living outside canada applying for citizenship

[kimbhoot]

Hi,

I became a Canadian PR in 2003 as my wife is a Canadian Citizen. I've been living in the states since 2003 until now with my wife. My question is, am I eligible for applying for citizenship in Canada?

I read in the immigration handbook that, if a PR is living abroad with a canadian citizen, it's considered living in canada. my pr expires early next year, what can I do to keep the Canadian PR status or apply for citizenship.

Please advise.

Thanks

[GK]

It depends.  You first need to make sure your PR status is still valid. 

[kimbhoot]

Thanks for the response.
how do I find that out? I don't live in Canada now.

[GK]

Don't know how you can find out?  I don't know the details, but unless you have accompanied your spouse while he/she has been working for a Canadian company, Government of Canada etc, you have probably lost your PR status.  Regardless, you can't apply for citizenship unless you have lived in Canada for at least three years.

[PMM]

Hi

Don't know how you can find out?  I don't know the details, but unless you have accompanied your spouse while he/she has been working for a Canadian company, Government of Canada etc, you have probably lost your PR status.  Regardless, you can't apply for citizenship unless you have lived in Canada for at least three years.

1.  His wife is a Canadian citizen, and if he has been accompanying while she is abroad, he maintains his PR status.  She doesn't have to working for a gov;t or Canadian company.
2.  But as you say, he can not apply for citizenship without 1095 days of physical residency in Canada in the 4 years prior to his application.

PMM

[kimbhoot]

I am in a situation now that I can't go to Canada to renew or find out if I have a valid Canadian PR. My PR card expires in 2 weeks. I can't even call the call center from outside the canada. Should I go to the Buffalo immigration office to try and renew my pr card? How can I contact them.

Please advise.

[Leon]

You can't renew a PR card from outside Canada.  When you are ready to go back to Canada, apply for a PR travel document to enter, then apply for a new PR card from within Canada.