ributnaga

I am a Canadian PR with a British Passport.

I went on a business trip to San Jose, CA, USA for 2 night with my British Passport but did not realized my PR card was back at my home in Vancouver. It was a stupid move and momentary carelessness on my part.

I applied for an ETA with my UK address (which is still active) hoping to enter back as a visitor. But the ETA system has replied asking to either renounce my PR or travel with my PR card.

So my option I am considering is

• Hope my return flight Air Canada allows me onboard with my UK passport and let me through and I make my case at the Vancouver Airport.
• Fly to Seattle/Bellingham and rent a car to cross the land border that does not require an ETA

Does anyone have any other advice or thoughts?

Thanks!

Novocastrian

You should contact the Canadian Consulate in San Francisco to be issued a PRTD.

Vulcanoid

Get someone to courier you the PR card, or get a PR travel document.

Otherwise, yeah, you'll have to fly to Washington and drive over. AC should be forced to refuse you boarding, as you can't present either a PR card or an eTA, absent which the computer will issue a don't-board message.

Jerseygirl

You can't apply for an ETA as you are a PR. Very doubtful you will be able to board the plane without the PR card.

Can someone send you your PR card overnight/express etc...otherwise I would cross by land.

Hurlabrick

Two chances of this working - little and none I am afraid!



That should work as they can look you up on the system (or get someone to drive across and pick you up).


Alternatively, extend your stay a few days and get someone to find your PR card at your house and courier it to you??

ributnaga

Thanks all for the quick reply!

It looks like my best option is to cross by land. So I am booking a flight to Seattle (no direct flights to Bellingham from SJC) and then driving down to the border.

Don't really have the option to courier my card because I can't really pinpoint where the PR card would be exactly at the home and no one has the key to my apartment.

Will let everyone know how this pans out. Thanks again!

rivingtonpike

I did this once (albeit my PR card was out of date - but before new ETA rules). My wife courier it to me UPS in 24 hours.

Jerseygirl

Just one caution...if you are renting a car in the US you probably won't be able to drop it off in Canada. Maybe you were thinking of walking across and picking up transport on the Canada side.

PMM

Hi


1. That was then, this is now. Without either ETA, PRTD or PR card, a non US citizen or Green Card holder will not be allowed to board a flight to Canada.

PS, Most car rental firms have cars that can be dropped off in Vancouver, very usual during the cruise season. just check them out.

JamesM

This is null and void. Just realised they have changed the system.

I'd actually call the airline in the first instance and see if they have any suggestions for how you can board the flight and what they will accept.

That failing the Consulate as Novo suggested.

Glad I travel on a Canadian passport now.

withabix

There are lots of one-way rental cars dropped off in Vancouver, winter and summer (skiing, one-way cruises etc) and it is quite normal.

I've actually picked up rental cars at Vancouver airport twice in the past that had Washington plates on them, when visiting before we moved here.

You may have to pay a one-way fee to drop off, but there shouldn't be any other issues.

My two occasions were with Avis.

Jerseygirl

That's good for the OP. I mentioned it because a few years ago we wanted to rent a car in the US and drop it in the Toronto area. We couldn't find a rental company that would allow us to do that.

NavyBoy

One way hires across boarders is difficult. One way is to contact the rental agency and ask if they are doing any inventory swaps and offer to rent one. It works for them as they don't need to pay a driver.

The other one is U-Haul. It will mean driving one of their bigger box trucks but they do cross boarder. They used to do trucks and cargo vans but have stopped that at most locations.