This is a stressful but recoverable situation according to the group. If your COPR document ends up in checked luggage instead of your carry-on before an international flight to Canada:
- Explain the situation honestly to the immigration officer at the port of entry — this was the main advice given, since officers deal with document issues regularly.
- Collect all your luggage, including checked bags, before going through the immigration/PR processing area — you generally need to have your bags with you (not routed to a connecting flight) when you land, since you may need to present the COPR or have it inspected.
- Airlines typically ask before check-in whether you have documents that must stay with you — for future travel, always keep the COPR and passport in carry-on.
The key message from the community: don't panic, be upfront with officers, and make sure you have access to all your checked luggage right after landing in case you need to retrieve the document.