PR Renewal Timing and Travel

[Jeannie78]

I have a few questions:

First, I sent off my application for PR renewal 3 months ago (it was late, I know! My life was in a major stormy period and I lost track of the time)…

My application still doesn’t show up in the system when I search for the status.

Currently the processing time shows 187 days- does that mean it is 187 days from my application getting into the system and showing up when I search for it, or can I assume that is 187 days from when it landed at the office in Sydney?

It makes me very nervous that I can’t even check on whether it actually ended up on the right person’s desk in Sydney, although I do have Canada Post confirmation of delivery.

Next question, I need to travel by car for a family reunion in the US in 6 weeks, and will be traveling in my own vehicle, gone for only a few days, and traveling with my 4.5 yr old son who is a Canadian citizen.

If I understand it correctly, I do not need to apply for a travel document if traveling by private car?

If I bring my expired PR card, my US passport, and a copy of my application for PR renewal is this sufficient to enter back into Canada in my own car?

Lastly, I have a couple of other trips- personal and business later in the spring and early summer.

What do I do if my PR card is still not returned to me by then?

Is there a limit to how many applications for travel a person can submit?

(One trip is in May to the US and the business trip is to Spain in the end of June, so those two trips are not even 6 weeks apart from each other).

(Of note, I have lived in Canada for a total of 880 days, 345 of which were a few years ago, and the remainder since I returned for a job in July.

So I have fulfilled my minimum residence requirement for renewal. I intend to remain in Canada as a PR for the foreseeable future.)

Thank you !!!

[SettlementOrgMod]

Hello,

Thank you for sharing your situation and questions with us.

We can appreciate that you would be concerned about this.

Regarding your questions,

If I understand it correctly, I do not need to apply for a travel document if traveling by private car?

If I bring my expired PR card, my US passport, and a copy of my application for PR renewal is this sufficient to enter back into Canada in my own car?

You can find some helpful information in this I need to leave Canada and I do not have a permanent resident card. Can I later return to Canada without a PR card? question on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Help Centre section.

Regarding your question,

Is there a limit to how many applications for travel a person can submit?

You can find some information in the Applying for a travel document (permanent resident abroad) (IMM 5529) guide.

Here is an excerpt,

An officer will assess whether you meet the requirements for a travel document. A decision will normally be made without a personal interview, based on your application, information and documents submitted. If your application is complete and you meet the requirements, you will be issued a travel document counterfoil in your passport.

The travel document is the only document that you will need from the visa office to meet the requirements for re-entry to Canada.

Travel document counterfoils are normally issued for a single entry to Canada. If you meet the residency obligation but are residing outside of Canada on a long-term basis (for example, if you are a permanent resident accompanying a Canadian citizen spouse), you may want to request a long-term multiple entry travel document. To do so, you should include a cover letter explaining your circumstances and requesting a multiple entry travel document. These can be issued for up to five years but cannot extend beyond the expiry date of your passport.

Once in Canada, you should apply for a permanent resident card. Unlike the travel document, the permanent resident card allows you to enter Canada multiple times without having to apply for a travel document each time. You can apply for a permanent resident card using the application kit Applying for a Permanent Resident Card (IMM 5445).

If your application for a travel document is refused, you will receive a refusal letter. The letter explains the reasons for the refusal and your appeal rights. If you decide to appeal a negative decision, follow the instructions in the “Notice of Appeal” form and the letter notifying you of your appeal rights enclosed with the refusal letter.

We suggest that you may also want to contact the Call Centre directly for some information regarding your situation and what your options are.

I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation.

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Anna
Settlement.Org Content and Information/Referral Specialist, CIRS
Settlement.Org