Renewing my residency

[mickeyrich]

I gave recently had to postpone my Citizenship test due to previous obligations that could not be cancelled. Apparently they can make you wait up to a year for a new date ! My residency card expires in 5 months and my question is, would it be possible to renew my residency whilst I am waiting to write my exam ? I might have to travel after my PR card has expired. Would it be better to just get a temp travel document ?

My concern is that you need to submit some of the documents with a PR renewal application that you need to take with you to write the Citizenship exam.

Many thanks

Michael

[amirchov]

I gave recently had to postpone my Citizenship test due to previous obligations that could not be cancelled. Apparently they can make you wait up to a year for a new date ! My residency card expires in 5 months and my question is, would it be possible to renew my residency whilst I am waiting to write my exam ? I might have to travel after my PR card has expired. Would it be better to just get a temp travel document ?

My concern is that you need to submit some of the documents with a PR renewal application that you need to take with you to write the Citizenship exam.

Many thanks

Michael

Hello Michael,

There are no original documents needed for the PR renewal that are needed for the citizenship test. For the PR renewal you are allowed to send copies (some can be notarized) and it is better to have an up-to-date PR card than to rely on a Traveling Document each time you want to leave Canada and return.

For the citizenship exam you only need:
1.   The notice you received by mail
2.   Original Landing Document
3.   Original passport/s
4.   Other documents should they request

The processing time for PR renewal is 158 days:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-card.asp

Application information: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/prcard.asp

Good luck!

[mickeyrich]

Thank you very much Amirchov, that is extremely helpful !

[adame]

How Early before the card expires someone can apply for a renewal?
Thanks

[amirchov]

How Early before the card expires someone can apply for a renewal?
Thanks

Hi adame,

They will mail you a letter to come and pick it up in person at the local CIC office. If your PR card was already expired while applying, then you will have to mail it to them together with the application. If it hasn't reached its expiration date, you will exchange it for the new one once you go to pick it up.

Best of luck

[adame]

Thanks
and how soon I can apply for a renewal before it expires?
A

[amirchov]

Thanks
and how soon I can apply for a renewal before it expires?
A

On the CIC website they write the following: "The Permanent Resident Card expires every five years. Check the expiry date and apply for a new one well before you plan to travel outside Canada".
The current processing time for is 158 calendar days, so it may take about 5 months for the card to arrive to the local CIC office.
It all depends if you need to travel in the near future or not.

[born2code]

This was a few years ago...But I had applied for PR card renewal about 9-10 months before expiry and I got mine in time.

Cheers...