Missed PR Card Interview Due to Medical and Family Hardship – Seeking Advice on Reopening Application, Residency Obligation, and Urgent Processing

[Explorer1909]

Hi everyone,

I'm reaching out in hopes of getting some guidance or insight on a complex situation regarding my Canadian Permanent Residency. I’m a Canadian PR with an approved PR card renewal application, but unfortunately, I missed my in-person interview at the IRCC office in the Greater Toronto Area back in July 2024.

At the time, I was outside Canada and had just given birth. That period became one of the most difficult times in my life — I was dealing with severe postpartum depression while also caring for a newborn and another child with special needs. The emotional, financial, and physical demands were overwhelming, and I had no support system in place. In the midst of trying to stay afloat — working full time, parenting, and managing my health — I completely missed the interview. It was not due to negligence, but rather a deeply challenging life circumstance.

Now that things have begun to stabilize, I’m trying to take steps to restore my status. I’m currently in the U.S., training to become a physician, with plans to return and contribute to the Canadian healthcare system. However, my PR card is essential for this path — I must present a valid card by June 30, 2025, or I risk losing my position in the training program.

A few specific questions I hope someone here can help with:

• My husband is a Canadian citizen, and I am a Permanent Resident with an expired PR card.
• During the time I was outside Canada, I was living with my Canadian citizen spouse.
  ➤ Does this time count towards the residency obligation for maintaining PR status?
• Given the missed interview and the time elapsed,
  ➤ Would applying again for a PR card now present any complications in my case?
• ➤ Is there any possibility of reviving or reopening the old PR card application, especially given the medical and family circumstances I faced?
• ➤ Is there any way to request urgent processing of the PR card, given that I need it by June 30, 2025 at the absolute latest to continue my medical training? If not, is reapplying under Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) grounds a viable route?

I am willing to provide any documentation needed — medical records, proof of my child’s diagnosis, support letters, etc. I am not seeking special treatment, just a fair opportunity to explain my situation and comply with the process.

If anyone has navigated a similar issue or has insight on how best to approach this — including how to reach IRCC or structure an H&C request — I’d be deeply grateful for your input.
Thank you sincerely for taking the time to read and for any support or advice you can offer.

Warm regards,
A mother, physician-in-training, and Canadian PR working to make things right

 

[armoured]

However, my PR card is essential for this path — I must present a valid card by June 30, 2025, or I risk losing my position in the training program.

To be upfront, this is the biggest problem: while you can try, I'm not aware of any mechanism that can possibly guarantee you'll get a card by then, even with urgent processing. Given your history, it seems even more likely that it'll take longer.

I doubt anyone can say. Keep in mind that suggestions I and others may make here are suggestions.

You may want/need better to have legal counsel. I do not know for sure that legal counsel can solve this, however.

A few specific questions I hope someone here can help with:

• My husband is a Canadian citizen, and I am a Permanent Resident with an expired PR card.
• During the time I was outside Canada, I was living with my Canadian citizen spouse.
  ➤ Does this time count towards the residency obligation for maintaining PR status?
• Given the missed interview and the time elapsed,
  ➤ Would applying again for a PR card now present any complications in my case?
• ➤ Is there any possibility of reviving or reopening the old PR card application, especially given the medical and family circumstances I faced?
• ➤ Is there any way to request urgent processing of the PR card, given that I need it by June 30, 2025 at the absolute latest to continue my medical training? If not, is reapplying under Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) grounds a viable route?

I am willing to provide any documentation needed — medical records, proof of my child’s diagnosis, support letters, etc. I am not seeking special treatment, just a fair opportunity to explain my situation and comply with the process.

If anyone has navigated a similar issue or has insight on how best to approach this — including how to reach IRCC or structure an H&C request — I’d be deeply grateful for your input.
Thank you sincerely for taking the time to read and for any support or advice you can offer.

Warm regards,
A mother, physician-in-training, and Canadian PR working to make things right

-Yes, your time with Canadian spouse should count. You are vague in saying "was living" with your spouse, but unclear whether this is current, etc. In short: it may be important that you have been residing with your spouse most/substantially all of the time you have been abroad (since becoming a PR, that is).
-If I understand from your discussion of life difficulties, it seems you may no longer be with your spouse? That definitely will complicate things.
-I doubt there is any way of reviving your old PR card application - but do not know. I would assume they've not just closed your file but that not picking it up for a year from the scheduled time is on note - as a negative.

I don't want to guess or venture further for the time being. I think the question of your residence with your citizen-spouse is very significant.

 

[Explorer1909]

Hi, thanks so much for the reply.
I will definitely be seeking legal assistance to better understand and navigate my options given the complexity of my case.

To clarify some details: over the past 5 years, I’ve spent approximately 1.5 years physically inside Canada (before starting my training in the US). In addition to that, I’ve spent another 15 months outside Canada living with my spouse, who is a Canadian citizen (counting only the time since he obtained his Canadian citizenship, not before). I am currently still living with him in the US.

Could you please clarify — does time spent living outside Canada with a Canadian citizen spouse count toward meeting the PR residency obligation, even if the spouse is not employed by the Canadian Armed Forces or the federal/provincial government abroad? I’ve come across conflicting information and would appreciate your insight on this.

Also, I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on whether IRCC might consider Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) grounds for reopening or reviving the old PR card application. Given my circumstances — including severe postpartum depression, caring for a special-needs child, and now the very real possibility of losing my medical training position if I don’t receive a valid PR card by June 30, 2025 — this would likely be the best-case scenario.

