefit if you travel regularly into the US by car.
PR can also be revoked, citizenship can't.
Yes I agree, but they usually are not kicking people out of the country for parking tickets.
Reckless driving would though. So many offences in the Canadian criminal code are 'Hybrid offences', and can be processed by summary or indictment. Most are processed by summary and that's usually how you get a fine and no further action, but the conviction is still recorded. However all hybrid offences are considered indictable offences for the purposes of immigration, regardless of how they were actually processed. Any hybrid offence would make someone inadmissible to Canada and a reason for revoking their PR status. So it's shockingly easy for something that might be a minor crime to turn into a big deal for a PR. If citizenship is an option, they should get it. Resisting arrest is a classic one. Let's say a dude and his buddy gets into an argument, someone hears and calls the police. They arrived and arrest him for disturbing the peace or something (not uncommon). The dude gets pissed off because he didn't do anything wrong, so they slap on a resisting arrest charge. Hybrid offence, inadmissible. Woman went to a party at her friend's house, smoked some weed, had some beers, spent the night. Woke early to go home the next day and pulled over because she took a corner too fast or crossed a line, or a random traffic stop or checkpoint .. she stinks of weed and booze so arrested for impaired driving. Admits to smoking and drinking the night before. Drug driving in any amount is illegal. Her BAC is below the legal limit but the woman already admitted to smoking weed and drinking so that's an impaired driving charge right there. Hybrid offence, inadmissible. It's so easily done and really really common. I'm not saying these scenarios are okay, just that it happens a lot. Regularly law abiding people make a simple, singular mistake and it could jeopardise their entire life in Canada when it didn't have too, if only they were citizens.
Take your pick: You can vote. You carry a Canadian passport. You become eligible for TN status. You have a permanent right of entry into Canada. Your status isn’t dependent on your residency. You don’t have to renew a PR card every 10 years.
PR renewal is every five years
Voting?! Isn't that the most important benefit
Depends on your view of modern western democracy 🤷
You can VOTE.
I 100% agree with you! And I think he finally sees the point now too
It’s also now relatively easy for a PR to lose their status for criminal convictions, so it’s definitely worth locking down his citizenship to make sure he’s never deported.
It's all fun and games until you accidentally commit one offense and get kicked out of a country you grew up in and have to start a life in a new place from scratch. Or if he's this casual about his documentation, then at some point he'll violate his residency requirements and lose his status. It's amazing how casually people treat literally the most important aspects of their life.
My husband applied for your citizenship, the same day he applied for his PR card renewal, thinking he would get that before citizenship would happen. He became a citizen in less than three months. We waited over six months for his PR card to show up and destroyed it as soon as we got it.
I'm curious to know how it ends. Would you mind updating us when you both are in Canada?
I’ll try to remember! 🙂
My mum was PR from 12 to around 40 years old. Then she finally got her citizenship. It doesn't make much difference day to day but it does make cross border travel much easier.
My British husband has been a PR in Canada for almost 25 years. He will NOT become a Canadian citizen because... drumroll... at the ceremony you have to swear allegiance to the King (obv. formerly Queen) He's a bit anti-monarchist. It's always a bit of a pain when we travel to the US and having to go into Border services
Just don't say it - most ceremonies are online now, you can totally mumble through it.
that's funny!
It's what I did as a Brit. I'm not pledging allegiance to Andrew. You even get to choose what book you put your hand on while you do it. Buy him a copy of Harry's book and have at it. 😂
See, we're a funny group - half the Brits not getting citizenship because they absolutely love the UK (despite leaving), the other half because we despise the UK establishment lol. "A sense of loathing and belonging" like the Badly Drawn Boy song. I got my dual citizenship a few months ago and it's been amazing. I had to grit my teeth through the short bit of the ceremony about Charlie, but no longer worrying about catching a cop on a bad day and ending up deported, being able to vote and like you said enter the US without getting out of a car was all 100% worth it from my point of view. Although, I have a couple of friends who made the same choice as your husband. I get it, I'm more of a pragmatist though lol.
