Update - and More Questions on PR Card Renewal and Situation B Previous Post

[EdinSC]

Good afternoon,

I am, for simplicity, including my original post below (in Italics). My new issues and questions will follow that. I will also include some screenshots of messages we have received in one way or another.

Good morning,

I am Canadian citizen and my wife has had a PR Card since 2005. We let her card expire when we moved back to the US in 2013 for my employment opportunity not knowing that Situation B allows that every day she is with me outside the country is counted as a day in Canada.

We have applied for a PR Card and PR Travel Document knowing that we will have to return to Canada to pick up the card when it is issued.

The PR Travel Document was approved and issued quickly. We sent her passport in and they entered the Travel Visa. There was however no indication of progress on the PR Card renewal application itself. We submitted a webform that was answered and they said they had all of the documents and her file was in process. We sent another later and were told to be patient. So now three months + later we sent another which says they have no record of an application.

I looked for a number we can call to talk to someone about this and the only one I found for outside Canada is 1-613-944-4000. We called that number and they state clearly after going through the menu that they do not deal with PR Card application and that if there is an issue submit a webform. We have submitted three.

Now I am questioning whether we should have submitted as if we were in Canada because we meet the residency requires via Situation B. Otherwise we can re-submit as if outside Canada and go through the same exercise again.

She has lived with me in Canada twice and we have been married for 21 years.

Anyone have any insights or a number that can be used to talk to a real person in IRCC that can assist in navigating this?

Thanks in advance,

EdinSC

After you were all so kind in answering we ultimately decided we were not likely to get far with our application (although we remained hopeful). If we needed to just return to Canada when ready and then renew my wife's PR card so be it. One of the reasons (although there are others) we wanted to get it done earlier is that in recognition that it might take a little time we were trying to get her status as a PR completed prior to returning to make her eligible for application for healthcare asap upon arrival.

In any event the application didn't seem to generate any response and we were had resolved ourselves it was not being processed. But for one reason or another we did not pay enough attention to an email she received on Mar. 13, 2025. The text is below.

From: IRCC PR Portal / Portail RP IRCC <IRCC.DoNotReply-NePasRepondre.IRCC@prson-srpel.apps.cic.gc.ca>
Date: Thu, Mar 13, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Subject: Permanent Residence Portal - The Permanent Resident Card process has been initiated for an application linked to your account | Portail de résidence permanente - Le processus pour une demande de carte de résident permanent a été initié dans votre compte

This is an automated message. Do not reply to this email.

Hello,

This email confirms that the process has been initiated for a permanent resident card application linked to your IRCC permanent residence portal account.

To monitor the status of your application and complete the required declaration, log into your portal account with your current log-in credentials.

To avoid missing our emails, check your junk or spam folder.

Thank you,

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

The frustrating thing is that if we go back to the application tracking site itself it nothing shows. It continues to say "no application can be found."

So I went back to the Permanent Resident Portal to see what I could learn there. I could not get a screenshot to transpose correctly so forgive me if I simply summarize what it there. am posting below a copy of what is on that site.

The info available there states that the PRTD was last updated and shows a status of 'Submitted' Dec. 4, 2024. To be accurate the PRTD was issued on Dec. 4, 2024. It is good for one year. The visa was placed in her US passport and returned to us.

The info also states that the Permanent Resident Card status was last updated Mar. 13, 2025 and states that status as 'Initiated'. It does not show a date of submission.

Does anyone have any insight or even opinion on whether they are actually processing this thing now or not? Mid-stream in the first discussion someone suggested that they may not pay attention to whether in fact we were in Canada when it was submitted. Perhaps that is the case. Nonetheless it has been two months since that email indicating that the application has been Initiated but still does not show in the tracker. And we have received no further notices or emails.

Sorry to be a pest but would love to hear from you all again.

Thanks,

Ed

 

[armoured]

I'd just wait and see what happens

 

[canuck78]

Good afternoon,

I am, for simplicity, including my original post below (in Italics). My new issues and questions will follow that. I will also include some screenshots of messages we have received in one way or another.

Good morning,

I am Canadian citizen and my wife has had a PR Card since 2005. We let her card expire when we moved back to the US in 2013 for my employment opportunity not knowing that Situation B allows that every day she is with me outside the country is counted as a day in Canada.

We have applied for a PR Card and PR Travel Document knowing that we will have to return to Canada to pick up the card when it is issued.

