PERMANENT RESIDENCE

[mayorbee]

Dear Snr Members,

I am a permanent resident of the United States, I will like to know if I can still apply for permanent resident in Canada without forfeiting my status in the US.

 

[todiefor]

Your PR status in the US will not be affected/forfeited by applying a PR in Canada. But once you have a PR in Canada, there will be a point where you need to choose between USA and Canada. In Canada, to be able to secure your PR status, you need to live physically in Canada for 2 yrs. out of 5, if not you will not able to renew your PR.

 

[Leon]

The US will forfeit your status when they believe you are no longer living there. Generally that is if you are gone for more than one year but they can actually take it away sooner than that. I knew of people who kept their US green card for years by going there every 6 months but that was before 9-11. I think they are watching more closely now who is coming and going. You could possibly keep both by living in each country for 6 months a year or Canada, you would only need 5 months a year and the rest for US but it's not exactly practical to move 2x a year for work and housing.