Urgent! Renouncing residency status

[jlregister]

My parents were once landed immigrants in Canada.  They stayed in Canada for 1.5 years and returned to their country of origin in 1995.  From then on they stay in their country of origin and do not intend to return to Canada.  Based on their circumstances, I am sure they have failed to meet the residency obligation.

Recently, my sister invited them to visit Toronto.  My parents went to the Consulate of Canada to apply for temporary resident visas, but the consulate require them to first submit an application for a Travel Document for Permanent Residents.  The reason for such application is for the Canadian Government to determine their residency status.  Should they fail to meet the residency obligation (which I'm sure they've failed), my parents will cease to be permanent residents, and will then be allowed to apply for Temporary Resident visas after a 60-day appeal period.

My parents no longer have the intention to stay in Canada as permanent residents.  Is there any way for them to "renounce" their residency status so that they can bypass the application for a Travel Document for Permanent Residents?   Thanks!

[PMM]

Hi

My parents were once landed immigrants in Canada.  They stayed in Canada for 1.5 years and returned to their country of origin in 1995.  From then on they stay in their country of origin and do not intend to return to Canada.  Based on their circumstances, I am sure they have failed to meet the residency obligation.

Recently, my sister invited them to visit Toronto.  My parents went to the Consulate of Canada to apply for temporary resident visas, but the consulate require them to first submit an application for a Travel Document for Permanent Residents.  The reason for such application is for the Canadian Government to determine their residency status.  Should they fail to meet the residency obligation (which I'm sure they've failed), my parents will cease to be permanent residents, and will then be allowed to apply for Temporary Resident visas after a 60-day appeal period.

My parents no longer have the intention to stay in Canada as permanent residents.  Is there any way for them to "renounce" their residency status so that they can bypass the application for a Travel Document for Permanent Residents?   Thanks!

Yes, they can go to the Consulate and submit a voluntary relinquishment of PR status (IMM 5538B) See: http://www.cic.gc.ca/English/resources/manuals/op/op10-eng.pdf

[smvijay]

PMM, as always I appreciate your replies.

I have held canadian PR for the past 5 yrs, but have resided less than 1 yr. I have US GC now. If I travel to Canada and enter using GC, can I still use canadian PR status inside canada?

[Leon]

Technically you are a PR still until somebody revokes your status so if you enter Canada without being reported for not meeting the requirements, you could revive your PR status by staying for 2 years without leaving.  However, staying for that long, you would lose your US green card.