I didn't mean to insinuate the rule says anything else than it actually says.
I'm saying that when trying to understand a law, one should also think about what the ruler intented to prevent by inforcing that law. CIC didn't wake up one morning and decided PR sponsors have to be in Canada just because, but of a certain situation they are trying to avoid.
That's why I said they *might* just want to be sure the sponsor qualifies as PR from the moment they apply until the applicant lands. Or maybe another reason that I can't think about with the knowledge I have about CIC
I really don't remember the paragraph, but I'm pretty sure it's main idea was that the Sponsor must be PR and, as you say, living in Canada. I'm sure I read that they allow reasonable visits outside of the country. The rule is subjective because they don't state the allowed lenght of time. Considering circumstances, the country, the lenght of time, how the officer slept the night before and their humour, etc etc, they might prevail the rule in any way they want.
If I wrote a letter, stating dates, calculated lenght of stay, added copies of passport pages of stamps and flight tickets and sent it to the VO at their request... Didn't CIC find out? I was actually afraid after reading on this forum many times the "2-3 weeks rule"
My husband was living in Canada, but visiting me, for longer or shorter visits.
Probably I was lucky, only CIC knows...
Anyway, I still consider canceling the application too extreme, I would at least write a letter or send an inquiry and explain the situation and the intention of >visiting< the home country for the stated reasons, especially if the file was already transferred and sponsor approved.
I want to emphasize that in my opinion the rule is subjective in aspect of lenght of time and the officers are human beings, not Saruman and for sure that paragraph isn't black or white, but pretty grey-ish. And misinterpreted.