Renounce PR or Re-Apply for PR Card?

[FrankAnkrn]

Hi everyone,

We've done some research but would really appreciate any help we can get on this!

My mother is currently a PR. My father was a PR ~10 years ago, but he had to move back to our home country take care of the elderly (both passed now). He could not meet the RO due to this.

We thought his PR status was already lost, so in the past ~10 years, he didn't live in Canada at all. We all just assumed that we will just apply for spousal sponsorship once he's ready to come back to Canada.

But now we learned that his PR status is not actually "lost", and can be re-obtained again, because he didn't renounce his PR status. Right now he wishes to live in Canada for the long-term. We hope he can come by beginning of 2026. I believe we have 2 options below:

Option 1:
- Submit the PR renewal process
- Get the PRTD (Travel Document)
- Come to Canada and hope it the PR will be approved based on H&C grounds

Option 2:
- Renounce PR status
- Then re-apply for PR from my mother's spousal sponsorship
- Get a visitor visa to stay in Canada while waiting for PR

We're not sure which option to go here. I'm worried that by going option 1, the PRTD is only temporary, and he needs to wait for his PR status to be approved again. And what if it's not approved, he's no longer a PR, and does he have to leave Canada immediately? Either way this is a risk and it will waste more time waiting for a decision.

So is it better to just renounce the PR now, and start over? This way at least he can stay in Canada with the Visitor visa, and won't have to worry about going back to the home country, since he plans to live in Canada for the long-term now.

Any inputs is greatly appreciated!

 

[scylla]

Hi everyone,

We've done some research but would really appreciate any help we can get on this!

My mother is currently a PR. My father was a PR ~10 years ago, but he had to move back to our home country take care of the elderly (both passed now). He could not meet the RO due to this.

We thought his PR status was already lost, so in the past ~10 years, he didn't live in Canada at all. We all just assumed that we will just apply for spousal sponsorship once he's ready to come back to Canada.

But now we learned that his PR status is not actually "lost", and can be re-obtained again, because he didn't renounce his PR status. Right now he wishes to live in Canada for the long-term. We hope he can come by beginning of 2026. I believe we have 2 options below:

Option 1:
- Submit the PR renewal process
- Get the PRTD (Travel Document)
- Come to Canada and hope it the PR will be approved based on H&C grounds

Option 2:
- Renounce PR status
- Then re-apply for PR from my mother's spousal sponsorship
- Get a visitor visa to stay in Canada while waiting for PR

We're not sure which option to go here. I'm worried that by going option 1, the PRTD is only temporary, and he needs to wait for his PR status to be approved again. And what if it's not approved, he's no longer a PR, and does he have to leave Canada immediately? Either way this is a risk and it will waste more time waiting for a decision.

So is it better to just renounce the PR now, and start over? This way at least he can stay in Canada with the Visitor visa, and won't have to worry about going back to the home country, since he plans to live in Canada for the long-term now.

Any inputs is greatly appreciated!

For Option 1, he can only apply to renew his PR card once he is physically in Canada. So the first step is to apply for a PRTD under H&C or to re-enter Canada via the US through a land border.

For Option 2, does your mother meet RO?

 

[FrankAnkrn]

For Option 1, he can only apply to renew his PR card once he is physically in Canada. So the first step is to apply for a PRTD under H&C or to re-enter Canada via the US through a land border.

For Option 2, does your mother meet RO?

Thanks for the quick reply!

For option 2, my mother is a valid PR who meets the RO. We’re also considering for my mother to become a Canadian citizen if it helps my father’s case.

Oh, I wasn’t aware the PRTD has a H&C portion as well. So does that mean if the PRTD is approved, then the PR status is going to be renewed as well? Just a matter of time?

 

[scylla]

Thanks for the quick reply!

For option 2, my mother is a valid PR who meets the RO. We’re also considering for my mother to become a Canadian citizen if it helps my father’s case.

Oh, I wasn’t aware the PRTD has a H&C portion as well. So does that mean if the PRTD is approved, then the PR status is going to be renewed as well? Just a matter of time?

Whether your mother is a citizen or not doesn't make a different.

For the second option, the PRTD being approved under H&C does not absolutely guarantee the PR card will be renewed as well. But certainly means there's a good chance. If the PRTD is approved, he would then apply for PR card renewal under H&C once he is in Canada. He would then want to remain in Canada without leaving until the PR card renewal is approved.

 

[FrankAnkrn]

Whether your mother is a citizen or not doesn't make a different.

For the second option, the PRTD being approved under H&C does not absolutely guarantee the PR card will be renewed as well. But certainly means there's a good chance. If the PRTD is approved, he would then apply for PR card renewal under H&C once he is in Canada. He would then want to remain in Canada without leaving until the PR card renewal is approved.

I see, thanks for your input. It looks like the best option is to apply for the PRTD and see what happens. If that's denied or approved, then we can consider the next steps.

 

[canuck78]

Hi everyone,

We've done some research but would really appreciate any help we can get on this!

My mother is currently a PR. My father was a PR ~10 years ago, but he had to move back to our home country take care of the elderly (both passed now). He could not meet the RO due to this.

We thought his PR status was already lost, so in the past ~10 years, he didn't live in Canada at all. We all just assumed that we will just apply for spousal sponsorship once he's ready to come back to Canada.

But now we learned that his PR status is not actually "lost", and can be re-obtained again, because he didn't renounce his PR status. Right now he wishes to live in Canada for the long-term. We hope he can come by beginning of 2026. I believe we have 2 options below:

Option 1:
- Submit the PR renewal process
- Get the PRTD (Travel Document)
- Come to Canada and hope it the PR will be approved based on H&C grounds

Option 2:
- Renounce PR status
- Then re-apply for PR from my mother's spousal sponsorship
- Get a visitor visa to stay in Canada while waiting for PR

We're not sure which option to go here. I'm worried that by going option 1, the PRTD is only temporary, and he needs to wait for his PR status to be approved again. And what if it's not approved, he's no longer a PR, and does he have to leave Canada immediately? Either way this is a risk and it will waste more time waiting for a decision.

So is it better to just renounce the PR now, and start over? This way at least he can stay in Canada with the Visitor visa, and won't have to worry about going back to the home country, since he plans to live in Canada for the long-term now.

Any inputs is greatly appreciated!

Has your mother been spending substantial amounts of time with your father abroad especially if she is retired? If they haven’t been living together for 10 years there may be concerns about their relationship.

 

[steaky]

I see, thanks for your input. It looks like the best option is to apply for the PRTD and see what happens. If that's denied or approved, then we can consider the next steps.

If her PRTD is denied, her option will be to reapply for PR from scratch.

 

[FrankAnkrn]

Has your mother been spending substantial amounts of time with your father abroad especially if she is retired? If they haven’t been living together for 10 years there may be concerns about their relationship.

Yes my mother went back to our home country many times over the last 10+ years, but also making sure she met the RO rules, so she's always been a PR. The longest period was for 3 years during Covid times which they were together the whole time. I don't think they will doubt the relationship.

 

[FrankAnkrn]

If her PRTD is denied, her option will be to reapply for PR from scratch.

Yes, we hope it won't come to that, but at least it's worth a try with the PRTD.