Obligation to stay in Canada for minor student, studying in US

[PaulQ]

My family, due to my employment in Canada, became permanent residents in Feb. 2008. We are US citizens. However, my oldest daughter, then 20, and now almost 22, was at the time and remains a student at the University of Illinois, where she has lived full time during this period, except for visits to us a few times a year. She graduates in December and needs to know if she is required to come to Canada within a year (hence 3 years after PR status), or if she has more time to explore jobs in the US.

1) Does her 5 years (for the 2 years in 5 requirement) begin in Feb. 2008, when she got PR status; when she turns 22 (October); when she graduates in December--or WHEN?

2) I'm puzzled because I find nothing about an allowance for studying abroad on the CIC site, but some posts here seem to indicate such an allowance for students under 22. Is there a document about this?

Thank you very much in advance.

 

[Leon]

1) Her 5 years started when she landed as a PR.

2) There is allowance for dependent children who are PR and are accompanying Canadian citizens or PR parents in other countries but that does not apply here.

It sounds like your daughter is not convinced that she wants her PR. She has to make her decision. Either explore jobs in the US and stay there or use her PR and settle in Canada.

 

[PaulQ]

Thank you very much. You provide a lot of help to a lot of people.

FYI, re this: "She has to make her decision." A relatively new relationship with a young man is at issue.

 

[Leon]

Well, if she ends up being married to him for the next 50 years, then it might be a good decision to stay in the US. If she however ends up breaking up with him just after losing her Canada PR, not so good. These are the kind of things nobody can know.

IMO I would advise her to try to hang on to her PR if possible. Stay in the US as long as she can and then go and suffer her 2 years in Canada with many visits and possibly both of them living close to the border to make it easier. If it is serious, she can sponsor him for PR too or maybe he can get a work permit on his own.