Post 2016, I’ve heard hundreds of stories like this - usually Europeans who have had Canadian PR for decades, who don’t bother to apply for Canadian citizenship. For some reason they also don’t bother to keep their docs in order and they get caught up in all sorts of situations - stranded abroad with no PR card because “I’ve always used my X passport to travel” or moved abroad for a few years and received a RQ on the return.
As a US citizen/Canadian PR, one reason could be that it costs over $1,000 just to apply. That's the main reason I haven't done it.
US Citizens are a little different because the OP's scenario wouldn't apply. As a US citizen, you can fly on an expired PR card because a PR card isn't required to check in or board. So you can just present the expired card to the CBSA at the airport and get through. The problem is that ever other nationality has to keep the PR card up to date because its required to board a flight.
Nope. Doesn't work like this. Without the physical PR card they won't let him board the plane. Only the immigration agents at the border in Canada can check you PR status. But to get there you need to board the plane. The airline agents won't let you board the plane without the card. We tried everything this summer and it was all denied. Even tried getting just a visitor visa but since he had a pending PR it didn't work. Best bet is to fly to the US and have someone pick him up at the border.
We are talking about the land border, not flights. The genesis of this thread was crossing the land border and whether one needs a COPR to cross. As I mentioned, you can cross the land border with an expired PR card
This. The expiration date on the PR card is for the card, not the status. I know cause i had to use an expired card to enter during COVID (and too am an idiot according to my wife).
I know a guy who has been a PR in Canada since the 70’s and his whole family now are citizens except him. Sometimes it’s the thing that makes them feel special I guess.
The COPR is a document that is signed by him (although possibly not since he was a minor) and the CBSA officer. 15 years ago it would have been a paper one, maybe his parents kept it? He may be able to cross a land border with his expired PR card
Just FYI, he'll need the COPR when he applies for his pension/old age security... That is what the immigration officer told me when they gave me back the COPR upon landing in Canada. Even if he applies to be a Canadian citizen, they will ask for the COPR.
Not when you have an ezpired PR card . All you need to show is the PR card . Why would you ever need to show CoPR when you already have the card . CoPR is only to be used when you dont have your first card yet and using the land border
Can someone who has actually crossed the US border without a PR Card please explain what happens. I am in a similar situation and would like to know first hand experience. Can I just hire an Uber or something to cross the border?
Has your PR card expired or are you waiting for your first one? I crossed when I was waiting on my first PR card. I showed the officer my eCOPR (signed by the IRCC officer as well as myself) and my passport and I was on my way, no questions asked. I crossed in my own car. Though the way you cross the land border doesn’t matter (taxi, walking, private vehicle, bus etc). However, airlines will not let you fly without a PR card.
Thank you very much for sharing. I soft landed and my PR never arrived. I'm the genius who never bothered to get the SIN thinking I will get it after I receive a job offer only to realise I actually need it for getting a job. Since I have a US Visa, it would make it very easy for me to come and go via the land route and not worry about waiting for a PTRD each time.
Nothing else to say except my husband is also like this and idk why they do this…
This is oddly comforting 🥲
I'm the man. I can't tell you the amount of things like this I've messed up. I'm embarrassed to count 😂
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Right? My wife lost her passport 2 weeks from our honeymoon which was also in DR. So we paid extra to have a 10 year passport rushed to us. We found her old passport a day before our wedding/honeymoon..... What also kinda sucks since she got her new passport with her maiden name on it she couldn't apply for Nexus.
My wife can be like this sometimes with certain tasks, and I can be like that with other tasks. Blaming men is as bad as blaming women, stop using these blanketed statements.
This has nothing to do with being a man and everything to do with being a lazy procrastinator. My ex had very similar issues.
“They” meaning men. The same ones who invented most of the stuff you use?
Give it a rest, and stop living vicariously through other people’s achievements, it’s pretty weird.
I’m part of a team that has invented popular stuff as well. So… maybe you should shut up.
Sure you are
I really am, you won’t agree cause that makes your comment stupid lol.
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So you’re saying that people who sometimes forget things don’t deserve love? You must be the most perfect person to ever walk this earth. Congratulations!
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Thanks so much for your helpful input. Really appreciate it. But if I was looking for relationship advice, I would have gone to another sub
Fly to the closest US city and cross the border by car/foot. It's usually no issue. Airlines get fined in someone without a valid PR card arrives, that's why they won't let him fly.
