Doing a 4-year PhD in Europe after getting Canada PR

[shadow_of_life]

Hi all,

I am in a dilemma. I got a chance to work on my Ph.D. in Europe for 4 years, however, I know the requirement for PR in Canada is to spend 2 years out of 5 years on a rolling basis. I have talked to the advisor, he believed that I can spend the last year of my Ph.D. as a visiting scholar in some Canada university. So I can spend 3 years in Europe and come back to Canada for my last year thus spending 2 years out of 5 in Canada. However, I read here https://settlement.org/ontario/immi...ermanent resident, you,in every 5-year period

"This means that you can spend a total of up to 3 years outside of Canada during a 5-year period. However, if you have been a permanent resident for less than 5 years and decide to leave the country for an extended period of time, it is up to you to prove to IRCC that you will be able to meet your residency requirements".

This puts me in a difficult position. Does anyone have any experience regarding this issue?

 

[haihttran]

Hi all,

I am in a dilemma. I got a chance to work on my Ph.D. in Europe for 4 years, however, I know the requirement for PR in Canada is to spend 2 years out of 5 years on a rolling basis. I have talked to the advisor, he believed that I can spend the last year of my Ph.D. as a visiting scholar in some Canada university. So I can spend 3 years in Europe and come back to Canada for my last year thus spending 2 years out of 5 in Canada. However, I read here https://settlement.org/ontario/immigration-citizenship/permanent-residence/permanent-resident-pr-status/what-are-the-residency-requirements-for-permanent-residents-prs/#:~:text=As a permanent resident, you,in every 5-year period

"This means that you can spend a total of up to 3 years outside of Canada during a 5-year period. However, if you have been a permanent resident for less than 5 years and decide to leave the country for an extended period of time, it is up to you to prove to IRCC that you will be able to meet your residency requirements".

This puts me in a difficult position. Does anyone have any experience regarding this issue?

I don’t have the exactly the same situation but I’m a PhD dropout and now I’m on my way to obtain Canadian PR while having a family-green card sponsorship in the US as well. From my point of view, it’s totally up to you to decide whatever is your first priority: secure a place in Canada or doing PhD with this particular advisor. Having said that, in my case, since I come from a third world country, my top priority should be having a chance to move to a first world country where I could work and live without worrying about government corruption, severe environment polution... Besides, I did my master and got the degree (which I used to apply for EE) before dropping out of 2 PhD programs. I strongly believe that one day I will go back to grad school and get it done. However, it’s only after I settle down in the country that I want to live in, having a stable job and then I will do my PhD part-time.

If you risk your Canadian PR, you might loose it but you also might obtain another citizenship in Europe. If you give the PhD opportunity a pass this time, you could also find another one, maybe right in Canada as well. Opportunities come and go, but I could tell that it’s easier for you to get admitted into PhD program than become a Canadian PR without some very serious investment.

Any choice you would make later on, I wish you all the best lucks. Think carefully and follow the call of your heart!