PR Scenario

[digitalmohsin]

Hi Guys,

My PR card expires in March 2025. I am currently working in USA but still haven't got my green card. I haven't stayed in Canada for more than a week. I was wondering if I could enter Canada via land border near my PR card expiry date let's say in February 2025. In that case, can I still work in Canada beyond my PR expiry date? I already have my SIN number. Also, what will happen if I stay in Canada on expired PR card for three years and apply for Canadian citizenship while my PR card was never renewed? Has anybody been in this situation? Thanks.

 

[Ponga]

Since you are waiting for your GC (assuming that's what you meant), have you learned about how difficult it will be to maintain both PR and GC status simultaneously? Not an easy task, to say the least. Canada is much more generous in terms of what is needed to maintain PR status.

You can come to Canada via whichever mode of transportation you choose, including by air, if you have a valid PR card when you travel; no need to only consider crossing at a land PoE. BUT...if you wait until Feb 2025 to do so...no matter which PoE you choose, you should probably be prepared for questioning by the CBSA officer that you encounter at Primary Inspection. If the officer determines (or even suspects) that you have not met the R.O. that is the only requirement to maintain PR status, you could be issued a 44(1) report that could be the beginning of your PR being revoked. Actually...if you became a PR ~March of 2020, you wlll be out of compliance ~ April 1st of next year, so any trips back to Canada after that could lead to being questioned by CBSA. I say `should' be prepared, because even though by that time you would have NOT met the Residency Obligation (R.O.) to keep your PR status, some people do get back into Canada with no questions. They would then need to stay in Canada for at least 730 days before even considering applying for a new PR card, which could be a big problem for them living in Canada, since having a valid PR card is usually needed for other things, like health coverage, a DL, etc.

FWIW, any person entering/reentering Canada can be questioned, but only a Canadian citizen or PR has the right to enter Canada and will not be denied, unless the person is found to be inadmissible.


You can continue to work in Canada (even though it sounds like you are not working in Canada, now) even after your PR card expires. The card expires, but the PR status does not. You remain a PR until/unless your status is revoked for breaching the R.O., or you voluntarily renounce your PR.

Regarding the citizenship question, please wait for others to respond, or post a question in the Citizenship forum.

 

[armoured]

Also, what will happen if I stay in Canada on expired PR card for three years and apply for Canadian citizenship while my PR card was never renewed?

It will be processed like normal, there's no requirement to have a valid PR card.

There's a possibility it might be slower/take longer if your physical time in Canada is not clear or 'cutting it close' (eg just over the minimum number of days). Applying for a PR card renewal and them confirming that part of the time-in-Canada before the citizenship, might, therefore, make the citizenship app a bit quicker - but a bit of speculation and too early to worry about that.

[Note, not looked through other parts of your question and the answers, assume that's all correct]

 

[canuck78]

Hi Guys,

My PR card expires in March 2025. I am currently working in USA but still haven't got my green card. I haven't stayed in Canada for more than a week. I was wondering if I could enter Canada via land border near my PR card expiry date let's say in February 2025. In that case, can I still work in Canada beyond my PR expiry date? I already have my SIN number. Also, what will happen if I stay in Canada on expired PR card for three years and apply for Canadian citizenship while my PR card was never renewed? Has anybody been in this situation? Thanks.

If you get a green card you’ll be required to spend 6 months in the US every year. You should expect that at a certain point you will receive a warning or be reported if you don’t meet your RO, don’t have a valid PR card and cross the border every 6 months. You also may not qualify for health coverage depending on the province. You have to spend 6-12 months during the first year to qualify for health coverage. You would need to stay for exactly 6 months to be compliant with health card RO and GC requirement. Requirements are slightly less for subsequent years. The US usually puts a lot of pressure to pick US or Canada if you have a GC. Realistically in your scenario if you have a GC it will be very hard to come back to Canada without being reported and meet your RO (would take 4 years).