PR spouse of a Canadian citizen

[CanadaHomeV]

I'm a Canadian citizen and my wife has got her PR card in Nov 2009. Since then, we haven't spent any time in Canada. According to PR Card Obligations, a permanent resident may count the days spent outside if Canada provided that he/she is accompanying a Canadian citizen and this person is his/her spouse.

Is that correct? Does it mean that all the time my wife has spent outside of Canada can be counted as if she was in Canada?

Thanks for your help.

 

[scylla]

Correct for the purposes of retaining her PR status.

However these days outside of Canada do not count towards citizenship. For citizenship, she will have to physically reside in Canada.

 

[CanadaHomeV]

Thanks for your answer.

However, this is not what CIC told a friend of mine when he called the 1 800 number. They said: as wife of a Canadian citizen, the time she spends outside of canada counts for both the renewal of the PR card and the citizenship. In another word, she doesn't have to stay in Canada. I must admit your answer is more logical, but this is what they said.

Do you concur?

 

[Alabaman]

Thanks for your answer.

However, this is not what CIC told a friend of mine when he called the 1 800 number. They said: as wife of a Canadian citizen, the time she spends outside of canada counts for both the renewal of the PR card and the citizenship. In another word, she doesn't have to stay in Canada. I must admit your answer is more logical, but this is what they said.

Do you concur?

Scylla is right. You know you can read up on this on the CIC website too? Just do a search.

 

[scylla]

Either the CIC agent gave the wrong information (this happens far too frequently) or your friend misunderstood the answer.

The time spent outside of Canada definitely does not count towards citizenship - only PR renewal.

 

[CanadaHomeV]

Thank you all... appreciate your help.