Could I return to Canada

[Kodial]

Hello

I have a rather tricky question to ask.

My wife and two minor kids are living in Canada as PRs since August 2013. I, on the other, am working in a senior position in Dubai and in violation of the PR obligation. I intend to surrender my PR soon, though it expires only in 2016. And as further advised by my lawyer, apply for long term visit visa to Canada...

I have two choices :
- leave a very well paid job in Dubai and move to Canada
- surrender PR and have my wife to sponsor me

However this is proving to us, much more complicated than it sounds.

Me and my wife (who is a stay at home mom) are unable to face the uncertain employment scenario in Canada (including low income compared to my current take home) (we always knew of the challenges, but it's making it difficult to accept) and on the other hand, staying separated from my family is proving very difficult for both me and my wife and kids.

I am wondering at this juncture what choices do I have?
So here comes my question...
Will surrendering all our PR visas and applying for another one, perhaps just a little before I (I'm in my early forties) retire (by then we may be more ready to live in Canada without being bothered by job prospects) help us out of this situation?
At this point, i would like my friends to answer this query as a hypothesis...Its just a speculation...if you have a better option to share, I'll be grateful. Just FYI, I'm currently working as a Sr Finance Manager...with no inhibitions from starting afresh, if opportunity prevails...

Thank you for your time and advise...

 

[Leon]

There's absolutely no reason to surrender "all your PR's" if your wife and children are living in Canada and meet the RO. As long as they stayed for 2 years, they could join you in Dubai for up to 3 years without losing their PR's, then return again and stay for 2 in order to keep PR. Or they stay long enough to get citizenship and then join you outside Canada.

You can surrender your PR if you want to and if you don't meet the RO and either apply for a multiple entry visit visa or apply for a new PR if you qualify or both at the same time if you so wish. You could also have your wife sponsor you for PR again. Even though she is a stay at home parent and doesn't have income, she does not have to show specific income to sponsor a spouse as long as she can make it clear to immigration that you will not all end up on welfare.

However, if you are not intending to settle in Canada at this point, a visit visa will suit your purposes just fine and it would be a waste of time and resources applying for a new PR now as you would only lose it again in a few years if you are unable to meet the RO again.

As for all of you applying for new PR's once you are ready to retire, keep in mind that immigration is getting harder and there are no immigration classes for retirees so you may not qualify to immigrate at that point.

 

[ttrajan]

Stay in Canada until you get citizenship then move to Dubai. Most of the people are doing this due to jobs and weather etc.

 

[zeeshan35]

Please, dont even think about giving up your PR. If they have been living in Canada since 2013, they can be eligible for citizenship in 2016 hoping they dont enforce C24 otherwise 2017. Let them get their citizenship, then they can move with you to Dubai. Anytime your wife spends with you after their citizenship will be counted towards your permanent residence. The recommendation I am giving you is a pretty tough one but its the best for your family.
In dubai, no matter how good of a job you have, when you loose it you need to leave their country. No retirement policy either, and I know many people who spent their entire lives in UAE and are now nowhere. Another reason for this is, if you loose your PR getting it back can take a year or there could be other complications. Canada is changing their policies towards immigration and most likely in future it will be harder getting PR or citizenship.

 

[Leon]

True, wife's citizenship can protect your PR if she is living with you outside Canada but only works if you haven't already lost it. Since your PR card will expire before she can even apply, it will be hard for you to visit unless you renounce it and apply for a visit visa.

However, if you let her sponsor you for a new PR, you would be able to keep the new PR if she gains citizenship and joins you outside Canada. However, as a citizen, she could also sponsor you for PR again any time so that is not really an issue.

 

[Kodial]

Thank you to all for your honest opinions...I really appreciate it and your advise will definitely influence my next move...I wish you all the best!

 

[zeeshan35]

Kodial-

What kind of job do you have in Dubai?
You can still try interviewing in Canada as long as you an Canadian address and a phone number. Many employers are ok with having a skype interview. Worth while to try it out, its hard to imagine Canadian employers aren't offering similar salaries to middleeast. I know Dubai is tax exempt, but in Canada you will get health care insurance plus other benefits.