Did not end up moving to Canada after family sponsorship approved

[Paean]

Hi,

I have a question about family sponsorship PR application.

We are living outside of Canada, we are applying to family sponsorship PR application since my spouse is a Canada citizen, which will make it much easier for me to find a job in Canada.

If the PR application gets approved, we will begin to look for jobs. If we end up not moving to Canada because we did not find satisfactory jobs or we find better jobs outside Canada, I am wondering if we can keep the permanent residency status. In my understanding, we need to state our intention to move to Canada, will the Canadian government consider we are committed to a fraud and not give us any chance to move to Canada in the future?

Thanks.

 

[M.steele]

Living outside of Canada your spouse (sponsor) will have to provide a good amount of proof to prove that you guys will intend on returning to Canada once it is approved. They requested this of me some examples of what you would need are:
Letter explaining how you will be staying in Canada while you look for jobs.
I included a letter from my parents advising we are welcome to stay there while looking for a house/jobs.
Correspondence with Mortgage broker/real estate agent/leasing agent
Proof of money left in Canada.
Proof you are looking into insurance for yourself for your first 3 months while in Canada.

You will need to land in Canada within 1 year of your medical check in order to receive your PR card.
Also you will need to live in Canada for 2 years out of the 5 that your PR is good for in order to renew it. If you don't then you will lose your PR status.

In my opinion if you are not certain that you will be moving to Canada don't apply. It costs over $1000 that you will not get back if you don't use it and you are putting in an application causing more strain on the system for others who may truly want/need to move to Canada as quickly as they can. Figure out what you guys really want to do first then apply or not.

 

[Buletruck]

As stated above, your spouse will need to provide proof of intent to settle in Canada. However, since your spouse is Canadian, after you land, there really isn't any way or means for them to force you to remain in Canada. If the job market doesn't pan out for you, you can maintain your PR and the residency obligation simply by living with your spouse overseas. But you do need to complete the landing formalities. You will need to keep track of the days you are not together, but it is possible to maintain your status in this manner.
If you choose not to land and activate your PR before the immigration visa expires, you would need to start the PR process over from the beginning. Once the immigration visa expires, it's done and it is deemed an abandoned application.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Also you will need to live in Canada for 2 years out of the 5 that your PR is good for in order to renew it. If you don't then you will lose your PR status.

In my opinion if you are not certain that you will be moving to Canada don't apply. It costs over $1000 that you will not get back if you don't use it and you are putting in an application causing more strain on the system for others who may truly want/need to move to Canada as quickly as they can. Figure out what you guys really want to do first then apply or not.

As OP's spouse is a Canadian citizen, time spent living together outside of Canada counts towards the PR Residency Obligation.

 

[Paean]

As stated above, your spouse will need to provide proof of intent to settle in Canada. However, since your spouse is Canadian, after you land, there really isn't any way or means for them to force you to remain in Canada. If the job market doesn't pan out for you, you can maintain your PR and the residency obligation simply by living with your spouse overseas. But you do need to complete the landing formalities. You will need to keep track of the days you are not together, but it is possible to maintain your status in this manner.
If you choose not to land and activate your PR before the immigration visa expires, you would need to start the PR process over from the beginning. Once the immigration visa expires, it's done and it is deemed an abandoned application.

Thanks for your reply. We are really in a state not sure what will happen the next year. Getting an PR status for me is really more about to help me to get a job more easily in Canada. Moving to Canada is one very likely option for us since it is good to stay close with family, while job seeking will play the key role in determining where we will go and both of us will work, which bring more difficulties. Thanks for telling us the option. If we did not end up moving soon after the PR application approved, we will try to finish the landing process and retain the PR status for future plan.