The PR Travel Document was approved and issued quickly. We sent her passport in and they entered the Travel Visa. There was however no indication of progress on the PR Card renewal application itself. We submitted a webform that was answered and they said they had all of the documents and her file was in process. We sent another later and were told to be patient. So now three months + later we sent another which says they have no record of an application.

I looked for a number we can call to talk to someone about this and the only one I found for outside Canada is 1-613-944-4000. We called that number and they state clearly after going through the menu that they do not deal with PR Card application and that if there is an issue submit a webform. We have submitted three.

Now I am questioning whether we should have submitted as if we were in Canada because we meet the residency requires via Situation B. Otherwise we can re-submit as if outside Canada and go through the same exercise again.

She has lived with me in Canada twice and we have been married for 21 years.

Anyone have any insights or a number that can be used to talk to a real person in IRCC that can assist in navigating this?

Thanks in advance,

EdinSC

After you were all so kind in answering we ultimately decided we were not likely to get far with our application (although we remained hopeful). If we needed to just return to Canada when ready and then renew my wife's PR card so be it. One of the reasons (although there are others) we wanted to get it done earlier is that in recognition that it might take a little time we were trying to get her status as a PR completed prior to returning to make her eligible for application for healthcare asap upon arrival.

In any event the application didn't seem to generate any response and we were had resolved ourselves it was not being processed. But for one reason or another we did not pay enough attention to an email she received on Mar. 13, 2025. The text is below.

From: IRCC PR Portal / Portail RP IRCC <IRCC.DoNotReply-NePasRepondre.IRCC@prson-srpel.apps.cic.gc.ca>
Date: Thu, Mar 13, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Subject: Permanent Residence Portal - The Permanent Resident Card process has been initiated for an application linked to your account | Portail de résidence permanente - Le processus pour une demande de carte de résident permanent a été initié dans votre compte

This is an automated message. Do not reply to this email.

Hello,

This email confirms that the process has been initiated for a permanent resident card application linked to your IRCC permanent residence portal account.

To monitor the status of your application and complete the required declaration, log into your portal account with your current log-in credentials.

To avoid missing our emails, check your junk or spam folder.

Thank you,

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

The frustrating thing is that if we go back to the application tracking site itself it nothing shows. It continues to say "no application can be found."

So I went back to the Permanent Resident Portal to see what I could learn there. I could not get a screenshot to transpose correctly so forgive me if I simply summarize what it there. am posting below a copy of what is on that site.

The info available there states that the PRTD was last updated and shows a status of 'Submitted' Dec. 4, 2024. To be accurate the PRTD was issued on Dec. 4, 2024. It is good for one year. The visa was placed in her US passport and returned to us.

The info also states that the Permanent Resident Card status was last updated Mar. 13, 2025 and states that status as 'Initiated'. It does not show a date of submission.

Does anyone have any insight or even opinion on whether they are actually processing this thing now or not? Mid-stream in the first discussion someone suggested that they may not pay attention to whether in fact we were in Canada when it was submitted. Perhaps that is the case. Nonetheless it has been two months since that email indicating that the application has been Initiated but still does not show in the tracker. And we have received no further notices or emails.

Sorry to be a pest but would love to hear from you all again.

Thanks,

Ed

Did your wife apply for PR card renewal while in Canada? You mention needing the PRTD to pick up the PR card but how did she enter to apply? She would have confirmed that she was applying from Canada when applying for the PR card renewal. You can’t apply for PR card renewal while outside Canada. It can be processed while you are outside Canada.

 

[shayankarim]

it’s clear how frustrating and confusing this process has been.


From what you've described, it does sound like the PR Card application is at least partially in motion. The fact that you received the automated message on March 13, 2025, stating that the process has been “Initiated” means IRCC has linked the application to the PR portal — but the fact that it doesn’t show up in the tracker might simply be a glitch or a delay in syncing between systems.


Here are a few suggestions that might help:

1. Check the PR Portal Frequently: Sometimes status updates appear in the portal even if they don’t reflect in the old application tracker.
2. Webform Follow-Up: You might try referencing the Mar. 13 IRCC email in a new webform message — include the exact wording and mention that the portal shows “Initiated” status.
3. Call from Within Canada (If Possible): If you or a trusted friend/family member is in Canada, try calling IRCC at 1-888-242-2100. That number often gets better results, especially when navigating automated menus.
4. Consider Re-Submission Only as Last Resort: Since you’ve received confirmation from IRCC, avoid duplicate submissions unless you're told by IRCC to reapply.

