Can I renew my PR card while visiting Canada?

[Jason03]

Hi


I have been looking through these threads and found a lot of really useful information, I was just hoping someone might be able to clear something up for me. Basically I am a Canadian permanent resident currently living in Australia and meet my residency obligations as I am living with my Canadian spouse. My PR card is due to expire, however I plan on going back to Canada to visit family, and will arrive the day before my PR card expires.


My question is, am I able to apply to have my PR card renewed while I am in Canada, even though I am not currently residing in Canada?

While visiting I will be staying with my partners family at the same address I used to live at, and where I received my first PR card. I was hoping that if i were able to receive it in the mail, it could then be forwarded onto me in Australia, alternatively if I did have to collect it from the local CIC office, I would be back in a few months and would be able to collect it. I am just a little confused as to whether I can apply for a new card while I am there or, if I need to apply for Travel Document each visit I make to Canada until I am back there on a more permanent basis.


If anyone has had a similar experience or is able to shed some light it would be greatly appreciated


Thank you

 

[ttrajan]

Yes you can renew your card.

 

[Bs65]

Be prepared though to prove you meet the residency obligation by residing with a citizen overseas.

 

[Jason03]

Thank you for the informatmuch appreciated.

 

[spyfy]

Are you aware of the multiple entry PRTD which is provided to Canadian Citizen spouses abroad?

You can find the information here:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5529ETOC.asp

At the very bottom it says:

What if I am living outside Canada on a long-term basis?
Usually, PRTD counterfoils are issued for a single entry to Canada. However, you can request a long-term multiple entry PRTD if you:

• meet the residency obligation; and
• are living outside Canada on a long-term basis (for example, if you are a permanent resident accompanying your Canadian citizen spouse).

Include a cover letter that explains your circumstances and requests a multiple entry PRTD.
Multiple entry PRTD’s cannot extend beyond the expiry date of your passport.

This is the official route to take: Apply for your multiple entry PRTD while you are in Australia and you can use it to travel to Canada multiple times.

Applying for the PR Card while you are in the country would require you to misrepresent yourself. You have to sign off that you are currently residing in Canada. This would at the least be a stretch of facts since you are just visiting or at the worst is a misrepresentation that might backfire some years later. It's unlikely that it will, but it could.

Also as you point out, CIC can request that you pick up the PR card at the local office. How do you explain to them that you are not in Canada to pick it up? And how would you get to Canada without a PR card and a valid PRTD? You would in fact have to admit that you misrepresented your case when applying for the PRTD.

So why use this unofficial way instead of simply applying for a multiple entry PRTD which is exactly made for spouses of Canadian Citizens living abroad?

 

[Jason03]

I wasn't aware I could apply for a multiple entry PRTD. This is the route I will take. I'd much rather do this than put myself in a position where I may have to explain later.

Thank you for the information

 

[Tubsmagee]

I wasn't aware I could apply for a multiple entry PRTD. This is the route I will take. I'd much rather do this than put myself in a position where I may have to explain later.

Thank you for the information

Just be aware that the multiple entry PRTD doesn't have to be issued. There was a poster a few months back who noted they had requested it, for seemingly valid reasons, but only received a single entry.

 

[Leon]

There are no rules against applying for a PR card while you are visiting in Canada. You can even find that in some of CIC operational manuals. You just have to be upfront about not living in Canada at this time. When you fill out the form, in question 12, strike through the "in Canada" part of the question and put your actual address abroad and in question 13, put a secure mailing address at a relatives or friends in Canada. Attach a cover letter and explain that you do not live in Canada and that the mailing address is the address of a friend / relative. However, keep in mind that if you don't live in Canada while applying to renew a PR card, it is very likely that they will require you to come back to Canada to receive the new card when it's ready instead of mailing it.

 

[spyfy]

Just be aware that the multiple entry PRTD doesn't have to be issued. There was a poster a few months back who noted they had requested it, for seemingly valid reasons, but only received a single entry.

I wouldn't use the single experience of a forum member as a reason not to take that route. From the CIC website, the multiple entry PRTD is designed for cases like the one of the OP. The fact that some random person didn't get it is irrelevant IMHO. I could also list many cases were this worked.

There are no rules against applying for a PR card while you are visiting in Canada. You can even find that in some of CIC operational manuals. You just have to be upfront about not living in Canada at this time. When you fill out the form, in question 12, strike through the "in Canada" part of the question and put your actual address abroad and in question 13, put a secure mailing address at a relatives or friends in Canada. Attach a cover letter and explain that you do not live in Canada and that the mailing address is the address of a friend / relative. However, keep in mind that if you don't live in Canada while applying to renew a PR card, it is very likely that they will require you to come back to Canada to receive the new card when it's ready instead of mailing it.

I wasn't aware that this is actually OK to do. I didn't find any information on this on the CIC website. All text I found always suggested that PR card applications are only for people residing in Canada. However, obviously Leon is a very experienced member so I don't doubt this is actually possible.

 

[Jason03]

This is all very useful information. It has definitely given me something to think about.

Thank you

 

[Leon]

I wasn't aware that this is actually OK to do. I didn't find any information on this on the CIC website. All text I found always suggested that PR card applications are only for people residing in Canada. However, obviously Leon is a very experienced member so I don't doubt this is actually possible.

It's actually not been that long since they started issuing multiple entry travel documents, maybe a couple of years. They might prefer it now that people do that but there are all kinds of things that immigration might prefer while other methods still work.

You can find all the operational manuals at http://www.cic.gc.ca/ENGLISH/resources/manuals/index.asp
Go to Overseas Processing and look for "OP 10 - Permanent Residency Status Determination". At the bottom of page 13, it says:

The permanent resident card is not issued to permanent residents who apply for it outside Canada [R55]. Rather, permanent residents must submit their applications for a permanent resident card in Canada. However, nothing prevents a permanent resident residing abroad from travelling to Canada to submit an application and providing a contact address in Canada where they can be reached in the event that further information or a personal interview is required. To be provided with their PR card, applicants must attend at the time and place specified in a notice within 180 days of receiving notification that the card is available [R58(3)].

So travel to Canada in order to apply for a PR card is still perfectly legal according to this and just like any other PR, this person has no travel restrictions during the processing time of their PR card so they can leave again if they wish. As long as they can come back in case they are asked to pick up the PR card in person. Which they probably will if they told immigration that they are living overseas.

It is possible that immigration will at some point put a stop to this method and state that you must be truly residing in Canada to be able to apply for a PR card. However, if it happens, I am sure somebody will post about it.

 

[Jason03]

Thanks for the detailed information. This is good to know