rented car.note¶
Source:
/Volumes/X9 Pro/ObsNotes/YoudaoYunNotes/CAN/how it is possible to enter Canada at a US-Canada border in a private/rented car.note.pdfConverted: 2025-12-10 12:17:06
how it is possible to enter Canada at a US-Canada border in a private/rented car or by foot only with
one's confirmation of permanent residence or record of landing + passport of a country that needs a
visa to enter Canada, without the need of a PR card. The officers at the border usually ask questions
to check whether or not the returning PRs have met their residency requirements and may lecture
those whom they feel aren't but then eventually let them through when they're convinced that they
had good H&C reasons, this is because the officers at the border don't have the authority to judge
whether or not these H&C reasons are sufficient or not so they're usually more flexible and let people
through more readily (To my understanding, trying to convince the officers at the US-Canada border
of one's H&C reasons face to face is much better than writing the H&C reasons down in a travel
document application because if the officers at the embassy aren't fully convinced by the written H&C
reasons and refuse to issue a TD, this would automatically lead to the revocation of PR status
completely). However, in the worst case scenario, the officers may report the PR if they're not
convinced by the PR's H&C reasons, if the PR has spent very long times outside Canada or if they're
not convinced that the PR is willing to return to Canada permanently. In that case, they would still let
the person through into Canada for only 30 days during which he/she is supposed to appeal the
decision
I hope my experience would benefit and give hope to other PRs who are outside Canada with an
expired PR card but fear that applying for a travel document could jeopardize their permanent
residence status, just like I was. Immigration really does seem to be much more lax than that at
airports, however, to minimize the chance of getting reported as much as possible, I strongly advise
those who'll be entering Canada at the US Canada border to present the Canadian officials with
good, documented reasons as to why they couldn't meet their residency requirements (in my case I
told them that I left Canada unintentionally with my parents) and/or proof that they have or will have
strong ties to Canada such as family members in Canada, proof of acceptance at a university (I
presented both of those as well as a copy of my invitation to attend the citizenship ceremony and I
think the officer checked on his computer that my Father and Mother are actually in Canada). At first I
gave the Canadian border officer my passport and confirmation of permanent residence then when
he asked if I have a PR card, I presented my expired card along with the copy of my citizenship
ceremony invitation. When he saw that the card was expired, he asked me how long I've been
outside Canada, I told him 2 years and 9 months and went on to explain in detail (as he requested)
my history since becoming a PR ( he took notes on a green piece of paper). After that he called a
CBSA officer to lead me to immigration, where I essentially repeated my story but in a bit more detail
(and he was a bit more skeptical than the first officer; he asked me when I finished high school and
what I was doing in Egypt after finishing high school). He checked that my Father and Mother were in
Canada then just told me "You're free to go". He was about to forget to stamp my passport and he
forgot to give me back my confirmation of permanent residence, so I requested it (so be sure to take
back all your important papers). Also, he asked me whether we mentioned in the citizenship
application that I've been outside Canada at high school in Egypt, and so I reminded him that as a
minor on my father's application I didn't need to stay in Canada for 1095 days to get accepted for
citizenship. That's why it's important that you study the related CIC rules to know your rights as a PR
and that you speak truthfully and confidently.