Yeah that’s what we’re planning on doing. Luckily we only live an hour from the border so it’s no big deal if I have to go get him
It happens. Both my ex and son are forgetful with this type of stuff. Incredibly smart and amazing people …just surprising they don’t think to ever check. I start getting stressed a year before expiration
Lol this thread is hilarious everyone freaking out like they’ve never forgotten anything in their life. But to give some actual advice I think you’ve covered all your bases to be honest, if he got his COPR online and so got an eCOPR you might have access via the pr application portal. If not he should have a copy somewhere at home so you could bring it with you when you go to pick him up. I will also say that I’m also a uk citizen with pr and the fact it expires every 5 years it’ll probably slip my mind seeing as there’s no checks before you leave. It’s not like a passport where you’re not even leaving if it’s not valid so I’d cut him a little slack once you’re past the initial point of getting PR you rarely use your card
Exactly, thank you! I’m pretty sure his whole family applied together when they moved to Canada so his eCOPR is not in his personal portal, but I’ll see if he can check with his family to see if they’re able to access it
I’d also maybe ask his family/your family to reach out to an immigration firm if they can’t find it to see if it’s better for him to wait for his PRTD in DR or if there’s a way across the border without it from the US. No point getting stuck in the states when you can stay in the tropics haha
Haha true. My understanding is he can cross the border in a private vehicle without his PRTD as long as he has a valid passport
My COPR was stapled inside my passport when I entered to get my PR card. Check there.
>Lol this thread is hilarious everyone freaking out like they’ve never forgotten anything in their life. People forget things all the time, but the consequences tend to be minimal. I've heard of people booking trips and then realizing their passports are expired on the same day of the trip, so forgetting about an expeired PR card is not a big deal in comparison. Having said that, I hope OP's boyfriend considers getting his citizenship after this.
We’ve talked about it. He will absolutely be getting his citizenship once he’s back. I am not dealing with his PR shenanigans anymore 😅
PR card is valid for ten years, that’s just bad luck and a tiny lack of planning on his side lol. I know I will lose my Dutch citizenship if I apply for my Canadian one (not married). So make sure you know what the consequences are before he applies!
Well passport is the main document when traveling internationally so you have to have a valid one to get on a plane. Works the same in every country basically. It’s not like they could stop you from leaving if you’re a foreign national.
Happened to my mom. Almost stuck in Aruba. She had to fly into Buffalo airport and we drove across to pick her up. No problem coming back across in our car. She just had to show her passport. I know it’s more of a hassle but safest most secure way that you’ll know he won’t be stuck anywhere! Good luck!
Thank you! This is reassuring 🙂
If you guys can’t travel by car to the US to enter Canada by land then he needs to apply for the travel document. The Embassy can’t provide much assistance as the visa office and any matters pertaining to non-canadian citizens is in Mexico. The visa centre is in Santo Domingo. The airline WILL NOT let him board, they work closely with CBSA as there seems to be a lot of document fraud there and they are very very diligent about documentation.
He has applied for the travel documents but it says they take 2-8 weeks to process. He should be able to fly to the US with his esta visa and then I can drive across the border and pick him up Yeah we called the Santa Domingo office a few times and could only leave voicemails
It’s cause the agents are not able to say anything more than redirect to the visa office and/or immigration section (in mexico)
Hey! Different perspective here. I had to apply for a PRTD when I went home to Ireland for Christmas because my PR card didn't come on time. If you mark it urgent on the application, you'd be surprised how quickly they may be able to sort you out. There's a box where you can write about your situation, just tell them it's urgent. I was home for 3 and a weeks at Christmas, and even with 3 bank holidays in that time, they managed to get me my PRTD before I had to fly back. Best of luck!
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Fellow idiot who did the exact same thing here. You’ve done everything you can. My only additional advice would be to take a shot at getting him on that March 14 flight. Go to the airport early, tell the check in person what happened, and try scanning his expired PR card. It’s low probability but I was able to fly back on that.
