All,
Today I collected my renewed PR card from IRCC office. I want to share my story here to help whoever else might be in similar situation.
Background
I became a Canadian PR in 2019 when I lived in the US on H1 visa. I travelled to Canada for a day with my COPR letter in 2019 and got the PR card mailed at my address.
Due to unforeseen circumstances I could not move to Canada.
Move to Canada
I finally moved to Canada by road in May 2024 along with my daughter who is an American citizen. (a few days prior to my PR card expiry date).
My plan was to stay in Canada for 2 years and then apply for PR card renewal.
I got 44(1) report at the port of entry.
After the Move
I got my Canadian drivers license and health card within a few days of moving here in May 2024. I found a job in a Aug 2024.
Applications and Attorney experience
In August 2024, I submitted a sponsorship application to sponsor my daughter's PR.
In September 2024, the Minister delegate (MD) called me to say that I have H&C grounds that were not asked about at the point of entry. He offered to drop the 44(1) report if I apply for PR card renewal. He said that IRCC is in a better position than him to make a decision on my H&C grounds.
I hired an attorney who exchanged a few emails with the MD after which he suggested to file for PR card renewal.
Attorney said that since my PR card renewal requires H&C explanation, it would cost much more than a simple PR card renewal.
He quoted a flat fee of $ X for my application, which paid in Full in two-three installments after starting the paperwork with him.
He suggested me to write my reasons for not meeting RO and explanation of H&C grounds that he would review for grammatical error and flow. After a few iterations we had a final draft word document that I signed. And I also provided evidence for each point that I had mentioned in that letter. I also got support letters from various connections in Canada and USA. Meanwhile, I had completed the paperwork to import my car in Canada and get a local title. I submitted a copy of car paperwork also. I have posted that experience here. https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-i...threads/importing-a-usa-car-in-canada.858467/
Before the submission of my PR card renewal application, the attorney asked for an additional $Y . This $Y was 74% of $X that he had initially quoted as a flat fee. I did not have it in me to fight the attorney because I already had too much else to worry about including a PR card renewal and newcomer settlement issues, etc.
I did request an explanation for extra fees and some reduction because overall they were charging me 174% of the initially quoted prices. He said that it took him more than anticipated time to work on my application, that's why the extra fees. He connected me to his boss who reduce the fee to make the total = 158% of initially quoted amount X.
Still significantly higher but I did not have it in me to fight them. I paid the extra amount and we submitted the application on Nov 30, 2024.
Sponsorship application update
In Feb 2025, I got a response from IRCC on my daughter's sponsorship application. They asked for additional documents that I uploaded. Since the total size of those additional documents was more than the limit, I had to upload them in 3 different chunks keeping each chunk below the 3.5Mb limit.
That experience is posted here
Later in the same month they requested medical for my daughter which we submitted.
PR Card renewal update
In April 2025, my attorney forwarded me a letter from IRCC on my PR card renewal application suggesting me to pick up my card from Etobicoke office on May 7th at 10AM.
The wording on the letter is as follows:
"This is a notification that your permanent resident (PR) card has been prepared for you and is available at the IRCC office indicated below for 180 days from the date of this notice."
Even though the letter sounded like I had to just go and pick up, it was not completely straight forward.
I went at the scheduled time of 10 AM today. I was called at the counter around 11AM where the lady said that my application has H&C grounds , so an officer will review and make a decision. She asked for my expired PR card, passport and any other document that I wanted to support my application. There was nothing specific. So I gave her the originals of some of the documents that I had submitted through attorney. I also gave her my lease agreement, job offer letter, paystubs, etc. The lady was nice and friendly. She suggested me to come back at 1:30PM after lunch time.
I went back at 1:30PM.
And officer called me at 2PM.
Officer asked me to explain why I did not meet RO in last 5 years and my H&C grounds.
I explained
She said that she is convinced with my explanation and plan forward to stay in Canada. And suggested to not let this happen again.
She asked me to wait to get my card and documents.
At 2:30PM I got my new PR card and documents back. New PR card is valid for 5 years (until March 2030)
Hope this helps answer questions for others who might be in similar situation.
I appreciate this forum for addressing my queries all along !!
Next I am waiting for my daughter's PR application to be approved.
Thank you all.
