Am I understanding this correctly...?

[JennJ]

I'm a Canadian Citizen living in the USA. Moved here in 2001 with my common-law husband who got permanent residence to come to Canada in 1999. Now we want to go back to Canada - we were married in the USA in 2001 and he never officially gave up his PR status. Have we fulfilled the residency obligations by being together the whole time?

He has a SIN card but can't recall having an actual PR card. Do we need to file/reapply/renew to get him reactivated or can he just cross again as a PR and start working?

Thanks!

 

[sebinh]

I'm a Canadian Citizen living in the USA. Moved here in 2001 with my common-law husband who got permanent residence to come to Canada in 1999. Now we want to go back to Canada - we were married in the USA in 2001 and he never officially gave up his PR status. Have we fulfilled the residency obligations by being together the whole time?

He has a SIN card but can't recall having an actual PR card. Do we need to file/reapply/renew to get him reactivated or can he just cross again as a PR and start working?

Thanks!

Here you can read informations about the responsibility of PR holder to keep it.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/about-pr.asp

If he did not receive advice that he lost his PR status, so here the information that can be helpful for his return in Canada by ground ou by flight with his PR status.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=064&top=10

It's general information, i don't know if the citizens of USA have specifics accommodations.

 

[scylla]

I'm a Canadian Citizen living in the USA. Moved here in 2001 with my common-law husband who got permanent residence to come to Canada in 1999. Now we want to go back to Canada - we were married in the USA in 2001 and he never officially gave up his PR status. Have we fulfilled the residency obligations by being together the whole time?

He has a SIN card but can't recall having an actual PR card. Do we need to file/reapply/renew to get him reactivated or can he just cross again as a PR and start working?

Thanks!

Short answer is yes - he has retained his PR status and met the residency obligation (for PR) since he's been living outside of Canada with you. So he is still a PR. There is no need to sponsor him again. He should apply for a new PR card once you are physically in Canada. Make sure you make it clear that he has been living outside of Canada with a Canadian citizen spouse and provide proof of cohabitation for the five years preceeding the PR card application.

 

[scylla]

If he did not receive advice that he lost his PR status, so here the information that can be helpful for his return in Canada by ground ou by flight with his PR status.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=064&top=10

It's general information, i don't know if the citizens of USA have specifics accommodations.

He's American and doesn't need a PR Travel Document to return. He can return using his US passport.

 

[JennJ]

Thanks everyone! A follow up question - is there a way to confirm his PR status? Just going and assuming is making him nervous.

Jenn

 

[scylla]

No - there's no real way to confirm unfortunately.

 

[scylla]

Actually - I supposed he could apply for a PR Travel Document and include evidence to show he has been living with you. This can take a number of months to process...