Dear All,
Just as a lot of folks here I have an approved FSW-O application (AOR Jan 2020) with PPR pending for ages. I'm currently in the U.S. however my H1-B work visa is expiring and my employer asked me to travel in nearby countries and wait for the renewal (my PERM hasn't been submitted for more than a year therefore I can't renew it until a few more months yet. My home country is China which requires pretty long quarantine period and that's why my employer rather me to stay in nearby countries).
Could you all help evaluate the following two scenarios and share your perspectives?
1. Travel to Canada (under tourist visa) after the travel restriction is lifted in September. If I receive PPR request while I'm in Canada, I should inform the office immediately that I'm physically in Canada and they'll treat me as an inland applicant, rather than ask me to continue to send the passport? For tax benefits I have a strong preference for not becoming a Canadian PR until 2022.
Therefore I was wondering if I receive PPR while I'm in Canada, can I still mail the passport to Ottawa, get the PR visa, leave Canada, then come back in 2022 to officially become a PR?
2. Travel to Mexico or nearby countries. If I go this route, I don't think I'll stay long in one country (I've been fully vaccinated and always masked on, so I think I'm gonna do a bit of traveling responsibly). Therefore I can't really send a webform to tell them I've changed my country of residence (let alone just being a tourist and not long-term resident in any country).
If I receive PPR request during my travel, I should inform the office immediately that I'm no longer in the U.S. and request my passport to be sent to a local VFS. I've seen that this is possible prior to the pandemic, and I saw that VFS such as the Mexico one has been opened, but just wondering if there is any risk associated with it.
I've done some research ono the forum but don't think I've seen the exact same question being asked here.
@legalfalcon If you could take a look when you get a chance I'd truly appreciate it!