I'm an American citizen married to Canadian citizen. I was landed in 2001 based on family class sponsorship and obtained a PR card when they first invented the card. We subsequently moved to the USA in 2007 and I let my card lapse past its 2008 expiry. We retired in 2015 and have been living in Thailand for a few years. We now wish to return to Alberta to live and I have a question regarding a catch 22 situation.
I recently learned that my PR status never goes away unless I formally rescind it but in order to obtain a new PR card, I'd need to reapply after two years of continuous residency in Canada. Since I'm now on my third passport since obtaining my PR status in 2001, I've been told that when I re-enter via an airport like YVR, I should approach the customs officers rather than scan my US passport at the kiosk whereby my status would be visitor, and request to be admitted under PR status. I believe they'd need to get my new passport associated with my original PR status although I'm unclear how they will do this. I will bring the expired PR card and original document to show them.
Here's the issue:
I still have a valid US driver's license and given that Alberta has reciprocity rules, I'm looking to exchange my California license for an Alberta one which I did easily back in the early 2000's. According to the websites, I'd need to present proof of residency (utility bill or bank statement) and proof at the federal level of PR status. The websites imply that a record of landing would suffice and I still have my original documents. But after checking with Alberta Registries, they say they ONLY want a valid current PR card. Even if I didn't exchange the California license and took a written and road test, they still want the PR card.
Having explained I can't get one for two years and given that it's illegal for returning residents to drive on any foreign drivers license for more than 90 days after reestablishing residency, I asked if they would take any other proof of my status. It seems unfair that I'd be legally unable to drive for 1 3/4 years after returning when I will be returning as a PR.
I finally got someone to say that a passport entry stamp from customs coded with an "R" for resident and not a "V" for visitor will be acceptable. So before we pack up and leave, does anyone know if the customs agents at Vancouver airport can and would put an actual entry stamp in my passport upon entry if I explain the situation and show them my original PR card and original record of landing? Stamps are not normally used anymore for US passport holders and I assume the status is logged in electronically.
Any advice or suggestions based on experience or familiarity would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks to all.
I recently learned that my PR status never goes away unless I formally rescind it but in order to obtain a new PR card, I'd need to reapply after two years of continuous residency in Canada. Since I'm now on my third passport since obtaining my PR status in 2001, I've been told that when I re-enter via an airport like YVR, I should approach the customs officers rather than scan my US passport at the kiosk whereby my status would be visitor, and request to be admitted under PR status. I believe they'd need to get my new passport associated with my original PR status although I'm unclear how they will do this. I will bring the expired PR card and original document to show them.
Here's the issue:
I still have a valid US driver's license and given that Alberta has reciprocity rules, I'm looking to exchange my California license for an Alberta one which I did easily back in the early 2000's. According to the websites, I'd need to present proof of residency (utility bill or bank statement) and proof at the federal level of PR status. The websites imply that a record of landing would suffice and I still have my original documents. But after checking with Alberta Registries, they say they ONLY want a valid current PR card. Even if I didn't exchange the California license and took a written and road test, they still want the PR card.
Having explained I can't get one for two years and given that it's illegal for returning residents to drive on any foreign drivers license for more than 90 days after reestablishing residency, I asked if they would take any other proof of my status. It seems unfair that I'd be legally unable to drive for 1 3/4 years after returning when I will be returning as a PR.
I finally got someone to say that a passport entry stamp from customs coded with an "R" for resident and not a "V" for visitor will be acceptable. So before we pack up and leave, does anyone know if the customs agents at Vancouver airport can and would put an actual entry stamp in my passport upon entry if I explain the situation and show them my original PR card and original record of landing? Stamps are not normally used anymore for US passport holders and I assume the status is logged in electronically.
Any advice or suggestions based on experience or familiarity would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks to all.