conundrum

[hankd]

my wife is a permanent residency in Canada ( I'm not yet), in the past 10 years our lives have brought us outside Canada for work and family issues, for this reason, her PR card expired in 2009, because of our travels and work/family commitments she was unable to return to Canada to renew it, we are now wishing to return to Canada and id like to get residency as well, but aren't sure of the best way to do it.
1.
should my wife apply for a re-entrance visa, and what if she gets turned down will they also begin the process of withdrawing her PR status?
or should she just drive through the border using her US green card as ID, she understands that she will be required to remain in Canada for 730 days to fulfill the requirements, at the end of this period she will apply for renewal of her PR card, will this be straightforward or is there a chance that she will be turned down because she entered without a re-entry visa.

2. at what point will she be able to obtain her medical card?

3.
if i apply under the self-employment scheme, how long will that take, and what are the chances of succeeding as a well-known artist/author coming from the united states.
when i apply I'll be asked to fill in the names of my dependents, I'd need to list my wife, but she's already a PR, what should i state that in the application? and what would the consequences for her be?

 

[scylla]

my wife is a permanent residency in Canada ( I'm not yet), in the past 10 years our lives have brought us outside Canada for work and family issues, for this reason, her PR card expired in 2009, because of our travels and work/family commitments she was unable to return to Canada to renew it, we are now wishing to return to Canada and id like to get residency as well, but aren't sure of the best way to do it.
1.
should my wife apply for a re-entrance visa, and what if she gets turned down will they also begin the process of withdrawing her PR status?
or should she just drive through the border using her US green card as ID, she understands that she will be required to remain in Canada for 730 days to fulfill the requirements, at the end of this period she will apply for renewal of her PR card, will this be straightforward or is there a chance that she will be turned down because she entered without a re-entry visa.

2. at what point will she be able to obtain her medical card?

3.
if i apply under the self-employment scheme, how long will that take, and what are the chances of succeeding as a well-known artist/author coming from the united states.
when i apply I'll be asked to fill in the names of my dependents, I'd need to list my wife, but she's already a PR, what should i state that in the application? and what would the consequences for her be?

1. If she applies for a PRTD, then it's pretty much guaranteed it will be refused and this will result in her PR status being revoked. If she attempts to drive across the border, there's a chance she will be reported for failing to meet the residency requirement (probably relatively significant given how long ago her PR card expired). If that happens, she will be allowed in but will have to appear at a hearing to argue why she should be allowed to keep her PR status. Given how long ago her PR card expired, it will be extremely difficult to make any sort of H&C argument and the most probably outcome is the loss of her PR status. Of course also some chance she may be allowed in without being reported in which case she can stay for two years without leaving and then apply to renew her PR card.
2. Most provinces (maybe all?) now require a valid PR card. So she should assume it will be 2+ years before she will have health care coverage.
3. Processing times are around 24 months. Your wife can only be included as a dependent if she either renounces her PR status first or if her PR status is revoked.