Note: there are many reports that PoE officers have been asking PRs to fill out a written Residency Questionnaire if there are concerns about Residency Obligation compliance for the returning PR . I have not seen a copy of this but I'd expect it to be similar to the questionnaires sometimes sent PRs when a PR card application has triggered a formal Residency Determination. Mostly the usual: work history, address history, and travel history. Plus some.
In addition to that the returning PR who is
cutting-it-close, or who is actually in breach, should be prepared to fully explain ALL reasons why the PR has been abroad so long. All truthful reasons of course. And even reasons some forum participants say will NOT be considered in the H&C assessment, like financial/employment reasons.
No specific questions will be asked.
On the contrary, the typical PoE examination will often entail a number of very specific questions. There are almost always at least one or three specific Customs related questions. Perhaps the most common specific question asked is "where do you live?"
For many of us, the number of specific questions asked during any given PoE examination is few. But even those of us who are now citizens, and for those who have always only been a Canadian citizen, it is not at all uncommon to be asked a variety of very specific questions. Though here again "where do you live?" is perhaps the most common, that and "how long have you been outside Canada?" (or some version of that).
PIL versus SECONDARY examinations:
I am often perplexed why so few distinguish the questioning encountered at the Primary Inspection Line (PIL) versus that encountered in Secondary. Huge differences. Except the traveler nonetheless must give truthful answers to both. And, generally, it is better to simply give a truthful, factual, simple answer and NOT elaborate or offer additional information.
In any event, for the PR who is returning to Canada after an absence of two plus years, and definitely if returning after three plus years, the likelihood of a referral for a Secondary examination is high. Best I can discern, PRs in this situation are increasingly asked to complete the written Residency Questionnaire. Work history. Address history. Travel history. And since some Harper-era amendments, there are more severe penalties for misrepresentations made in this process.
At the PIL, all the officer is trying to discern is whether or not to make a referral to Secondary or waive the traveler through. Some fudging might get the PR past this screening, no referral to Secondary, BUT these days there is an increased chance that fudging answers to the PIL will NOT work and will tend to make matters worse or potentially a LOT worse.
Trying to predict the PIL officer's questions is a fool's game. I've had PoE PIL exchanges which in retrospect seemed like an exchange of grunts, if that, and a waive through. Sure, there was an actual question or three, and my answer, but what the officer was really looking at was my Travel Document and my face. On the other hand, I have had some bizarrely complicated PIL exchanges, including some very specific questions probing the details about my work, where I live, my relationships, my reasons for travel.
Trying to script the PoE examination tends to be futile, at its very best.