It’s good that your wife’s time abroad with you qualifies under Situation B for residency obligation. That should work in your favor once the PR card is issued or if they ask for proof.


Wishing you the best — please keep us posted if there are any new developments.

 

[EdinSC]

Did your wife apply for PR card renewal while in Canada? You mention needing the PRTD to pick up the PR card but how did she enter to apply? She would have confirmed that she was applying from Canada when applying for the PR card renewal. You can’t apply for PR card renewal while outside Canada. It can be processed while you are outside Canada.

My wife applied on line.

When asked what location she was at she responded truthfully. She was in the US.

No message popped up saying that she must come to Canada to apply and nothing else in the application stated that.

I am not saying that is not the case, I am simply stating they leave it unclear.

Thanks for responding.

 

[EdinSC]

I'd just wait and see what happens

Yes we will do that.

Thanks.

 

[EdinSC]

it’s clear how frustrating and confusing this process has been.


From what you've described, it does sound like the PR Card application is at least partially in motion. The fact that you received the automated message on March 13, 2025, stating that the process has been “Initiated” means IRCC has linked the application to the PR portal — but the fact that it doesn’t show up in the tracker might simply be a glitch or a delay in syncing between systems.


Here are a few suggestions that might help:

1. Check the PR Portal Frequently: Sometimes status updates appear in the portal even if they don’t reflect in the old application tracker.
2. Webform Follow-Up: You might try referencing the Mar. 13 IRCC email in a new webform message — include the exact wording and mention that the portal shows “Initiated” status.
3. Call from Within Canada (If Possible): If you or a trusted friend/family member is in Canada, try calling IRCC at 1-888-242-2100. That number often gets better results, especially when navigating automated menus.
4. Consider Re-Submission Only as Last Resort: Since you’ve received confirmation from IRCC, avoid duplicate submissions unless you're told by IRCC to reapply.

It’s good that your wife’s time abroad with you qualifies under Situation B for residency obligation. That should work in your favor once the PR card is issued or if they ask for proof.


Wishing you the best — please keep us posted if there are any new developments.

Good suggestions.

Thanks.

 

[shayankarim]

Good suggestions.

Thanks.

;}

 

[StressedEngland]

Hang in there!

 

[EdinSC]

Hang in there!

Will do!

 

[canuck78]

My wife applied on line.

When asked what location she was at she responded truthfully. She was in the US.

No message popped up saying that she must come to Canada to apply and nothing else in the application stated that.

I am not saying that is not the case, I am simply stating they leave it unclear.

Thanks for responding.

You can only apply while in Canada. Haven’t seen the allocation recently but was under the impression you now had to confirm that you were in Canada when you submitted the PR card renewal. You should withdraw the application and return to Canada to apply for the PR card. The fact that your wife didn’t apply while in Canada could/should lead to a refusal.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...ermanent-residents/travel-outside-canada.html

 

[armoured]

You can only apply while in Canada. Haven’t seen the allocation recently but was under the impression you now had to confirm that you were in Canada when you submitted the PR card renewal. You should withdraw the application and return to Canada to apply for the PR card. The fact that your wife didn’t apply while in Canada could/should lead to a refusal.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...ermanent-residents/travel-outside-canada.html

I would NOT recommend withdrawing it just on this basis. It seems to be in process and this does by some reports no longer automatically result in this (lawyers noting they're getting them approved). Normally I'd agree but this above case was a bit specific.* Both the PRTD and fact it's based on spousal accompaniment.

I'd wait as above and/or order gcms notes.

*Side note: I'm not suggesting anyone should apply from outside Canada unless through a representative - but in this specific case, since connected with a PRTD in very specific circumstances, case a bit different.

 

[canuck78]

I would NOT recommend withdrawing it just on this basis. It seems to be in process and this does by some reports no longer automatically result in this (lawyers noting they're getting them approved). Normally I'd agree but this above case was a bit specific.* Both the PRTD and fact it's based on spousal accompaniment.

I'd wait as above and/or order gcms notes.

*Side note: I'm not suggesting anyone should apply from outside Canada unless through a representative - but in this specific case, since connected with a PRTD in very specific circumstances, case a bit different.

Fair argument. Processing seems to be taking a long time and if asked to come pick up the card in person it would become apparent that she had not applied when in Canada during the interview. I guess up to officer whether they decide to take action. Don’t think OP indicates they want to move back to Canada so they could have asked for a multiple entry PRTD if she just wants to visit Canada occasionally.