Hi,
I am currently in Canada as a student with a valid study permit (and an ETA since I'm from a visa-exempt country). Yesterday, my PR application has finally been approved and I have been invited to complete it via the new CIC online system.
Unfortunately, the timing is quite bad since I was planning to go to the US for a study-related visit in about a month and stay there for 2 weeks. As far as I understand it, my PR card will take at least 2-3 months to arrive and I need a PR travel document if I want to travel and return to Canada earlier (which itself will take at least 2 weeks to process and is therefore not a reasonable option).
Here are my questions:
- Most websites seem to imply that as soon as I become a permanent resident my study permit and ETA immediately become invalid and I can't use them for travel anymore. However, I can't find an explicit confirmation of this anywhere and all the CIC websites seem to assume that PR applicants don't have another permit that is still valid when they get approved. Is it actually true that I cannot leave and re-enter Canada with my ETA and study permit while I am waiting for the PR card to arrive?
- At which point exactly am I considered a permanent resident (in the sense that my study permit and ETA become invalid)? Is it already too late or could I theoretically delay completing my application by not uploading my photo and confirming my details on the website for another month?
- A CIC website seems to suggest that I can apply for urgent processing of my PR card if I submit proof of my planned travel. Does this apply to my case or is this only for renewals? If yes, how long does the urgent processing take?
Thanks for the help!
I am currently in Canada as a student with a valid study permit (and an ETA since I'm from a visa-exempt country). Yesterday, my PR application has finally been approved and I have been invited to complete it via the new CIC online system.
Unfortunately, the timing is quite bad since I was planning to go to the US for a study-related visit in about a month and stay there for 2 weeks. As far as I understand it, my PR card will take at least 2-3 months to arrive and I need a PR travel document if I want to travel and return to Canada earlier (which itself will take at least 2 weeks to process and is therefore not a reasonable option).
Here are my questions:
- Most websites seem to imply that as soon as I become a permanent resident my study permit and ETA immediately become invalid and I can't use them for travel anymore. However, I can't find an explicit confirmation of this anywhere and all the CIC websites seem to assume that PR applicants don't have another permit that is still valid when they get approved. Is it actually true that I cannot leave and re-enter Canada with my ETA and study permit while I am waiting for the PR card to arrive?
- At which point exactly am I considered a permanent resident (in the sense that my study permit and ETA become invalid)? Is it already too late or could I theoretically delay completing my application by not uploading my photo and confirming my details on the website for another month?
- A CIC website seems to suggest that I can apply for urgent processing of my PR card if I submit proof of my planned travel. Does this apply to my case or is this only for renewals? If yes, how long does the urgent processing take?
Thanks for the help!