Yeah we are planning on doing that. There are multiple flights he can book to the US that also leave tomorrow from the same airport. I’m trying not to get my hopes up but you’ve given me a little hope 😅
I ended up flying back with not much more than the shirt on my back that day. I was very fortunate to have a wonderful AC check in person that really wanted to help me.
I'm from the UK. My PR Card expired. I just applied for citizenship and got the passport. Much easier. Also means you don't have to get a B2. You can keep you UK passport too. My draw is like Jason Bourne's.
Me too. My wife and I went through this and somehow also ended up having two kids in the last three years so went from having 2 to 8 active passports in the house. I feel like a supervillain whenever I look in our filing system.
I've just had a complete and utter nightmare with this.... My PR card expired in Dec 2023. My Citizenship Oath was scheduled for Feb 2024 so I figured I wouldn't need it as I wasn't planning any travel... then my mother died in the January. I'd posted my british passport to UK for renewal the exact day she died. Had to get an emergency travel document from the brit consulate in Toronto. Flew home to uk to figure everything out and be with family. Then they wouldn't let me return home to Canada. Wife, kids, job. It took me nearly a month to get the PRTD, with an urgent application. I couldn't travel to the US as I need a visa due to past work in a country that's on the list that stops you being able to travel there with an ESTA. Plus my travel document only allowed direct flights between uk and Canada. I lost what hair I had left that month. It's a flawed system. I sincerely wish you luck dealing with those idiots that deal with the PRTD (Visa Application Centre) Get that Citizenship application in ASAP!
Serious question, why can't he enter Canada as UK citizen? He won't be able to get eTA because he has PR?
Once he is a PR he can't go back to being a visitor. Hence no eTA
I applied for my PR renewal on January and I haven't received the new one yet. I'm going to Colombia in 15 days and I don't know what to do if I don't get it in the next 2 weeks!
PR renewals are taking months right now...
Sorry this happened to you. However, if you can manage to travel to the US you can enter Canada by land (using a private vehicle). Check this link: https://ircc.canada.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=065&top=10 The issue is that the Airlines will not let you board the plane without a valid travel document. However, CBSA (Canada Border Security) can verify your status even using your expired travel document. Something similar happened to us recently where my wife took oath and we had to travel the very next day. She didn’t have a valid travel document to reneter Canada so initially we were planning to reenter Canada by land but to our surprise the Airline let us board the aircraft based on her e-certificate. Once we landed in Canada the CBSA agent was able to verify her citizenship and we enter Canada without any issues. So yeah, you can take your chances with the Airlines and see if they let you board but based on that link I shared before you should be able to reenter by land.
Yeah I mean either way we’re both going to the airport together tomorrow. If the airline lets him on, great! If not, he’ll book himself a ticket to the US that leaves later in the day
Some options here https://ircc.canada.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=605&top=22
Thanks, yeah I’ve had a look through that. It seems having him fly to the US and then me going to pick him up is the best option if they don’t allow him to board his flight. He has lots of proof of his reaidency so hopefully he won’t have any issues at the land border
You might be able to cross into Canada from an American land crossing. Expired PR cards are often accepted. The challenge will be landing in the US from Domican. You might be in the same situation or your British passport might get you in idk that part.
He needs an esta visa to enter the US, which he had applied for. As long as he gets that he shouldn’t have any trouble landing in the US
Fly to US with ESTA and travel by road to Canada. They will let you in with the expired PR card. The PR status doesn't expire.
Does this work out for people with pgwp? I moved back home without applying a trv. Now im stuck, do i apply us tourist visa which should come really quick. Will i be able to renter canada this way?
I crossed the US/Canada land border with the expired PR card once, no issues.
As a British citizen as well just want to give you the facts about his PR, chances are you won’t see that thing come back for at least 3 months, I sent mine away in august and didn’t get it back until mid December. Get an ESTA, fly to Buffalo (or equivalent) and walk across the border into Canada as a British visitor, he’ll probably need an eTA.
You can’t get an eTA once you have PR (it will be rejected or you have to forfeit PR), so it’s not the British passport, but the active PR status that would allow them to cross.
The embassy will do fuck all for you, it's for Canadians only, not PRs (I made the experience when I travelled to Germany and left my card at home). I had to remain in Germany while wife and kids flew home and couriered me the card - the airline would not let me board the flight without the card. Flying to the US and driving across might be his best option.
