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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?

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

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.

While a study permit is not required for short-term courses, an officer must accept and process an application for a study permit even when the duration of the course or program of study is six months or less [R188(2)].

Holding a study permit for short-term courses may allow students to apply later, from within Canada [R215(1)(a)], to renew or change the conditions of their study permit for further studies. Study permit holders may also be eligible to participate in work programs that are available to international students [R186(f), R205].

The duration of the course or program of study is often a more important consideration than the number of months they intend to study. With the exception of exchange programs, even if foreign nationals plan to study for six months or less, if the course or program is longer than six months, they need a study permit.

While a foreign national may attend a short-term course or program without a study permit at a non-designated learning institution, they may not be issued a study permit to attend courses at a non-designated learning institution [R216(e)].

Subsequent course or program of study

Generally, foreign nationals in Canada without a study permit wishing to enrol in a subsequent course or program of study must apply outside of Canada and obtain a study permit in the normal manner (e.g., at a Canadian visa office abroad).

Foreign nationals without a study permit will not be granted an extension of their authorized stay as a visitor simply for the purpose of completing a short-term course or program of less than six months that would last beyond their original period of authorized stay. Paragraph R188(1)(c) was not put in place to allow foreign nationals to take short-term courses, one after the other, simply by extending their temporary resident status—in effect, making it possible for them to complete a whole certificate, diploma or degree without ever having a study permit. Citizenship and Immigration Canada recognizes that long-term visitors and foreign workers may engage in occasional studies or programs of study lasting six months or less at any time during their stay in Canada.

It is therefore recommended that foreign nationals should be encouraged to apply for a study permit for a short-term course or program of study if they intend to apply for another program afterwards or work on the campus of the university or college at which they are a full-time student. Section R215 provides an exemption to allow certain foreign nationals to apply for a study permit after entry to Canada.

Applicants are required to provide adequate proof of foreign licensed driving experience. However, if that is not possible, the ministry will accept an applicant’s declaration of their foreign licensed driving experience on the driver’s licence application for up to a maximum of 12 months licensed experience.

You can self-declare one year of driving experience, by showing a valid, original foreign driver’s licence.

If you want to earn credit for more than one year of driving experience, you will also need an official letter from the foreign government or agency that issued the driver’s licence, confirming that the licence is authentic. This letter needs to be written in English or French.

The Sponsorship Agreement is a legal document signed by you as a sponsor, the co-signer (if applicable) and your sponsored family member(s). As a sponsor, you commit to provide the basic requirements for daily living for your sponsored family member(s) included in the undertaking so that they will not need to apply for ‘social assistance’ (under Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program). The sponsored family member(s) agrees to seek help from you as the sponsor if he/she is unable to provide for his/her own basic requirements.

In addition, the sponsored family member(s) consents to the release of information to you (the sponsor) concerning social assistance that they may apply for, or receive during the period of the undertaking.

A sponsorship breakdown occurs when you as a sponsor or co-signer (if applicable), refuse or are unable to provide some or all of the basic requirements for your sponsored family member(s) to live in Canada, during the period established by CIC in the Sponsorship Agreement, and your sponsored family member(s) starts to collect social assistance (under Ontario Works or ODSP).

During these periods, if your sponsored family member(s) receives social assistance, you are in sponsorship default and must repay the social assistance payments to the Ontario government. The sponsor and co-signer determined to be liable for the sponsorship debt is not allowed to sponsor other family members until they have repaid to the government all of the social assistance payments.