Canadian Residency for U.S Citizen

[zingbing]

Hello,

I got my Permanent residency with a Family(Mom and Dad) in 2012.

I've lived around 5 months after i made my landing in 2012 itself, and then got a job opportunity in U.S. I worked here for the past 4 years and my card is set to expire in June next year. I've gone through the border multiple times to see my family, but never mentioned that i was a Canadian resident, i just went as a visitor.

My residence card is set to expire next year(2017) in June. I am thinking of moving back to Canada, but since I've already missed the 2 years residency requirements, i am not sure if it is too late for me to move back to Canada and save my residency ?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in Advance.

 

[Leon]

So you are unable to meet it for your first 5 years as a PR but you don't lose your PR officially unless they catch you.

If you manage to enter Canada without being reported for not meeting the residency obligation, you could stay put for 2 years until you meet it again. You should minimize your risk by not crossing back and forth anymore and definitely do not try to renew your PR card. As long as you get set up with a drivers license, health care and everything else before it expires, you should be fine.

 

[zingbing]

Thanks for the feedback Leon. So if i do make it before June next year, score a job plus the things you mentioned and stay put for 2 years i should be fine.

After 2 years if i try to renew my card - would my history be a problem ? Also if i enter the country before the expiration, should i show my PR card, or just enter as a U.S Citizen ? I presume showing my PR card, would be a problem. Just wanted to make sure.

Thanks once again.

 

[Leon]

Thanks for the feedback Leon. So if i do make it before June next year, score a job plus the things you mentioned and stay put for 2 years i should be fine.

After 2 years if i try to renew my card - would my history be a problem ? Also if i enter the country before the expiration, should i show my PR card, or just enter as a U.S Citizen ? I presume showing my PR card, would be a problem. Just wanted to make sure.

Thanks once again.

Yes, if you stay put for 2 years, you should be fine. It is possible that your SIN has been made dormant. You might have to ask at Service Canada if it is and in that case to reactivate it but it will not be a big deal.

If you have been entering as a visitor before and it's working for you, just continue doing that. Also don't bring a U-haul with all your stuff in it. That will definitely raise questions. Travel light as for a visit and box up your stuff before you leave and mail it to your family or send them to fetch it later.

After 2 years when you apply to renew your PR card, you will meet the RO again and they are not allowed to look at any other period than the 5 year period immediately prior to your application so if they didn't catch you at a time that you did not meet the RO, they would have to agree that you meet the RO for the past 5 years and renew your PR card.

 

[zingbing]

Excellent. Thanks for the feedback.

One last thing, i presume i can't sponsor anyone during the 2 years i am completing my RO. I am thinking of getting married and my gf is an American Citizen like myself. I guess i won't be able to sponsor her, till i am out of the woods with my residency requirements.

Would that be a correct statement ?

 

[keesio]

Excellent. Thanks for the feedback.

One last thing, i presume i can't sponsor anyone during the 2 years i am completing my RO. I am thinking of getting married and my gf is an American Citizen like myself. I guess i won't be able to sponsor her, till i am out of the woods with my residency requirements.

Would that be a correct statement ?

Yes, exactly.

 

[Leon]

Excellent. Thanks for the feedback.

One last thing, i presume i can't sponsor anyone during the 2 years i am completing my RO. I am thinking of getting married and my gf is an American Citizen like myself. I guess i won't be able to sponsor her, till i am out of the woods with my residency requirements.

Would that be a correct statement ?

Yes, most definitely. You can marry her but you can't sponsor her. She can visit you though but you should try to minimize the risk to your PR by staying in Canada.

Also as a PR, it is important that you keep records of all your travel dates so when you apply to renew your PR, you can tell them which days exactly you spent in Canada. All your visits in the past couple of years will count as time spent in Canada too.