Hello everyone,
I would like to share with you a reflection that I had.
Potentially if it taken seriously and if IRCC hears about it, it could be of benefit to all permanent residents here in Canada. Experience has shown that the media have real power in this country: Don't forget: We are in a real democracy !
Context and starting point of the reflection:
With all that is happening, and the delays due to covid (especially in the subject of the citizenship application because of the undated stop of the resumption of tests, that is to say technically an interruption of citizenship), I had the reflex to look at the expiration date of my pr card ... I still have some headroom, but I also checked the estimated processing time for the renewal of the pr card on the official IRCC website : The site today indicates an estimated time of 165 days. That is to say more than 5 months. About 6 months to round off.
Precautionary principle: You have to do things in advance and not to wait until the last moment = In my mind that means around 9 months, even if the IRCC site says that you can send a request for renewal when there are 6 months left before expiration. (The time to assemble the requested documents, prepare the envelope, make the copies, and the shipping time for Canada Post).
By chance discussing the subject with an acquaintance who lives in Europe, he showed me his residence card. Duration of validity = 10 years!
Concrete examples from other countries:
France, for example (apart from temporary “residence permits” of 1 or 2 years) issues a 10-year residence permit. See here, the official website:
https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2208
Most European countries have validity periods ranging from 7 to 10 years.
The USA, our neighbor to the south, issues 10-year green card pr cards for people in the divrsity lottery. The only exception is for spousals: Conditional residence for 2 years, before obtaining the regular 10-year card. (Like Canada was doing before the Liberals canceled it recently).
All of this information can be verified.
Argument in favor of extending the validity period to 5 years:
- The duration of validity of the pre card does not mean the end of the status of permanent resident of Canada, as it as its name suggests is permanent in any case. Without limits. There is no objective argument to maintain such a short duration, only 5 years. Source:
https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=065&top=10
- We have to tell the truth: Most residents want to become Canadian citizens (which means more renewal of the loan after their acquired citizenship). A longer initial validity period of the pr card means fewer renewals in the future.
- Less work for the agents who deal with renewals.
- More flexibility to travel for people.
- Less stress and waste of time and money in renewing the card for people.
- 5 years is too short, and the alternation of power (We are in a democracy) means that the conservatives can return to power mainly = change and hardening of conditions for citizenship, especially extending the period of 3 years to be able to apply for citizenship (All the more reason for residents to take advantage of the time that the liberels are still in power to ask that ... Just saying).
- Some owners of rental housing, or employers require a valid Canadian ID ... Of course, they are wrong, but a card with a longer validity will avoid the headaches to explain to them that the status is permanent anyway.
- Certainly other arguments and advantages that I forgot (Can you name some?)
Why not in Canada?
I agree. Unfortunately, observing and being silent will not change anything, and passivity does not bring anything positive in general. We must move, and at least talk to our local federal parliamentarians, or alert the press. As I said, past experience has shown the effectiveness of making noise and alerting the press, often with a '' happy ending '' (As with spousal sponsorship, and other recent examples).
There is a journalist in CBC who has already written on several immigration-related topics, I think it would be very good to send her emails on this subject ...
What do you think ?
, Piotr.
I would like to share with you a reflection that I had.
Potentially if it taken seriously and if IRCC hears about it, it could be of benefit to all permanent residents here in Canada. Experience has shown that the media have real power in this country: Don't forget: We are in a real democracy !
Context and starting point of the reflection:
With all that is happening, and the delays due to covid (especially in the subject of the citizenship application because of the undated stop of the resumption of tests, that is to say technically an interruption of citizenship), I had the reflex to look at the expiration date of my pr card ... I still have some headroom, but I also checked the estimated processing time for the renewal of the pr card on the official IRCC website : The site today indicates an estimated time of 165 days. That is to say more than 5 months. About 6 months to round off.
Precautionary principle: You have to do things in advance and not to wait until the last moment = In my mind that means around 9 months, even if the IRCC site says that you can send a request for renewal when there are 6 months left before expiration. (The time to assemble the requested documents, prepare the envelope, make the copies, and the shipping time for Canada Post).
By chance discussing the subject with an acquaintance who lives in Europe, he showed me his residence card. Duration of validity = 10 years!
Concrete examples from other countries:
France, for example (apart from temporary “residence permits” of 1 or 2 years) issues a 10-year residence permit. See here, the official website:
https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2208
Most European countries have validity periods ranging from 7 to 10 years.
The USA, our neighbor to the south, issues 10-year green card pr cards for people in the divrsity lottery. The only exception is for spousals: Conditional residence for 2 years, before obtaining the regular 10-year card. (Like Canada was doing before the Liberals canceled it recently).
All of this information can be verified.
Argument in favor of extending the validity period to 5 years:
- The duration of validity of the pre card does not mean the end of the status of permanent resident of Canada, as it as its name suggests is permanent in any case. Without limits. There is no objective argument to maintain such a short duration, only 5 years. Source:
https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=065&top=10
- We have to tell the truth: Most residents want to become Canadian citizens (which means more renewal of the loan after their acquired citizenship). A longer initial validity period of the pr card means fewer renewals in the future.
- Less work for the agents who deal with renewals.
- More flexibility to travel for people.
- Less stress and waste of time and money in renewing the card for people.
- 5 years is too short, and the alternation of power (We are in a democracy) means that the conservatives can return to power mainly = change and hardening of conditions for citizenship, especially extending the period of 3 years to be able to apply for citizenship (All the more reason for residents to take advantage of the time that the liberels are still in power to ask that ... Just saying).
- Some owners of rental housing, or employers require a valid Canadian ID ... Of course, they are wrong, but a card with a longer validity will avoid the headaches to explain to them that the status is permanent anyway.
- Certainly other arguments and advantages that I forgot (Can you name some?)
Why not in Canada?
I agree. Unfortunately, observing and being silent will not change anything, and passivity does not bring anything positive in general. We must move, and at least talk to our local federal parliamentarians, or alert the press. As I said, past experience has shown the effectiveness of making noise and alerting the press, often with a '' happy ending '' (As with spousal sponsorship, and other recent examples).
There is a journalist in CBC who has already written on several immigration-related topics, I think it would be very good to send her emails on this subject ...
What do you think ?
, Piotr.