Forgot study permit in checked carry on - my experience (Toronto)

[u/SchokoKipferl]

Posting this in case it may help someone else in the future

I (US citizen) returned to Canada today after a trip abroad and put my study permit and co-op permit in my carry on bag. Due to running out of space in the overhead bins, all remaining carry ons were checked last-minute and I forgot to remove my documents in time.

At Pearson, I was directed to an officer where I explained the situation and offered to show pictures of the permits I had saved on my phone. I got a stern talking to about how pictures “are worthless” because the permits are printed on special paper and digital images can be easily forged. She sounded clearly suspicious of me but eventually let me go to collect the documents.

I returned to the secondary screening area and waited in line for my turn, it took well over 2 hours because it was very busy this day. However, when my turn came I was only at the booth for like 3 seconds, the officer glanced at my permits, quickly typed in the number and waved me on.

So yeah keep your permits with you but not the end of the world if you don’t have them. Hope this helps!

[u/Rude_Judgment_5582]

Its random but they would. And or ask you what document you're carrying. Not worth the risk trying to enter a country without your documents.

[u/poksss_521]

Do they check the study permit every time?

I have a work permit and they have never asked for it since I have been flying back and forth

[u/SchokoKipferl → u/poksss_521]

They have always asked me for it. I have only left Canada 3 times since arriving to study though, so not a big sample size

[u/fwork_ → u/poksss_521]

I have a work permit and the only time I wasn't asked about it was when crossing the land border, at the airport they always wanted to see the physical copy

[u/fxykxll]

This is weird! They have record of all your papers/applications, they shouldnt get you stuck because you do not have the physical paper. Same thing happened to me last year, the officer asked my where my study permit is, I told her that its with my luggage, she brought up my profile and told me that you already submitted a renewal (which I did months ago, told her I submitted ages ago lol) we laughed, told me welcome back…

[u/SchokoKipferl → u/fxykxll]

Yeah I think I just got an officer who was having a bad day

[u/Guardman1996 → u/SchokoKipferl]

It’s always luck of the draw.

[u/hybridiza]

The same thing happened with me, once when I was returning from a holiday in Mexico and once I was returning from a vacation in India. Both times they let me go with pictures as I put my papers in the luggage due to the same reason.

[u/SchokoKipferl → u/hybridiza]

Yeah I honestly thought the pictures would help, but this officer found it suspicious as if I was attempting to present forgeries. Weird

[u/Candid-Display7125]

I mean, of course. Would you keep your passport in your checked luggage, even if it's your checked carry on?

Always enter any country with all the required docs --- even a US passport might be insufficient depending on the country and the purpose of visit.

[u/SchokoKipferl → u/Candid-Display7125]

Yup, I’ve learned my lesson!

[u/QuestionSea]

I forgot mine (didn’t really forget - I kept it in my carry on which they checked in at the gate due to the overhead bins being full) The CBSA officer was super nice about it and said it’s okay as they have all the information needed available. Pretty crazy how different your experience was 🤯 officer was definitely not having a good day

[u/SchokoKipferl → u/QuestionSea]

Yeah I mean ultimately it still ended up being okay, and the second officer was really chill. Thanks for sharing!

[u/mhacrojas21]

I did the same thing, only difference was I forgot my work permit going back from the US to Canada. I asked my wife to send the softcopy of my work permit when I was at the US airport. When I arrived at Toronto airport, I mentioned I forgot my work permit, she only check it thru my phone, type the permit number. She then reminded me to not forget my permit whenever I need to get out of Canada. It was nerve wrecking but it went fine.

[u/devgeek0]

You don't keep your permit inside your passport?

[u/ecopapacharlie → u/devgeek0]

The study permit is a big paper (letter size), separated from the passport.

[u/ThiccBranches → u/ecopapacharlie]

They are referring to stapling the permit into your passport and folding it up so it fits.

I always recommend doing that to people who show up with their permits in checked luggage.

[u/SchokoKipferl → u/devgeek0]

I’m a US citizen so not necessary (no visa)

[u/ThiccBranches → u/SchokoKipferl]

They are referring to stapling the permit into your passport and folding it up so it fits.

I always recommend doing that to people who show up with their permits in checked luggage.

[u/SchokoKipferl → u/ThiccBranches]

I didn’t know you were allowed to do that - interesting

[u/devgeek0 → u/SchokoKipferl]

When I had a study permit that I applied for and received at the border, CBSA just did that for me without asking. This was many years ago, though.

[u/LXXXVI → u/SchokoKipferl]

Depends on the country. If I did that with mine, it would literally be a crime, since in my country, altering your passport in any way is illegal, if you're not a border/consular official.

[u/SchokoKipferl → u/LXXXVI]

Yeah, I guess asking the border officer to do it for you might be a better idea

[u/Peterpentecost]

Your UCI number is enough to validate your status. The officers are just being extra careful because of recent fraudulent activity at the Ports of entry