Can you study in the States while maintaining your PR status.

[ooiharu]

Hi,

I recently received a Canadian PR status and got accepted to a professional school in the States.
I am wondering if I can study in the States for 4 years while maintaining the permanent resident status (I would like to come back to Canada to do my practice eventually).
Also, if there are number of ways to keep my PR status while pursuing my education in the States, please let me know.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thanks!

 

[Leon]

You need 730 days in Canada in the first 5 years after you landed and any rolling 5 year period after that. That means you can be outside Canada for up to 1095 days in the same period so obviously it will not work if you plan to spend 4 years straight outside Canada. However, if your classes are 9 months a year or less, you would be gone for 36 months exactly (=3 years =1095 days) so the answer is, if you spend your entire summer holidays in Canada, you might be able to complete your studies and still meet the residency obligation.

However, unless there are some rule changes in the next few years, it may be possible for you if you manage to get into Canada with a still valid PR card that you can just stay for 2 years straight and thereby revive your PR. After 2 years, you meet the obligations again and can apply to renew your PR card. Your PR card expiring while in Canada is not a big deal at all.