PR Residency: Do partial days count when commuting to US for work?

[robincanada2014]

Hey group! Quick question from a Canadian PR who commutes to the US for work.

Example trip:Leave Canada 2 AM → work in US all day/overnight → back to Canada ~11 PM next day.

I'm in Canada a few hours on departure day (before 2 AM) and a few hours on return day (after 11 PM).

Does IRCC count both days as full days toward the 730-day PR residency requirement?

Also: If I do this regularly (several times/week), is it usually fine for PR card renewal — as long as total days in Canada stay above 730 over 5 years?I keep homes in both Canada and US (with Canadian ties like bills). Does the US home cause issues at renewal or border?

Anyone commuting cross-border as a PR? How do you track days? Any problems renewing?

 

[Besram]

Hey group! Quick question from a Canadian PR who commutes to the US for work.

Example trip:Leave Canada 2 AM → work in US all day/overnight → back to Canada ~11 PM next day.

I'm in Canada a few hours on departure day (before 2 AM) and a few hours on return day (after 11 PM).

Does IRCC count both days as full days toward the 730-day PR residency requirement?

Also: If I do this regularly (several times/week), is it usually fine for PR card renewal — as long as total days in Canada stay above 730 over 5 years?I keep homes in both Canada and US (with Canadian ties like bills). Does the US home cause issues at renewal or border?

Anyone commuting cross-border as a PR? How do you track days? Any problems renewing?

Any day partially in Canada counts as a full day in Canada.

The criteria to maintain your PR status is 730 days in Canada on a rolling basis. As long as you meet this, there is no issue, even if you maintain a home in the US.

Would highly recommend you keep exact records though of each trip - there have been reports of inaccurate border records, so it's important to keep your own.

 

[armoured]

Does IRCC count both days as full days toward the 730-day PR residency requirement?

Also: If I do this regularly (several times/week), is it usually fine for PR card renewal — as long as total days in Canada stay above 730 over 5 years?I keep homes in both Canada and US (with Canadian ties like bills). Does the US home cause issues at renewal or border?

Anyone commuting cross-border as a PR? How do you track days? Any problems renewing?

Not the same situation but my wife (fully resident here) has to go for work quite a lot. Up untl point where citizenship app was submitted, a large proportion of the trips were three day trips - eg leave on a monday am return on wednesday late. These all counted for only one day away, confirmed, and physical presence got confirmed easily. Even an interview went fine,a nd there wasn't the slightest hint that it was improper or the partial days didn't count - just asked nicely why so much travel and credibility check about work.

Side note, only flying, and the entry/exit records were quite complete (one missing departure). I've heard land entry/exit records can be less reliable - YMMV. Keep your own records. If you possibly can, try to keep some evidence of your entry/exit/presence on each day. Will be a pain in the butt but could be worth it - just find a folder or mailbox to keep them in. I don't know what receipts you get but a simple routine like "I always get a coffee right after crossing border either way and keep the receipt" might cost you a bit, but save some hassles. (If you don't have boarding passes and the like)

Now note: if you're commuting and keeping homes in each and hence ambiguous which one is 'home' - your idea of what counts as principal residency and 'tax residency' are different things; so tax and customs issues could get messy, but as long as you handle it. Cars: basically they don't want you living in one country while keeping car registered in t'other to avoid duties and taxes. YMMV on that

 

[canuck78]

Would second the fact that determining what is your primary residence becomes quite important when it comes to things like taxes, insurance, etc. You will have to pick one.