Today I collected my renewed PR card from IRCC office. I want to share my story here to help whoever else might be in similar situation.
Background
I became a Canadian PR in 2019 when I lived in the US on H1 visa. I travelled to Canada for a day with my COPR letter in 2019 and got the PR card mailed at my address.
Due to unforeseen circumstances I could not move to Canada.
Move to Canada
I finally moved to Canada by road in May 2024 along with my daughter who is an American citizen. (a few days prior to my PR card expiry date).
My plan was to stay in Canada for 2 years and then apply for PR card renewal.
I got 44(1) report at the port of entry.
After the Move
I got my Canadian drivers license and health card within a few days of moving here in May 2024. I found a job in a Aug 2024.
Applications and Attorney experience
In August 2024, I submitted a sponsorship application to sponsor my daughter's PR.
In September 2024, the Minister delegate (MD) called me to say that I have H&C grounds that were not asked about at the point of entry. He offered to drop the 44(1) report if I apply for PR card renewal. He said that IRCC is in a better position than him to make a decision on my H&C grounds.
I hired an attorney who exchanged a few emails with the MD after which he suggested to file for PR card renewal.
Attorney said that since my PR card renewal requires H&C explanation, it would cost much more than a simple PR card renewal.
He quoted a flat fee of $ X for my application, which paid in Full in two-three installments after starting the paperwork with him.
He suggested me to write my reasons for not meeting RO and explanation of H&C grounds that he would review for grammatical error and flow. After a few iterations we had a final draft word document that I signed. And I also provided evidence for each point that I had mentioned in that letter. I also got support letters from various connections in Canada and USA. Meanwhile, I had completed the paperwork to import my car in Canada and get a local title. I submitted a copy of car paperwork also. I have posted that experience here. https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-i...threads/importing-a-usa-car-in-canada.858467/
Before the submission of my PR card renewal application, the attorney asked for an additional $Y . This $Y was 74% of $X that he had initially quoted as a flat fee. I did not have it in me to fight the attorney because I already had too much else to worry about including a PR card renewal and newcomer settlement issues, etc.
I did request an explanation for extra fees and some reduction because overall they were charging me 174% of the initially quoted prices. He said that it took him more than anticipated time to work on my application, that's why the extra fees. He connected me to his boss who reduce the fee to make the total = 158% of initially quoted amount X.
Still significantly higher but I did not have it in me to fight them. I paid the extra amount and we submitted the application on Nov 30, 2024.
Sponsorship application update
In Feb 2025, I got a response from IRCC on my daughter's sponsorship application. They asked for additional documents that I uploaded. Since the total size of those additional documents was more than the limit, I had to upload them in 3 different chunks keeping each chunk below the 3.5Mb limit.
That experience is posted here
Later in the same month they requested medical for my daughter which we submitted.
PR Card renewal update
In April 2025, my attorney forwarded me a letter from IRCC on my PR card renewal application suggesting me to pick up my card from Etobicoke office on May 7th at 10AM.
The wording on the letter is as follows:
"This is a notification that your permanent resident (PR) card has been prepared for you and is available at the IRCC office indicated below for 180 days from the date of this notice."
Even though the letter sounded like I had to just go and pick up, it was not completely straight forward.
I went at the scheduled time of 10 AM today. I was called at the counter around 11AM where the lady said that my application has H&C grounds , so an officer will review and make a decision. She asked for my expired PR card, passport and any other document that I wanted to support my application. There was nothing specific. So I gave her the originals of some of the documents that I had submitted through attorney. I also gave her my lease agreement, job offer letter, paystubs, etc. The lady was nice and friendly. She suggested me to come back at 1:30PM after lunch time.
I went back at 1:30PM.
And officer called me at 2PM.
Officer asked me to explain why I did not meet RO in last 5 years and my H&C grounds.
I explained
She said that she is convinced with my explanation and plan forward to stay in Canada. And suggested to not let this happen again.
She asked me to wait to get my card and documents.
At 2:30PM I got my new PR card and documents back. New PR card is valid for 5 years (until March 2030)
Hope this helps answer questions for others who might be in similar situation.
I appreciate this forum for addressing my queries all along !!
Next I am waiting for my daughter's PR application to be approved.
Thank you all.
