Permanent resident studying outside canada

[jhuvy_dp]

I have a situation where a permanent resident (landed immigrant) wants to study abroad.  The program (medicine) will take about 7 years (including residency proper).  How can this Permanent Resident maintain his permanent residency status while studying abroad.  Please note that he comes back for holiday breaks, semester breaks, etc.  However, in the course of 1 year, these returns to Canada are for a total of only 1 to 2 months - as the breaks are not that long.  Please note that the university is an exclusive university in Manila, Philippines.

[Leon]

He can not maintain his status unless he gets married to a Canadian citizen who is staying with him while he is studying. 

Is he planning to stay in the Philippines after his studies?  Because it's hard to get licensed in Canada for a medical doctor who has a degree from a foreign country.

Can he wait until he gets citizenship?  He needs to have lived in Canada as a PR for 1095 days in the last 4 years to qualify or if he lived in Canada before he became PR, then 2 years as PR and 2 years as not PR would be enough.  He can even apply as he is leaving Canada to study but he would have to be ready to fly back on 2 weeks notice to do his exam and later ceremony.

[energy168]

That person has to make a decision.  It is not logical for that person to get a degree in the Philippines and later find a job in Canada as it is not really recognized in Canada.  It is more logical to get a degree in Canada.  So he has to make the decision, give up the PR status or give up the degree.  My personal take is to give up the degree since it will be generally unrecognized anyway later on in Canada.

Good luck.  Tough decisions.