Please help! Getting my mum to Canada

[Phil M]

Hi, I was recently granted the PR status through express entry and I wish to take my mum (aged 67) with me to Canada. She would be very lonely in my home country as my dad has already passed away.

My mum was a PR of Canada, but she has been staying outside Canada for over 20 years. I am not sure if her PR status has been cancelled. As an additional piece of information, one of my mum's siblings is a canadian citizen residing in canada.

What is the best option to get my mum to Canada?

Thanks for your help!

 

[scylla]

Hi, I was recently granted the PR status through express entry and I wish to take my mum (aged 67) with me to Canada. She would be very lonely in my home country as my dad has already passed away.

My mum was a PR of Canada, but she has been staying outside Canada for over 20 years. I am not sure if her PR status has been cancelled. As an additional piece of information, one of my mum's siblings is a canadian citizen residing in canada.

What is the best option to get my mum to Canada?

Thanks for your help!

Your mother is most likely still a PR - however it may be quite challenging for her to enter Canada and keep her status. To try to keep her PR status, she would need to fly to the US and then re-enter Canada by land. She will have to hope she is not reported for failing to meet the residency obligation. If she is reported, she will be called to a hearing and should expect to lose her PR status and have to leave. If she is not reported, then she will need to remain in Canada for 2 years straight before she can apply for a new PR card. During these two years, it may not be possible for her to work or use the health care system (i.e. she will likely have to pay for all medical care out of her own pocket).

She can also renounce her PR status and forget about trying the above. If she renounces her PR status, there is no way for you to immediately bring her to Canada with you permanently. You'll need to move to Canada and work here for at least three years before you may qualify to sponsor her for PR. In the meantime, all she can do is visit. Once you have a job in Canada that meets the low income requirement, you can try to sponsor her for a super visa which could allow her to visit Canada for up to two years - however sooner or later she will need to return home and remain there for a significant period of time before returning as a visitor to Canada.

The fact she has siblings in Canada doesn't make a difference one way or the other.

 

[Phil M]

Thanks scylla for your detailed explanation.

I have just seen a reply from Leon
(https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-i...but-have-my-record-of-landing-imm1000.191761/) advising that "If you were visa exempt, it would be easier because you could enter as a visitor without disclosing that you are a PR". My mother has dual nationality, both of which are visa exempt to Canada. Would it be lega for her to enter as a visitor and stay for 2 years before she applies for a PR card?

 

[scylla]

Thanks scylla for your detailed explanation.

I have just seen a reply from Leon
(https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-i...but-have-my-record-of-landing-imm1000.191761/) advising that "If you were visa exempt, it would be easier because you could enter as a visitor without disclosing that you are a PR". My mother has dual nationality, both of which are visa exempt to Canada. Would it be lega for her to enter as a visitor and stay for 2 years before she applies for a PR card?

That post is from 2014 and things have changed.

To fly directly to Canada she would need to obtain an ETA. She does not qualify for an ETA as a PR. So flying to Canada is not possible.

As said in my post above, her only option is to re-enter Canada by land from the US and hope she is not reported for failing to meet the residency requirement. When entering Canada from the US it's possible she will simply be allowed in and not asked any questions. If, however, she is asked whether she has PR - she must answer truthfully.

 

[scylla]

Make sure you look into health insurance to cover your mother for emergencies. Any non-emergency care will have to be paid out of pocket. She won't have provincial health care coverage for around 2.5 years.

 

[Phil M]

That post is from 2014 and things have changed.

To fly directly to Canada she would need to obtain an ETA. She does not qualify for an ETA as a PR. So flying to Canada is not possible.

As said in my post above, her only option is to re-enter Canada by land from the US and hope she is not reported for failing to meet the residency requirement. When entering Canada from the US it's possible she will simply be allowed in and not asked any questions. If, however, she is asked whether she has PR - she must answer truthfully.

Thanks for your information and advice! Really appreciate your help!

 

[canuck78]

Would be planning for a "plan b" that she has to return to your country of origin. If she gets sick she will also have to go home because emergency insurance won't cover ongoing care. Does she take medication? You will have to pay cash. Do you have money for doctors visits and paying for Rx drugs. 67 isn't considered old in Canada and when you applied to immigrate your mother should have been part of your plans.