PR holder Filipino Med student to Finish Med School in Phil. What are my PR obli

[bonaddictus]

I am a 3rd year Medical student and I want to finish my school in my med school back in Philippines. What are my obligations to retain my PR status? I have stayed here in Canada for a year.


Do I have to inform the Canadian Immigration that I'm going out of the country and stay in Philippines for couple of years to finish school?

Thanks.

Bon

 

[Leon]

You need to have at least 730 days in Canada in your first 5 years as a PR and in any 5 year period after that. You do not have to notify anyone that you are leaving but every time you return to Canada, the immigration officer may look at your passport, ask you if you meet this requirement etc.

 

[bonaddictus]

You need to have at least 730 days in Canada in your first 5 years as a PR and in any 5 year period after that. You do not have to notify anyone that you are leaving but every time you return to Canada, the immigration officer may look at your passport, ask you if you meet this requirement etc.

should I complete the 730 days continuously? or Can I do the rest of the half on my 4th year of stay as Permanent resident?

 

[Msafiri]

should I complete the 730 days continuously? or Can I do the rest of the half on my 4th year of stay as Permanent resident?

The 730 days do not have to be consecutive but you must either have 730 days in the last 5 years if you have held PR status for 5 or more years or be able to get 730 days in 5 years if you have held PR status for less than 5 years. The duration of a standard medical course means you are at a great risk of PR loss - your studying abroad is a personal choice so if this goes to appeal before the Canadian courts don't expect much sympathy.

Your other major problem is that its tough for Internationally Trained Medical Graduates to get jobs in their field in Canada. You may have to go back to medical school here from scratch or go through re-certification hoops. Check the Medical Association website in your Province of Residence to see what is needed. You may end up in a 'lower qualification' job such as a lab tech and get frustrated. You should try and get into medical school here.

Alternatively if your parents are PRs/ Citizens hope that the clause allowing/ defining PR sponsorship of children over 22 years old who have remained in full time education since age 22 and are dependent on the parents remains but that's a gamble that may have a high price to pay if its suspended/non existing when you are done schooling!

Good luck

 

[Leon]

should I complete the 730 days continuously? or Can I do the rest of the half on my 4th year of stay as Permanent resident?

No, you don't have to do them continuously but you should keep proof of travel like boarding cards flight tickets etc. to prove your stays in Canada if you need to. If you already stayed 365 days, you have to stay another 365 days at some point before your first 5 years are up.

 

[bonaddictus]

thank you for all the reply. would it be ok to stay outside Canada for 2 years and 6 mos straight? so basically I still have more than a year extra consiudering that I have completed 365 days

 

[Leon]

thank you for all the reply. would it be ok to stay outside Canada for 2 years and 6 mos straight? so basically I still have more than a year extra consiudering that I have completed 365 days

You are allowed to be outside Canada for up to 3 years in a 5 year period without losing your PR (1094 days or less). That means if you stay outside for 2 years and 6 months straight and before that, you were in Canada for 2 years straight, you have 6 months extra. If you left Canada in the 2 years previous for short trips, you have less than 6 months extra.

 

[bonaddictus]

thank you. for all the replies. It helped me a lot to clarify things. Kudos to you all.

 

[bonaddictus]

i think I've posted this question in one of the threads, When are we suppose to start counting for the length of stay in Canada? when we got our PR card or when we arrived at Vancouver?

 

[Leon]

i think I've posted this question in one of the threads, When are we suppose to start counting for the length of stay in Canada? when we got our PR card or when we arrived at Vancouver?

The clock starts ticking when you landed as a PR at the airport, not when you got your PR card. Your first 5 years as a PR is from the date you landed until 5 years later.