If your file is so bad you need 250+ pages, you have a credibility problem.
I guess I'd say that I'm open to the theoretical possibility that there might be some application out there that one day needs 250 pages . . . something super complex . . .
Reminder: Two pieces of evidence showing residence in Canada is sufficient when the PR card applicant is in compliance with the RO based on physical presence in Canada for at least 730 days within the relevant time period. Indeed, this is ONLY when the PR card applicant is in compliance with the RO based on physical presence in Canada.
All others (as I get to below), including those PRs relying on H&C considerations, need to follow further instructions describing the additional supporting documents to submit.
That said, even in the most complicated scenarios it is difficult to conceive of one in which submitting more than a hundred pages (even just fifty) would be prudent. Remember, the more complicated a case is the more important it is to organize and present it in a way that highlights the key elements. As some astute litigator said (or at least one should have): "
don't make a jury (or judge) dig through a mountain of circumstantial evidence to find the smoking gun" (the risk, bearing unfavorable odds, is they do not dig enough to find what really makes the difference; that is, the more there is to look at the more risk there is the decision-maker overlooks the more persuasive evidence; or worse, is confused; or even worse, extracts information from the mountain of evidence that will support a negative decision).
I may get to discussing the latter in more depth, in a subsequent post, but my primary focus in these observations is to clarify what should be and likely is the most common scenario: PRs in RO compliance who need to submit just two documents showing residence in Canada.
Clarifications and Further Context -- Long read re what to submit with a PR card application as "Proof showing that you met" the RO:
Please forgive me for the repetition, particularly of the basics. I do not recite basic principles and clear instructions to suggest they have not been given adequate coverage in the discussion so far, let alone to contest what has been said, but rather to be clear about the baseline and deviations from that baseline. Thus, much of what follows echoes or outright repeats what has already been posted above. These observations are intended to be clarifications and provide further context in an effort to consolidate what we know.
Note: Even though the following observations, in multiple posts, will briefly address other scenarios, these observations are focused on what needs to be submitted with a PR card application for PRs who meet the RO based on actual presence in Canada. (Other scenarios include, for example, PRs relying on credit for days outside Canada accompanying a Canadian citizen spouse,
discussed here, or working abroad RO credit,
discussed here, and of course H&C cases.)
Foremost, for context (even though this is implicit in the preceding posts), clarity, and for emphasis, there are detailed instructions in the Guide regarding the Residency Obligation and what
supporting documents need to be submitted with a PR card application to show RO compliance. These instructions are in
Appendix A: Residency obligation. For PRs complying with their obligations, including the RO, following those instructions is the way to go.
In particular, for PRs who are in compliance with the RO based on physical presence in Canada (that is, those not outside Canada for more than 1095 days in the relevant time period), the "
proof" to be submitted with the application is merely two items of evidence showing residence in Canada.
Note: the discussion in this thread has been, in significant part, revisiting an extensive discussion we had here around two years ago in regards to what IRCC means by "proof" in the checklist reference to proof showing RO compliance. That discussion was in the wake of IRCC adding the two items showing residence to requirements for making a complete application (adopted in April 2023***).
Short answer is that in this context "proof" means documents
(1) which are evidence of residency in Canada, or
(2) which are evidence of facts establishing eligibility for RO credit for days outside of Canada, or
(3) which document the factual basis for H&C factors to consider
***Historical Note:
In the checklist there are separately listed "Additional forms/supporting documents" that some applicants are required to submit in certain particular circumstances (such as applications involving name changes or the use of a representative), apart from the primary list of documents PR card applicants need to submit.
As for the primary list of documents to be included, the checklist for a PR card application adopted in April 2023, that is IMM 5644 (04-2023)E, which continued to be applicable until the currently applicable December 2024 version IMM 5644 (12-2024)E, included:
"Proof showing that you met the residency obligation in the past five (5) years immediately before the application or since becoming a PR if it has been less 5 years."
In contrast, previous versions of the checklist for a PR card application, including the one adopted in June 2022, that is IMM 5644 (06-2022)E, which was the applicable version until March 2023, stated:
"Proof of residency requirements if you were outside of Canada for 1095 days or more in the past five (5) years."
That is, until April 2023 those PRs who met the RO based on physical presence in Canada (not outside Canada more than 1095 days) were not asked to submit supporting documents to show RO compliance. The discussion here, in this thread, revisits what was discussed at length and in-depth in this forum soon after that change.
Additional Source Note: The Regulations also specify information and documents (identity-related documents and photographs) that a PR card application
must contain; this is in
Section 56 IRPA. (This specifies what must be included by law; it is not a list limiting the information or documentation that can be required to make a complete application.)
. . . to be continued . . .
