Expired PR - how to reapply for new PR

[iisek]

Hello,

I hope you can help me with this...
I am a Croatian citizen and I am I am in need of a legal advice... I understand that my case might be more complicated so I am sharing all the facts that might have an impact to my situation...
I received a PR status back in 2008 together with my wife (she was the main applicant) when we moved to Canada... Few months later we decided to temporarily leave the country with the intention to come back once we saved more money... Our relationship didn't go well and we separated... I reentered Canada in 2010 and when asked I admitted that me and my wife were no longer together... I left the country again a month later and haven't returned since... My PR status expired but officially it has never been revoked... My wife returned to Canada back in 2011 in order to preserve her PR status, and she has lived in Toronto since...
We would like to get together again and now we are looking for the easiest way to make it happen... I understand that most probably I will have to be sponsored again and re-apply in order to renew my PR status... I have a very old grandmother with a physical disability that I did have to take care of, but I am not sure if that could be taken as a good justification for my absence... I could provide medical documentation for my grandma but there is no way I could prove my assistance, I don't even know how that would be possible... I believe this would be a long way to repair my status even if there was a chance (I guess reapplying for PR would be a quicker way)
How do I reenter the country in order to visit my wife, I am planning to visit my wife soon but I am not sure if there is anything else to be done beforehand? My PR status has never been officially revoked and I can't come to Canada as a tourist, I am not sure if showing up with my expired PR would worsen my situation in any way, and would I be let in at all???...
If you can help me understand what I have to/can do in my situation that would be great... Thanks a lot...

 

[Ponga]

Your PR status did not expire; your PR Card has expired.

Having said that, you clearly have not met the Residency Obligations, but you are still [technically] a PR. Caring for your grandmother is not a compelling reason to not meet the RO, unfortunately.

You still have the right to enter Canada, but there's a very good chance that you will be reported (by CBSA) for non-compliance, which could lead to your PR being revoked eventually.

If you decide to re-enter Canada, you should be prepared to remain in Canada for 730 days. If you can accomplish this, you will be in compliance again and could then apply for a new PR Card.

The other hurdle, is that you now need an eTA to travel by a commercial airline to Canada. Some people have pretended that they were just a visitor to Canada, by not disclosing to the airline that they are a PR of Canada, but I honestly don't know if that's a wise idea for you. If a Croatian citizen requires a visa to enter Canada...you might be out of luck.

Hopefully others will chime in.


Good luck.

 

[iisek]

Thank you Ponga...
Since I haven't been to Canada for so long ( it's funny that actually I have been to Canada recently, eastern coast as seaman on cruise ship) got a feeling I don't have a chance of not being reported at entry... Considering my situation maybe it would be better to get rid of the status as soon as possible and reapply... What's the quickest way to lose status and how long does it take? Do you know maybe? Normally Croatians don't need a visa to visit Canada but I can't get eTA, so simply buying a ticket and flying to Canada isn't an option... Unfortunately...