Renouncing PR status to start new PR status procedures

[brue]

Hi everyone,

Looking through the forum I found some people with similar situations to mine, but not exactly and I couldn't get the answers I hoped. Here is the case: I was a PR when I was 3 because my parents lived in Canada for a bit. We moved back to France and since then I lived all my life there, never thinking about it again. But now, I am married to a Canadian citizen and I was going to start the process for sponsorship, when I found out about my PR status that was never revoked. However, it's obviously expired and I haven't met the requirements to keep it.

SO I was told by a CIC agent that the best for me is to renounce my old status so that I can start a new one. The problem is, I have no idea how long renouncing takes, and the sponsorship itself is already quite long. So here are my questions:

1) Does anyone know how long it takes to process a voluntary renunciation? Is there any way to talk to someone who knows what's happening there? Because there is no number nor email for the renunciation office. And CIC agents on the phone haven't been able to say anything about it.

2) Can I start the new procedure for sponsorship while waiting for my renunciation to be processed? I might as well do that instead of just waiting with no information whatsoever.

Thank you for your help!!

 

[Rob_TO]

How long have you been living with your Canadian citizen spouse? Once you live with them for 2 years, you may then be considered to be back in compliance with the residency obligation, and can possibly just apply for a PR Travel Document and renew your existing PR status once back in Canada.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5445ETOC.asp#appendixA
You may also count days outside of Canada as days for which you satisfy the residency obligation in the following circumstances:

Situation 1. Accompanying a Canadian citizen outside Canada

You may count each day that you accompanied a Canadian citizen outside Canada provided that the person you accompanied is your spouse, common-law partner or parent (if you are a child under 19 years of age).

 

[Bs65]

Going by some peoples feedback on an unrelated topic when they applied for an ETA which then got held up as they were long ago PRs when they renounced online it was a quick process , a matter of a week or so when cleared for their ETA to be issued. Obviously ETA applications may be a special case, no way of knowing other than is same renounce process.

However as per ROB_TO exhaust the accompanying spouse option first as will save a lot of hassle and only renounce if you really have to. Then as others will advise if going the sponsorship route do so with an outland application.

 

[deep purple]

google: renouncing PR status in Canada. Follow he link with the simple instruction.
You must renounce your PR before applying for a new Family Visa or TRV.
The application to renounce the PR should be submitted to the nearest Canadian consulate near you. The whole process is fast and takes between 2-3 weeks
A PRR (Permanent Residence Relinquishment) Letter will then be emailed to you and should be attached with your future Visa application.
Being a former PR it seems is an advantage when you apply for a new TRV or Family visa later.
Your Client ID number in you cancelled PR card will be shown in new visas (TRV or Family Visa) that will be issued to you later. Immigration officers will know at point of entry that you are a former PR of Canada and will happily say "Welcome back to Canada"! ;D