application for pr card - section 20 work history. What if work is in ca, employ

[TechJohn]

For the last five years, I have been subcontracting for a company that is based in the US. 99% of the work has been in canada. Since the company who I subcontract for has its clients in Vancouver, this is where I mostly work. But filling in section C, 20., of Personal work and school History, How Do I stipulate that the company, who is based in the USA, has its clients here?

Also, want to know why immigrations canada wants to know this information?

I have mostly worked for my self from 2008-2012 so, most of my history is though another company as a subcontractor.

Second, my PR card expired last week without knowing about it. Does this mean I cannot travel into the US and be stopped at the border to come back into Canada? I have been a PR resident of vancouver for a decade now.

 

[computergeek]

Your employer is YOU, not this company in the US - they are a CUSTOMER of yours (let's ignore the fact that you're probably paying too much tax if you haven't set up a CCPC in Canada...) So you would tell them you have been self-employed, not that you've been working for a US company.

They want to know because this helps them ensure you really are a PR in Canada (and CIC is enforcing the residency requirement MUCH more aggressively now than they have in the past.)

Your PR card is not necessary to re-enter Canada. See ENF 4 "Port of Entry Examinations" http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/enf/enf04-eng.pdf

11.2. Verifying permanent resident status

The permanent resident card is the only valid proof of permanent resident status in Canada.

The following documents are satisfactory indicators of permanent residence:

• the original Record of Landing:
• a certified true copy of a Record of Landing document issued by CIC National Headquarters;
• a letter issued by CIC National Headquarters verifying permanent residence;
• a passport duly stamped showing the date on which permanent residence was granted, if the
person was granted permanent resident status before 1973; and
• a Confirmation of Permanent Residence document [IMM 5292B].

11.3. Establishing permanent resident status without documents

BSOs at ports of entry have the discretion to authorize the entry of permanent residents, even in
the absence of documentation. If documentary evidence is not available, the BSO at Immigration
Secondary must establish the person’s permanent resident status through questioning and
checking the person’s status in FOSS. The status of persons who became permanent residents
before 1973 has to be verified by contacting the Query Response Centre at National
Headquarters at: QRC@cic.gc.ca.

Once a BSO is satisfied that a person is a permanent resident, the examination should be
concluded and the person should be allowed to enter Canada without delay.

So, even with an expired PR card, you can demonstrate you are a PR of Canada.

A PR card would be required to FLY if you aren't visa exempt - because the airline would want it, but as long as you can get to the POE, you'll be fine.

You should expect to be sent to secondary inspection, however.

Good luck!