Please help me get back to Canada.

[lchead]

hey everyone,
please help guide me on how to get back into canada,
my aunty send for me from african to canada when i was 14years old, she was my guidance, i had all my documents like SSN AND PR CARD, i was working and going to high school,at age 17 my aunty suggested i visit my mother and siblings in NEW YORK, arrive in NY DEC 25 2008, weeks later my aunty called and told my mom that she think i should stay in NY and not come back to canada, (some people don`t like taking care of other people kids i guess) i had no choice but to stay, finished my high school and some college in NY and now am 21years old, i want to move back. question 1: what is the best way to do so? I STILL HAVE MY CANADIAN SSN AND PR CARD WHICH JUST EXPRIREd 21 of april 2012, i was also reading online and it says that if you were in the country for 3years you can apply for citizenship, should i apply for travel document to go back and apply for citizenship? or can i apply from NY? if i cant apply for citizenship should i apply for travel document move back then renew my PR card? i can't called the CIC number from here but i've called my aunty and asked her for help so maybe later she will make a 3way for me,and am also gonna be using her address can i do that?


thanks

 

[scylla]

Unfortunately you do not qualify to apply for citizenship. To qualify to apply for citizenship, you must have lived in Canada for 3 out of the last 4 years before applying.

I would recommend that you apply for a travel document and include as much information as possible to prove that you were removed from Canada as a minor (i.e. it was not your decision to leave Canada) and that you now want to return to Canada to live as a PR. Also, explain why you had no choice but to stay and finish high school and some college in the US. Make sure you provide good reasons.

It's really too bad you didn't return to Canada last year before your PR card expired. This may work against you because you did in fact have an opportunity to return once you became an adult and you failed to do so.

But by all means try...

 

[Leon]

You are still only 21 so you are still young. The manual for the immigration officers actually suggests that they should take into account if you are returning first opportunity after turning 22 so I think you still have a chance. You should try it.

There is also another option. If you are visa exempt to Canada, you could just go to the border and cross it and see if they let you enter. The immigration officer could decide to let you enter without reporting you for not meeting the residency requirements and if they do, you could simply stay for 2 years and then apply to renew your PR card normally as you will them meet the residency obligation again. However, living in Canada without a valid PR card from the get go could pose a problem. You can work because you have a SIN card but you may have some hassles proving your PR status in order to for example get a drivers license or health card.