It is possible to resume PR status

[davemcgory]

Dear Experts,

20 years ago, 1994, I landed with my parents and obtained PR status. However, I then went back to Hong Kong and worked and lived in HK for twenty years. During these two decades, I travel with my HKSAR passport to see parents every year with my family.

I don't know how my PR status is now. Would it be automatically be cancelled or expired? Somebody said if I entered Canada with other passport, my PR status will be terminated automatically.

Recently, my parents want me to join them so that I can take care of them.

Do you know if there are any ways to resume my PR status?
Or should I first given up my previous PR status and reapply again?

Thx

Dave

 

[scylla]

It's a very difficult question to answer and there is no way for you to confirm if your PR status has been canceled or not.

If you want to try to keep your PR status, the only way you can try to do this is by entering Canada and then remaining in Canada for 2 years to meet the residency obligation. Once you meet the residency obligation you can try to apply for a new PR card. If your PR status was never canceled - then your PR card should be renewed. There are several problems with this options. First of all, it's certainly possible that at some point your PR status was officially canceled and in that case living in Canada for two years will be pointless and won't get you a new PR card. Even if you are successful, you will likely have issues with some aspects of living in Canada for those two years. For example, it's quite possible you won't be able to get health care coverage, you most likely won't be able to attend school and unless you obtained a SIN back in 1994, you most likely won't be able to work legally.

If you qualify to apply for PR now through one of the economic classes - I would give up your previous PR status and apply again from scratch.