Can I apply for citizenship/extend PR if I have a Canadian Corp. and have to live outside of Canada?

[ddharma]

Good Afternoon,

I am a PR since October 2016. Under the new act, I will have to wait 2 years before applying for citizenship.
As you know, the economy is not very good these days, and I started my own corporation back in October 2016.
Now, I am thinking of going outside of Canada to develop my business further for network, skills, and investors.

I am looking at the permanent residency manual: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/op/op10-eng.pdf
It says in R61(1) that I may be able to resume my permanent residency if I can prove my work there.

Now, the question is whether I will be able to apply for citizenship on October 2018 under the new act, even if I stay outside of Canada to develop my new business? Please note that my business has not have any revenue. The new act requires me to stay for 3 out of 5 years in Canada. I do have 1 year credit, so in my case, it will be 2 out of 5 years. Currently I have stayed about 9 months out of 2 years. Also, I am planning to go back to Canada every now and then to "sync" the business & assets

 

[itsmyid]

the requirement for maintaining PR while working outside Canada is very strict and most likely your business won't fit in that category - if it is that easy, there would have been tons of "business" established just for people to maintain PR status outside Canada - CIC is not stupid

 

[scylla]

I agree with the comment above. You should assume that you won't be able to count the time outside of Canada towards PR given your business doesn't have any revenue and you established it yourself. Make sure you continue to meet the PR residency requirement with actual physical presence in Canada.

 

[ddharma]

Thank you for your reply. Then it is better to accumulate that 2 years over that 5 years when I come back and forth, isn't it?
Well, I was thinking of early citizenship, but then there is the longer option too.

 

[itsmyid]

Thank you for your reply. Then it is better to accumulate that 2 years over that 5 years when I come back and forth, isn't it?
Well, I was thinking of early citizenship, but then there is the longer option too.

No, since your one year credit would be within the 5 year period too, to fully claim the credit, you will need to have 2 years of pre pr stay immediately before PR, and 2 years out of the next 3 years in Canada, Accumulating 2 years in 5 will maintain your PR status but won't meet the requirement for citizenship. If you spread the 2 years evenly over the course of 5 years, there is a good chance your credit will become worthless since they will be outside the 5-year window by then

 

[ddharma]

No, since your one year credit would be within the 5 year period too, to fully claim the credit, you will need to have 2 years of pre pr stay immediately before PR, and 2 years out of the next 3 years in Canada, Accumulating 2 years in 5 will maintain your PR status but won't meet the requirement for citizenship. If you spread the 2 years evenly over the course of 5 years, there is a good chance your credit will become worthless since they will be outside the 5-year window by then

Wow. Thanks for the info. It'll definitely change my plan.