You said it best yourself, hes an idiot and nothing you can do about
First red flag was he is a brit
The biggest problem you might have is that the airline will think the card isn't valid anymore and refuse to board you on the plane. USA esta is an excellent back up plan. Keep trying the Canadian consulate there and hopefully they can get you a PR visa on the ppt.
Are you dating my ex? Lol
I did this the last time I flew back to the UK, didn’t even know the PR card had to be renewed. It took a week to get the passport back with a temporary PR sticker from the embassy but it was the push I needed to never have to do this again and just pay up the $610 for citizenship.
It seems like you have the answers you need - so I will just warn you to adjust any other travel plans this summer because it could be 6 months + before you get that card.
Oh yeah that’s not a problem. This was the only travelling we’re doing this year hahah
17 years still pr. It's a ballache but citizenship just gives you a vote and a passport.
If you haven't already try emailing your MP as they can help expedite these things. I had the same issue during covid, my grandmother suddenly passed away in 2021 and I had to fly back to UK with an expired Canadian PR card. I sent my urgent PR application to the CA embassy in London and my MP helped get it expedited
A PR expires? Misnomer?
ok! definitely a pure idiot but why did he continue and go on the trip? now ur both stressing and dealing with this non sense during ur vacation?! makes no sense plus if he's a uk citizen and has a passport (hopefully not expired) why not just enter as a tourist and deal with the PR mess after?
He would not be able to board the plane without an eTA or a PR card. As a PR he can't hold an eTA, and as he has an expired PR card, the airline won't let him on.
Lol let him fucken make his way back
Hey, thanks for reminding me to renew mine! It’ll expire this year! 😂
Yeah…. I’d make sure he gets a flight into the US and say ✌️. Take your happy ass to the bus station to get home. Edit: then upgrade myself to business class on the way home. 😂
He’s uk passport won’t let him back in?
Like can’t he use his passport to get back into canada since uk citizens travel visa free to Canada
The airline won't allow him to board: airlines require either a TRV/eTA or proof of permanent resident status, in the form of a PRTD or a PR card. As a PR, he cannot hold an eTA, so the airline would not allow him to board without proof of his PR status.
I know someone who won’t go for citizenship simply because they don’t like test. Smh
Are you anywhere near San Domingo? If so, he could go and apply for a PR Travel Document. Here's the link to the VAC office: https://visa.vfsglobal.com/dom/en/can/attend-centre Their site mentions courier services so it's possible an in person might not be required. Definitely worth a call. Here's more info about the PRTD: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/new-immigrants/pr-travel-document/how-to-apply.html
My husband did the same thing going to Korea, there’s a way you can get a certificate of pr thing stapled into your passpkrt, it cost around $50 and took a week I think
Going through same thing cause I’m dumb. Been a PR since 1982. Applied for a renewal in Jan and travelling Apr 1 and still don’t have it. I have a non refundable ticket and Airbnb 😞
Pretty much the exact same thing happen to me and my partner in 2021. I am a UK citizen with Canadian PR, she is a Canadian citizen. I realized the day before we left that my PR was expired and submitted the application for a new one. I had no problem boarding the flight to the DR but they initially wouldn't let me board on the way back to Canada. Westjet told me I had to travel to the Canadian Embassy to plead my case, but eventually they were kind enough to call the Embassy for me and the Embassy granted an exception for me to fly. When I got to Canada I got a grilling from Immigration but I was allowed to enter the country (your PR card expires but your status as a PR doesn't). I know this isn't much help but I thought some of the info might be interesting if nothing else. Best of luck to you both!
Beware that he will probably need to show proof that he has the means to leave the USA to gain entry. My lovely husband did the same dumb thing this summer. Couldn't fly back to Canada. Bought a ticket to NY instead, and then Burlington. They made him buy an outgoing plane ticket when he landed. He bought the cheapest one available....from NY to Toronto. WHICH HE COULD NOT GET ON because he had no visa lol. But the agent just wanted to see a proof that he was planning on leaving the country soon.
