PR validaity

[Rajma16]

Hi Experts,

I got my Canada Visa Port of entry on 04 Feb 2015 and after 5 days of stay, I returned back to my home country. My PR is valid till 03 Feb 2020.

Now, my question is

1) For how long can I stay out of Canada without my PR in invalid state?
2) I will be completing my 2 years of receiving the PR in Feb 2017, So can I enter Canada after Feb 2017 and work in Canada?

Thanks in Advance.

 

[djshshajtm]

Here is the link to the requirements
http://bfy.tw/6NOn

If you left 5 days after, do you even have your PR Card?

 

[riddymon]

Hi Experts,

I got my Canada Visa Port of entry on 04 Feb 2015 and after 5 days of stay, I returned back to my home country. My PR is valid till 03 Feb 2020.

Now, my question is

1) For how long can I stay out of Canada without my PR in invalid state?
2) I will be completing my 2 years of receiving the PR in Feb 2017, So can I enter Canada after Feb 2017 and work in Canada?

Thanks in Advance.

You can stay out for the duration of your PR validity. You can just come back to canada and keep renewing your PR card indefinitely before it expires (although it takes a while). However, I believe you need to spend 4 out of 5 years (or 3 out of 5...don't remember what it is exactly....someone correct me) in Canada in order to be eligible for Citizenship which is what most people are aiming for as the ultimate goal after becoming a permanent resident.

 

[Cabra]

You can stay out for the duration of your PR validity. You can just come back to canada and keep renewing your PR card indefinitely before it expires (although it takes a while). However, I believe you need to spend 4 out of 5 years (or 3 out of 5...don't remember what it is exactly....someone correct me) in Canada in order to be eligible for Citizenship which is what most people are aiming for as the ultimate goal after becoming a permanent resident.

You can lose your permanent residency if you don't live in Canada for the amount of time required, it's not only the Citizenship what counts in this case.

From: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/about-pr.asp

Time spent living in Canada
When you are a permanent resident, you can live outside of Canada, but must live in Canada for at least two years in a five-year period. If you live outside of Canada for longer, you may lose your permanent resident status.

For more information on how long you have to live in Canada, see Appendix A: Residency obligation of the PR card application package.

 

[Rajma16]

Thank you Cabra for your valuable inputs. Highly appreciable.

1 more question- Living in Canada for 2 years in five is for retaining and extending the PR status or is it like that I can come to Canada in 5th Year and work for 1 year and then go back?

 

[Bs65]

Thank you Cabra for your valuable inputs. Highly appreciable.

1 more question- Living in Canada for 2 years in five is for retaining and extending the PR status or is it like that I can come to Canada in 5th Year and work for 1 year and then go back?

No you must reside in Canada for 730 days (2 Years) in that 5 years since obtaining PR else you risk losing PR.

Although in theory you could come back in year 5 you must then stay in the country for 2 years without leaving to re-establish residency else risk losing PR altogether. Once established residency again you could in theory stay out for 3 years then come back and stay 2 years without leaving although that would be no use to move to citizenship.

Only exceptional humanitarian and compassionate grounds for not meeting residency would this be waived.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5445ETOC.asp#appendixA

Others can correct me if wrong but end of day the residency rules are in place for a reason to ensure people are genuine immigrants who want to reside in Canada.

 

[canada303]

good luck everyone

 

[canada303]

good luck everyone

 

[Naheulbeuck]

1) For how long can I stay out of Canada without my PR in invalid state?
2) I will be completing my 2 years of receiving the PR in Feb 2017, So can I enter Canada after Feb 2017 and work in Canada?

You can theoretically stay close to 3 years outside of Canada, come your close to the end of your 3rd year and then stay 2 years and a few days and then renew your card when you reach the 2 years out of 5, however it means that after that you cannot leave canada at all, not even for a few days vacation or you might be in breach of your residency obligation.

If you come after 3 years spent outside, your PR card will still be valid but when entering Canada you run the risk of being reported by the officer as he will be able to determine that you will fail to meet the 2 years requirement, in which case it will start a procedure to revoke your PR (and unless you have very strong reasons to stay away, not just a good job or studies, you will lose your PR).

I recommend staying abroad 2 years and coming back so as to have some margin in case you need to leave for a few months later.