Thanks again for your help and any further guidance you can offer.

 

[armoured]

To clarify some details: over the past 5 years, I’ve spent approximately 1.5 years physically inside Canada (before starting my training in the US). In addition to that, I’ve spent another 15 months outside Canada living with my spouse, who is a Canadian citizen (counting only the time since he obtained his Canadian citizenship, not before). I am currently still living with him in the US.

It's a bit hard to understand b/c some potentially important parts like when you became a PR and timeline. For example: was your last time in Canada followed right away by the 15 months with your spouse? When you applied last time for the PR card - were you in compliance? Did you include your time with spouse then?

I'm not saying you have to outline all things here - but you may have to get this stuff straight in order to discuss properly with lawyer.

Could you please clarify — does time spent living outside Canada with a Canadian citizen spouse count toward meeting the PR residency obligation, even if the spouse is not employed by the Canadian Armed Forces or the federal/provincial government abroad? I’ve come across conflicting information and would appreciate your insight on this.

Time accmopanying a Canadian citizen abroad (eg living together) counts for permanent residency obligation, but not for citizenship. That's usually the confusion.

There is a somewhat obscure issue about what counts as 'accompanying.' Part of this informs my questions about whether time with spouse is throughout this period and continuous or not.

Also, I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on whether IRCC might consider Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) grounds for reopening or reviving the old PR card application. Given my circumstances — including severe postpartum depression, caring for a special-needs child, and now the very real possibility of losing my medical training position if I don’t receive a valid PR card by June 30, 2025 — this would likely be the best-case scenario.

I would focus first and foremost upon determining whether you are actually in compliance with the residency obligation, and whether you were in compliance when you last applied, AND whether you properly documented this at that point. (Curious whether you were ever in fact 'out of compliance').

I don't know but assume that your previous card application was closed when you did not pick it up. If it was closed - and some time ago by now - then I seriously doubt it can be revived under H&C or other - it's been almost a year after all.

Then the question becomes whether you can apply for a new PR card just on basis that you are with spouse ... and get it processed quickly. (I don't think there is an "H&C" process to get it done quickly - just a request for urgent processing.)

I repeat, I'm highly skeptical you can get it processed that quickly - to a deadline that ultimately has nothing to do with Canada. But you can hope I'm wrong. Perhaps the medical school part plus Canadian spouse will be more compelling than it seems to me.

But of course, you're aware how much you've procrastinated on this, despite it being of critical importance. (Not saying that to beat up on you about it - it's just factual).

 

[Copingwithlife]

Saying you need it done urgently when you missed an appointment almost one year ago, is a tad confusing .

Why are you just bringing it up now ?

Almost one year later

When you missed the interview did you contact the IRCC ?

 

[scylla]

Hi everyone,

I'm reaching out in hopes of getting some guidance or insight on a complex situation regarding my Canadian Permanent Residency. I’m a Canadian PR with an approved PR card renewal application, but unfortunately, I missed my in-person interview at the IRCC office in the Greater Toronto Area back in July 2024.

At the time, I was outside Canada and had just given birth. That period became one of the most difficult times in my life — I was dealing with severe postpartum depression while also caring for a newborn and another child with special needs. The emotional, financial, and physical demands were overwhelming, and I had no support system in place. In the midst of trying to stay afloat — working full time, parenting, and managing my health — I completely missed the interview. It was not due to negligence, but rather a deeply challenging life circumstance.

Now that things have begun to stabilize, I’m trying to take steps to restore my status. I’m currently in the U.S., training to become a physician, with plans to return and contribute to the Canadian healthcare system. However, my PR card is essential for this path — I must present a valid card by June 30, 2025, or I risk losing my position in the training program.

A few specific questions I hope someone here can help with:

• My husband is a Canadian citizen, and I am a Permanent Resident with an expired PR card.
• During the time I was outside Canada, I was living with my Canadian citizen spouse.
  ➤ Does this time count towards the residency obligation for maintaining PR status?
• Given the missed interview and the time elapsed,
  ➤ Would applying again for a PR card now present any complications in my case?
• ➤ Is there any possibility of reviving or reopening the old PR card application, especially given the medical and family circumstances I faced?
• ➤ Is there any way to request urgent processing of the PR card, given that I need it by June 30, 2025 at the absolute latest to continue my medical training? If not, is reapplying under Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) grounds a viable route?

I am willing to provide any documentation needed — medical records, proof of my child’s diagnosis, support letters, etc. I am not seeking special treatment, just a fair opportunity to explain my situation and comply with the process.

If anyone has navigated a similar issue or has insight on how best to approach this — including how to reach IRCC or structure an H&C request — I’d be deeply grateful for your input.
Thank you sincerely for taking the time to read and for any support or advice you can offer.

Warm regards,
A mother, physician-in-training, and Canadian PR working to make things right

Your old application is dead in the water and cannot be revived.

You'll need to submit a new application and will want to do that asap. IRCC will in certain circumstances allow you to count time spent with a citizen spouse outside of Canada however will also at time applied the "who followed whom rule". Did you move out of Canada first and your spouse followed or was it the other way around?

You also need to develop a backup plan of what you will do in the event you don't have a valid PR card by end of June. That is a very real possibility since you've left the renewal so late.