PR Card Renewal; Residency days short

[Bill2018Canada]

My PR card expired in late 2023 and I did not renew it as yet. I understand that for renewal of PR card, one needs to be residing in Canada for 730 days during the last five years. Presently I am about 150 days short of this requirement. I need to travel out of Canada and need the PR card. I checked on the IRCC website and the PR renewal processing times have drastically reduced to about 14 days. I wanted to check from experienced members here that if I apply for PR card renewal now (i.e. I am about 120-150 days short), what are the odds that the application will be accepted. In case it is likely to be rejected, what are the downsides for that ? or after a rejection now, I can simply apply again after the 730 days have been completed ? I know it is safer to wait till 730 days are completed, but that's another 4 to 5 months away. I would appreciate your suggestions. Thanks.

 

[Buletruck]

" if I apply for PR card renewal now (i.e. I am about 120-150 days short), what are the odds that the application will be accepted."

The odds of a favourable outcome won't be in your favour. You should expect they will revoke your PR for not meeting RO with that many days shortfall.

 

[armoured]

My PR card expired in late 2023 and I did not renew it as yet. I understand that for renewal of PR card, one needs to be residing in Canada for 730 days during the last five years. Presently I am about 150 days short of this requirement. I need to travel out of Canada and need the PR card. I checked on the IRCC website and the PR renewal processing times have drastically reduced to about 14 days. I wanted to check from experienced members here that if I apply for PR card renewal now (i.e. I am about 120-150 days short), what are the odds that the application will be accepted. In case it is likely to be rejected, what are the downsides for that ? or after a rejection now, I can simply apply again after the 730 days have been completed ? I know it is safer to wait till 730 days are completed, but that's another 4 to 5 months away. I would appreciate your suggestions. Thanks.

First, the 14-day expected can pretty much be assumed to apply ONLY to the straightforward, in-compliance cases. (And possibly some other criteria too)

The outcome mentioned by @Buletruck is possible even though I think that is low probability (if you are indeed only 150 days short and still residing in Canada).

However: that doesnt mean it's a good idea, the possibility of that worst outcome still exists.

One outcome that I think may be the highest probability is that they just delay the processing (considerably), possibly beyond the 150 days you still need for compliance, and possibly require you to come to an IRCC office in Canada to receive it. In other words: likelihood of a quick PR card being issued is rather low.

If you must travel and can return by landborder (via USA) that may be your best chance. If that's not possible, you can leave and apply for a PRTD abroad - where you'd be asking for H&C consideration for [some reasons you were not in compliance and just had to travel], but that may take quite some time; it also risks IRCC refusing the PRTD, which would worsen your chances of retaining PR status (considerably).

Best option is to remain in Canada and apply for PR card after you get in compliance, and the only (essentially) risk-free way to retain your PR status.

 

[Buletruck]

How is it being 20% short of a "minimum" requirement (we aren't talking a couple of days or even a week) would lead you to believe revocation would be a low possibility? Just curious.

 

[armoured]

How is it being 20% short of a "minimum" requirement (we aren't talking a couple of days or even a week) would lead you to believe revocation would be a low possibility? Just curious.

From reported experiences here.

You can disagree on likelihood of course. Also note, I was specifically referring to your statement that they should "expect" to have pr status revoked. (Unless you meant that not as an estimate of prob but instead as a caution)

Plus also ircc tends to take time to look at these, which means more days accrued until they formally 'stop the clock', then they know likelihood of being overturned on appeal is non-zero, etc. it's bureaucratically easier to mark the card for pick up and the pr who has left the country is on the spot.

If I had to guess, I'd say those in Canada with more than 365 days or more remaining applying is a (quite) bad idea that might well lead to revocation. That doesn't mean applying with fewer than that is a good idea.

 

[scylla]

My PR card expired in late 2023 and I did not renew it as yet. I understand that for renewal of PR card, one needs to be residing in Canada for 730 days during the last five years. Presently I am about 150 days short of this requirement. I need to travel out of Canada and need the PR card. I checked on the IRCC website and the PR renewal processing times have drastically reduced to about 14 days. I wanted to check from experienced members here that if I apply for PR card renewal now (i.e. I am about 120-150 days short), what are the odds that the application will be accepted. In case it is likely to be rejected, what are the downsides for that ? or after a rejection now, I can simply apply again after the 730 days have been completed ? I know it is safer to wait till 730 days are completed, but that's another 4 to 5 months away. I would appreciate your suggestions. Thanks.

The 14 days applies to standard application where the applicant meets the residency requirement. Your application will be non standard so normal processing times will not apply and most likely you will have a wait of several months for an answer. You'll need to apply under H&C since you are applying without the required number of days and provide the rationale and evidence for why your PR card should be renewed see despite not meeting RO.

If you are rejected you lose your PR status. You would have to try to appeal the decision to try to keep your PR status and be able to continue living in Canada.

 

[Bill2018Canada]

Thank you very much dear members for your valuable insight.

 

[canuck78]

Reality is that you would probably get PR card renewal and response from IRCC much faster by waiting the 150 days and then applying than applying for PR card renewal based on H&C which can easily take close to a year to process. If your card expired in 2023 and you are still short 150 days you must have known when you returned to Canada that you would need to remain for 730 days before leaving. You got lucky and weren’t reported last time but that doesn’t guarantee luck if you enter Canada not meeting RO again.

 

[Bill2018Canada]

One more thing. When I complete the 730 days and then apply for PR Renewal, from your responses, I am assuming that the renewal will be straight forward and I will not be required to explain the delay in applying for a renewal. Is that correct ?

 

[armoured]

One more thing. When I complete the 730 days and then apply for PR Renewal, from your responses, I am assuming that the renewal will be straight forward and I will not be required to explain the delay in applying for a renewal. Is that correct ?

There is no need at that point to make any explanation, no. We cannot say for certain that it will be processed as quickly as other apps - but there will be effectively no risk of it resutling in negative consequences.

 

[scylla]

One more thing. When I complete the 730 days and then apply for PR Renewal, from your responses, I am assuming that the renewal will be straight forward and I will not be required to explain the delay in applying for a renewal. Is that correct ?

That is correct.

It's also very strongly recommended that you apply with a buffer of a few weeks to avoid any risk that you have miscalculation. Also, if you apply with just 730 or with a very small number of additional days, this increases the chances your approval will go to secondary review and take longer to process.

 

[Bill2018Canada]

That is correct.

It's also very strongly recommended that you apply with a buffer of a few weeks to avoid any risk that you have miscalculation. Also, if you apply with just 730 or with a very small number of additional days, this increases the chances your approval will go to secondary review and take longer to process.

Thank you for your note. That's a bit tricky though. A buffer of "few weeks".......how many additional weeks could be considered as safe ? 2/3/4/6 ? What's your best estimate?

 

[armoured]

A few, two. Approximately.