Expired PR Card re-entry via bus/train?

[ConfusedPRHusband]

Ok. Back Story.

WIfe has her permanent residency. Card expired in June. Due to life events she did not renew it in time. Now we are leaving for Mexico in a week and they have yet to even begin processing her renewal. So now it's time to start the Plan A, B, and C'ing.

We wont be out of the country long enough to get a travel document issued. Mexican office says close to 4 weeks. We will be there 7 days.

So currently we are going to fly to mexico as per normal. We have checked with Westjet and they say they will allow her to board the plane to Mexico. Phew. First hurdle down.

On the way back... We are planning to fly into Seattle and cross the border by land.

Is it possible to cross the border by train or bus? Are we completely restricted to renting a car? We don't have any contacts in the area that could help us out and we are trying to keep the costs reasonable.

Crossing the border she will have her Passport(non Canadian), expired PR card and Drivers License. Will we have any issues?

I hope these are easy to answer and clear up. It just seems impossible to get an answers that are current and straight forward.

Thanks in advance.

 

[bellaluna]

Well, flying to Mexico on Westjet does not need a valid PR card because it's not an entrance into Canada.

Does she have a visa-exempt passport?

I'm not speaking from experience, but just by the stated rules:
Taking commercial travel, like a bus or train, would pretty much need a valid, not expired, travel document to Canada to be allowed to board.

 

[ConfusedPRHusband]

Well, flying to Mexico on Westjet does not need a valid PR card because it's not an entrance into Canada.

Does she have a visa-exempt passport?

I'm not speaking from experience, but just by the stated rules:
Taking commercial travel, like a bus or train, would pretty much need a valid, not expired, travel document to Canada to be allowed to board.

Her Passport is Austrian. So I guess that means she needs an ETA? to travel by air but im unclear about commercial.

 

[Bs65]

Her Passport is Austrian. So I guess that means she needs an ETA? to travel by air but im unclear about commercial.

Your wife as an Austrian passport holder will need an ESTA if travelling back via the US. An ETA is for visa exempts travelling to Canada who are not PRs

 

[zardoz]

Her Passport is Austrian. So I guess that means she needs an ETA? to travel by air but im unclear about commercial.

In theory, the use of commercial train or bus still requires a valid PR card BUT it's often not an issue, as the carrier bears no significant risk of having to return a rejected entry. You may find that they don't even ask, unlike an airline, which will.

 

[ConfusedPRHusband]

Your wife as an Austrian passport holder will need an ESTA if travelling back via the US. An ETA is for visa exempts travelling to Canada who are not PRs

Is it better to apply for the ESTA prior to leaving or can this be done during the Mexico - US leg of the trip?

Sorry if this is a simple question

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Ok. Back Story.

WIfe has her permanent residency. Card expired in June. Due to life events she did not renew it in time. Now we are leaving for Mexico in a week and they have yet to even begin processing her renewal. So now it's time to start the Plan A, B, and C'ing.

We wont be out of the country long enough to get a travel document issued. Mexican office says close to 4 weeks. We will be there 7 days.

So currently we are going to fly to mexico as per normal. We have checked with Westjet and they say they will allow her to board the plane to Mexico. Phew. First hurdle down.

On the way back... We are planning to fly into Seattle and cross the border by land.

Is it possible to cross the border by train or bus? Are we completely restricted to renting a car? We don't have any contacts in the area that could help us out and we are trying to keep the costs reasonable.

Crossing the border she will have her Passport(non Canadian), expired PR card and Drivers License. Will we have any issues?

I hope these are easy to answer and clear up. It just seems impossible to get an answers that are current and straight forward.

Thanks in advance.

Technically, all commercial carriers are supposed to request proof of a valid Canadian immigration document, which for a PR, is the PR card or a PRTD. However, I know that buses tend to be lax on this. Not sure about trains. She would probably not be asked but no guarantees.