Canadian citizen accompanying PR spouse to the US on H4

[renekton]

Hi,

I am a Canadian citizen, and my spouse is a permanent resident (PR) of Canada. My spouse’s H1B visa has recently been approved, and she is planning to move to the U.S. I will be accompanying her on an H4 dependent visa.

I was wondering whether any time we spend together outside of Canada will count towards her PR Residency Obligation (R.O.)?

I understand that Canadian PRs may receive credit for time spent abroad if they are accompanying their Canadian citizen spouse.

I have two questions regarding this
1. Would this still apply in our situation, where I am the one accompanying her on a dependent visa (H4)?
2. Also, I'm curious how would this play out if we're both on H1B visas?

Thank you for your help!

 

[Ponga]

Hi,

I am a Canadian citizen, and my spouse is a permanent resident (PR) of Canada. My spouse’s H1B visa has recently been approved, and she is planning to move to the U.S. I will be accompanying her on an H4 dependent visa.

I was wondering whether any time we spend together outside of Canada will count towards her PR Residency Obligation (R.O.)?

I understand that Canadian PRs may receive credit for time spent abroad if they are accompanying their Canadian citizen spouse.

I have two questions regarding this
1. Would this still apply in our situation, where I am the one accompanying her on a dependent visa (H4)?
2. Also, I'm curious how would this play out if we're both on H1B visas?

Thank you for your help!

Familiarize yourself with discussions in this particular forum regarding `Who followed whom'.

Since your spouse is already a PR that has been living in Canada (with you?), it's a mitigating factor that may be positive; they have `established themselves in Canada.
However, since YOU would clearly be following your spouse to live in the U.S., it could be an aggravating factor.

 

[canuck78]

Hi,

I am a Canadian citizen, and my spouse is a permanent resident (PR) of Canada. My spouse’s H1B visa has recently been approved, and she is planning to move to the U.S. I will be accompanying her on an H4 dependent visa.

I was wondering whether any time we spend together outside of Canada will count towards her PR Residency Obligation (R.O.)?

I understand that Canadian PRs may receive credit for time spent abroad if they are accompanying their Canadian citizen spouse.

I have two questions regarding this
1. Would this still apply in our situation, where I am the one accompanying her on a dependent visa (H4)?
2. Also, I'm curious how would this play out if we're both on H1B visas?

Thank you for your help!

How long as she spent living with you in Canada? After PR?

 

[renekton]

How long as she spent living with you in Canada? After PR?

She became a PR last year, about 14 months now.
By the time we move to the US (most likely in March, 2025), it'd have been 19 months.

 

[Ponga]

Here's a thread worth reading:
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/who-accompanied-whom-can-matter-for-prs-living-with-citizen-spouse-abroad-update.579860/

 

[rajeshb220591]

Here's a thread worth reading:
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/who-accompanied-whom-can-matter-for-prs-living-with-citizen-spouse-abroad-update.579860/

Thanks for sharing

 

[canuck78]

She became a PR last year, about 14 months now.
By the time we move to the US (most likely in March, 2025), it'd have been 19 months.

There is no definitive answer but that fact that you established a life in Canada after she got PR certainly helps.

 

[armoured]

I was wondering whether any time we spend together outside of Canada will count towards her PR Residency Obligation (R.O.)?

I understand that Canadian PRs may receive credit for time spent abroad if they are accompanying their Canadian citizen spouse.

As others have indicated, it probably would count based on superficial info you provided.

But what does she need PR status for? Worst case, you sponsor her again in future.