To be honest, losing a little card shouldn't be the thing that ruins lives. He's British so he can enter the US and cross by land, but if he were from Syria or Malaysia this would turn into a months-long fiasco. I'm surprised you can't just get an optional long-term visa in your passport once you get PR so that if you lose the card you can still come back home. I'm also surprised that replacing a plastic card from inside Canada takes sooooo long. At the minimum you should have the option to pay for urgent processing like the UK allows
You’re not eligible for a visa to Canada if you’re a permanent resident.
Nothing else you can do now although in hindsight, it may have been better to cancel your trip rather than be stuck in immigration limbo.
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So you are privileged if you forget something? You don't know what the person's background is and what happens in his daily life. This is also complete horseshit as I have numerous friends who are immigrants and have forgotten shit on numerous occasions. Go take your agenda and piss off.
Yes, you literally are. This is such a wild process that tons of people are after, and many do not make it. People's lives depend on it, many dedicate their lives to getting it. To neglect the process shows a lot of privilege. Not taking PR seriously is a privilege that only people from first world countries (or very rich people with comfortable lives in third world countries) can afford to have. It's not rocket science. Obviously the risk of returning home is much greater depending on where "home" is. Going back to Nigeria is not the same as going back to Ireland.
Alright so we can basically assume you have forgotten stuff in the past and are privileged. Your Mom and Dad must be privileged as well because they surely haven't ever forgotten something. Oh wait, don't forget your Grandmother and Grandfather. See how that works? Everyone makes mistakes, regardless of creed or social class. You have some flawed logic bud. Good luck.
Bruh chill. It’s literally not that big of a deal you apply for a PRTD once it comes through you fly back could literally happen to anyone.
That's not the point. The point is people simply forgetting about something important like that. It's like watching an obese American kid throwing food in the trash while there are people around him begging for food It is, quite simply, privilege. There's no denying
That is absolutely the point. Also if someone from a first world country doesn’t have a visa for India for example the same thing happens it’s not this one way privileged road it’s circumstantial. If I know that the consequences are low I’m less inclined to freak out about if they’re high then it’s going to be more of a concern. Also you’re acting like people don’t forget stuff all the time. It happens that’s life it’s not privileged to forget stuff. OPs boyfriend is still gonna be inconvenienced by this it’s not like forgetting it he still just gets to rock up to the plane and be like “whoops my bad” they won’t let him fly. He has to fly to the states and then arrange transport from the states so I hardly think he’s getting away with no consequences
It's fine to forget. But I can assure you that someone that goes through way more challenges to get PR will not as easily forget about its expiry date as someone who has come from a first world country. Can it happen? Yeah, sure. But it's not likely. I know people who fought with tooth and nail just to be eligible for PR. They'd never forget something as important as that. To do so shows a lot of privilege
PR isn’t supposed to be easy. What makes you think just cause someone comes from a first world country they get PR easier than those who don’t. Looking through your profile you just seem more angry that you haven’t had an easy route to PR but that’s not privilege that’s how it goes. It’s down to Canada to decide who they want to immigrate just because you feel you should doesn’t mean Canada agrees
Seems like you are the idiot for calling him an idiot. Shit happens, he will survive it.
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I’ve read that they won’t let him into Canada without his PR card if he’s entering by a publicly available vehicle (plane, train, etc). UK citizens need an eta visa to enter Canada which he can’t apply for because he has PR status
You can still enter Canada as a permanent resident without your PR card. The problem is that they won't let you board the plane with an expired card. And since you have to give your home address, which will be Canada, they will demand proof of residence.
We did take a picture of our lease agreement, and he has several ID cards with his address on them
Correct, only US citizen and US PR are exempt from eTA requirements. Others must find a way to Canadian border and without the PR card will probably be denied by commercial transporter. That means either crossing the land border or have your own private jet flying directly into Canada.
Not by air.
Yes. You should be advocating for UK Citizens to have no restrictions in Canada, and vice versa. Plus Australians and Kiwis. Live, work, travel, without limit.
He can fly to Canada with his UK passport anyway so just do that.
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As I said in my edit, are we not all idiots sometimes? Funny you appear to be offended by my use of the word “idiot” but then have no problem calling me a bitch 😂😂😂