Syed Khan

THE PERMANENT RESIDENT
THE NEWS LETTER FOR THE NEWLY LANDED NUMBER ONE - VANCOUVER - 22
DECEMBER 2003

Entering Canada with and without the permanent resident card
Summary of the latest news
On the last day of this year a new immigration law will begin
speaking to two groups of people. These groups are commercial
transporters operating buses, planes, ships and trains, and permanent
residents riding into Canada. The law will talk about two documents:
the PR card and a special travel document. Beginning 31 December 2003
a transporter must not carry into Canada a permanent resident who does
not hold either a PR card or a travel document.


The purpose of the PR card outside Canada
On 31 December 2003, for a permanent resident coming to Canada in a
commercial vehicle, the permanent resident card will be the only
official proof of permanent resident status. On 31 December 2003 the
PR card replaces the IMM 1000 Record of Landing.

Who needs the PR card for entering Canada?
Beginning 31 December a commercial transporter will not carry a
permanent resident into Canada without a PR card or a one-time,
one-trip, limited-use travel document. The commercial transporter
will not accept a Record of Landing as proof of permanent resident
status. This applies to children. Persons born in Canada will need
proof of citizenship, not permanent residence.
Who does not need the PR card for entering Canada?

Permanent residents entering Canada on and after 31 December by
non-commercial vehicle such as a car, do not need a PR card if they
have their Record of Landing or other proof of permanent resident
status. Canadian citizens and refugees do not need a PR card for
entry because they are not permanent residents.

What if the permanent resident has already applied for the PR card?

A permanent resident who applied for a PR card before October 2003 and
has not yet received the card, might have urgent travel plans. If
plans include returning on a commercial vehicle on or after 31
December, the permanent resident may fax the travel tickets to
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) at 514-496-8670. CIC hopes
that within two business days it will report their decision on the
application and tell the permanent resident where to get the card.

What if the permanent resident has not yet applied for PR card?
A permanent resident who has not yet applied for the card may get an
application kit at the reception counter at CIC admissions at 1148
Hornby Street, Vancouver.
If the permanent resident must soon travel by commercial vehicle, and
hopes to get the PR card before leaving Canada, and plans to return to
Canada on or after 31 December, he/she should print "Urgent: proof of
commercial travel enclosed" on the envelope containing the
application.
The permanent resident must enclose copies of the commercial tickets
and other helpful evidence of urgency of travel. CIC hopes to process
the application on a priority basis. Maybe the card will be available
before departure, maybe not.

The limited-use travel document
If the PR card is not available before departure, the permanent
resident may leave Canada as planned. Then he/she must go to the
nearest Canadian visa office and apply for the one-time travel
document for return to Canada ($50 application fee). The Canadian
visa offices closest to Canada are in Seattle, Buffalo, Detroit, Los
Angeles, New York, and Washington DC.
The travel document is not a substitute for a PR card. The
application for the travel document may not be made in Canada.

This letter is not legal advice
Every person's case is different. Persons who want legal advice
should meet in private with a lawyer. A lawyer will advise you on the
facts and law of your particular case.

The Permanent Resident
is published by
Canada's
2010Vancouver-visa-team
Syed R. Khan
Consultant, Canadian citizen