Back in Canada after 11 years

[Hiyume1]

I got married to a Canadian citizen in 2006, got my my PR in 2008, had to move back to USA in 2009, wife moved to USA with me at end of 2010 after receiving US green card. We lived together in the USA together for last ten years. My PR card expired in 2013. We were finally able to move back a few weeks ago, I had no problems crossing border, they would not accept my expired card for entry but took my US passport instead, they asked if I was moving back as a resident and I said yes, no other questions were asked about the subject. What can or should I do now? I plan on staying in Canada and getting citizenship, I dont have any plans to leave the country. Is it best to get my card renewed even though I have no plans to leave? I have already ran into an issue where they asked for expiration date on my PR card on AB healthcare application, I have a SIN number already from my before.

 

[scylla]

I got married to a Canadian citizen in 2006, got my my PR in 2008, had to move back to USA in 2009, wife moved to USA with me at end of 2010 after receiving US green card. We lived together in the USA together for last ten years. My PR card expired in 2013. We were finally able to move back a few weeks ago, I had no problems crossing border, they would not accept my expired card for entry but took my US passport instead, they asked if I was moving back as a resident and I said yes, no other questions were asked about the subject. What can or should I do now? I plan on staying in Canada and getting citizenship, I dont have any plans to leave the country. Is it best to get my card renewed even though I have no plans to leave? I have already ran into an issue where they asked for expiration date on my PR card on AB healthcare application, I have a SIN number already from my before.

Yes, you should apply to renew your PR card. Try to get the application in as soon as you can since processing times are extended right now. You'll need to show that you were outside of Canada with your Canadian citizen wife and therefore meet the residency requirement.

As you've said you've already run into one issue due to not having a PR card. If you were ever to fly out of Canada to a location other than the U.S. and then try to return, you'd have a problem there too.

Renew your card.

 

[vensak]

Yes, you should apply to renew your PR card. Try to get the application in as soon as you can since processing times are extended right now. You'll need to show that you were outside of Canada with your Canadian citizen wife and therefore meet the residency requirement.

As you've said you've already run into one issue due to not having a PR card. If you were ever to fly out of Canada to a location other than the U.S. and then try to return, you'd have a problem there too.

Renew your card.

Technically he can run into problem of who accompanied who. It really depends which officer will take the case. From what he told, he returned to his own country first and then his Canadian wife followed him. So that can be potentially a problem there. Safe suggestion (if he was not reported, but from the story above it does not look like it) would be to wait out 2 year before applying for PR renewal. But I assume, that he does not really have time for that (given that his SIN is now dormant and he will really need PR card for certain things).