expiration of permanent resident status

[BC_student]

Hi all,

I am a master's student in BC. I came to Canada January 2006 on a student VISA which will expire in September 2008. I have applied for permanent resident and I got the immigration VISA this month but I haven't done the "landing" yet. I am planning to go to Europe to pursue my PhD. The CIC wesite says "To keep your status as a permanent resident, you must live in Canada for at least two years within a five-year period." I have few doubts about this:

1) When they will start counting the five year period - the time when I landed in Canada with my student VISA or the time when I do the "landing", with my immigration VISA?

2) Do they count the number of days which I stayed in Canada as a student for the "two year requirement"?

Any help is very much appreciated?

Thanks in advance!
BCS

 

[Leon]

It is to keep your PR status so time you spent in Canada before becoming PR is irrelevant. They will start counting the day you land as a PR. After you become PR, you can only be gone for maximum 3 years to the day, after that you would have to come back to stay for 2 years to the day or you would lose your PR status, after that, you can leave again for 3 etc.