PR card expiry/renewal (yes, that old question...)

[Confused in Toronto]

Hello again,

I've posted here a few times over the years, and I am back because, honestly, information on this site is so much more accessible than on the cic site!

A quick summary: I am a PR married to a Canadian citizen. We lived in Canada with our two Canadian children for about 13 years before moving to Europe about 7 years ago. I never did apply for Canadian citizenship, because my country of origin (Norway) would not allow dual citizenship. We moved to Europe (Switzerland) because of my husband's job.

My PR card expired in 2013, and I was told I could not renew it as I didn't have an address in Canada.Thus, last year I was issued a 2.5 year multiple entry travel document from the London embassy. All good. However, I had to pay about 250 dollars for this production, which just seems a bit steep when you consider that visitors to Canada pay 7 dollars for a visitor visa (I know they are not the same, but it's still a shocking difference...).

With my oldest child now back in Canada at university, we have purchased a condo in Toronto to be able to more easily spend time together there as a family. Thus, my question (finally):

Q: Can I apply for a new PR card now that I have an address in Canada?

Our primary home will continue to be in Europe for at least another 2-3 years (until my youngest has finished school), so this is what is causing some confusion. We will not be tax residents of Canada until my husband leaves his job here.

Thank you as always for your insights. Those of you who tirelessly answer what must seem like the same questions over and over again, really deserve a medal (btw, I did search through the posts, but couldn't find one that applies to this situation, only to situations where the PR does not have a home in Canada).

Heidi

 

[rish888]

You must technically be in Canada when you make an applicant for a PR card. Of course you also need a Canadian address where they can deliver the card. (Though you could even put the address of your in-laws or friend or whatever.) But the rule is that you must be inside Canada when you make the application.

Being married to a Canadian you have no issue with the RO, so that's a good thing.

You don't need to be a tax resident to get a PR card.

You could apply when you are next in Canada. (Even if it's only for a couple of days.)

Note that CIC in some instances may need you to come and pick up the card rather than having it delivered to your house. In this case you would need to fly in to get it.

 

[HamiltonApplicant]

Q: Can I apply for a new PR card now that I have an address in Canada?

PR card will issued if two conditions are satisfied:

1. You are an actual resident of Canada
   
2. You meet residency obligations of 730 days five years preceding the date you sign the application.

You probably satisfy Condition 1, not sure about 2

 

[Confused in Toronto]

That's super helpful! I was under the impression (I thought a border agent told me this, but now I am starting to doubt myself...) that I had to have a Canadian address (not just a friend's) to apply for a new PR card. I'm in Canada several times a year, so will start collecting documents and send off the application hopefully in good time before the TD expires! Thank you so much

 

[Confused in Toronto]

PR card will issued if two conditions are satisfied:

1. You are an actual resident of Canada
   
2. You meet residency obligations of 730 days five years preceding the date you sign the application.

You probably satisfy Condition 1, not sure about 2

My understanding - based on information from an immigration lawyer - is that I do satisfy # 2 because I am living abroad due to my Canadian spouse's job. That's the reason I am allowed to maintain my residency without physically being in Canada for 2 out of the past 5 years. Correct me if I am wrong on that?

 

[HamiltonApplicant]

Congratulations, you can indeed apply for new PR card

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5445ETOC.asp#appendixA
Situation 1. Accompanying a Canadian citizen outside Canada
You may count each day you accompanied a Canadian citizen outside Canada as long as this person is your spouse, common-law partner or parent (if you are a child under 19 years of age).

 

[Confused in Toronto]

Congratulations, you can indeed apply for new PR card

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5445ETOC.asp#appendixA
Situation 1. Accompanying a Canadian citizen outside Canada
You may count each day you accompanied a Canadian citizen outside Canada as long as this person is your spouse, common-law partner or parent (if you are a child under 19 years of age).

Thanks

 

[rish888]

You meet the RO. No doubt about that, but you still need to satisfy the requirement of being in Canada when you make the application.

If you had a friend who could mail in the application for you from Canada you could probably get away with making the application outside. However, the technical requirement is that you are in Canada. As far as addresses go, I doubt CIC is going around checking property registration records for every address they get. There may be a small possibility that CIC may need you to come and pick up the card in person, in which case you will need to fly to Canada to get it. (Again this should not be an issue due to your multiple entry PRTD.)

 

[wlee62]

Hi Confused in Toronto - I am a PR married to a Canadian citizen. We both live in the US as my hubby has a job here. When I applied for my PRTD to enter the country earlier this year, the CIC agent told me that once I'm in Canada that I should submit my application. So I think you're okay. =)

PS - how did you get a 2.5 year PRTD? They only issued me 1 year, so depending on when my card gets approved, I'll have to reapply for another one. But it only costs $50 USD for me.

Good luck!

 

[spyfy]

Hello again,

I've posted here a few times over the years, and I am back because, honestly, information on this site is so much more accessible than on the cic site!

A quick summary: I am a PR married to a Canadian citizen. We lived in Canada with our two Canadian children for about 13 years before moving to Europe about 7 years ago. I never did apply for Canadian citizenship, because my country of origin (Norway) would not allow dual citizenship. We moved to Europe (Switzerland) because of my husband's job.

My PR card expired in 2013, and I was told I could not renew it as I didn't have an address in Canada.Thus, last year I was issued a 2.5 year multiple entry travel document from the London embassy. All good. However, I had to pay about 250 dollars for this production, which just seems a bit steep when you consider that visitors to Canada pay 7 dollars for a visitor visa (I know they are not the same, but it's still a shocking difference...).

With my oldest child now back in Canada at university, we have purchased a condo in Toronto to be able to more easily spend time together there as a family. Thus, my question (finally):

Q: Can I apply for a new PR card now that I have an address in Canada?

Our primary home will continue to be in Europe for at least another 2-3 years (until my youngest has finished school), so this is what is causing some confusion. We will not be tax residents of Canada until my husband leaves his job here.

Thank you as always for your insights. Those of you who tirelessly answer what must seem like the same questions over and over again, really deserve a medal (btw, I did search through the posts, but couldn't find one that applies to this situation, only to situations where the PR does not have a home in Canada).

Heidi

Hey! First of all I am happy that the multi-entry PRTD worked out, although the price might be a bit steep. In fact I remember your post from back in the days!

Most of the questions have already been answered above. I just want to add that there are several reports on this forum of people who applied for a PR Card just on a short stay in Canada. I would suggest that - assuming you are going on a trip to Canada before your PRTD expires - you just file the application when you are in Canada (that simplifies the process) using your condo address and then have the Card mailed to you once the application has been processed.

In particular since you have recently been assessed regarding the RO and you accompanying your spouse in Switzerland, there shouldn't be a lot of trouble with processing the application.

Also, in the worst case they won't issue your card saying that you seem to be outside Canada. But I would say it's worth risking the $50.