Expired PR card, now what?

[iamjoeyjo]

Hello, my wife's PR card expired in 2014 and she did not meet the requirement to obtain the PR during that time and now we seriously want to return to Canada and are making plans to do so in July.

As I have read she would need to renew that card to get on the flight into Canada but that would probably be the end of her PR status once they realize she didn't qualify.

Are there other ways to do this legally. For example: is it legal for her to apply for a tourist visa at the same time as owning this card or is it possible to fly to the USA on a tourist visa and drive across the border with the expired PR card?

We have since had 2 children and we are now more interested in settling down permanently.

I am a Canadian citizen. She has been living outside Canada with me.
We only came back to Canada for short visits.
She did apply for and receive a SIN

We went through the border near the expiry in 2009 and the guard told us that she wouldnt qualify and we said that we knew that and he decided not to send us to immigration but said he normally would have done that so I imagine her pr status is still intact as had no notice of any kind.

 

[PMM]

Hi

Hello, my wife's PR card expired in 2014 and she did not meet the requirement to obtain the PR during that time and now we seriously want to return to Canada and are making plans to do so in July.

As I have read she would need to renew that card to get on the flight into Canada but that would probably be the end of her PR status once they realize she didn't qualify.

Are there other ways to do this legally. For example: is it legal for her to apply for a tourist visa at the same time as owning this card or is it possible to fly to the USA on a tourist visa and drive across the border with the expired PR card?

We have since had 2 children and we are now more interested in settling down permanently.

I am a Canadian citizen. She has been living outside Canada with me.
We only came back to Canada for short visits.
She did apply for and receive a SIN

We went through the border near the expiry in 2009 and the guard told us that she wouldnt qualify and we said that we knew that and he decided not to send us to immigration but said he normally would have done that so I imagine her pr status is still intact as had no notice of any kind.

1. Your spouse has been residing abroad with a Canadian citizen (you) then she hasn't lost her PR status, her card has just expired. She can apply for PR Travel document with proof of your citizenship and she shouldn't have any problems receiving one.
2. As she is a PR, she won't be issued an ETA.

 

[markarbet]

Hi there,

It is complicated case. However, as I know, as long as your wife accompany you (Canadian Citizen) abroad, she probably did not lose her status.

The Travel Visa might not work for you. When you will apply for Travel Visa, the CIC will find the information about her PR Status.

In this case, you could try to apply for permanent resident travel document (PRTD) (instead of PR Card).

The CIC should response to you about your eligibility for this document.

Cross the fingers.

Also, you can find more information about that here http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/about-pr.asp

Good luck!

Hello, my wife's PR card expired in 2014 and she did not meet the requirement to obtain the PR during that time and now we seriously want to return to Canada and are making plans to do so in July.

As I have read she would need to renew that card to get on the flight into Canada but that would probably be the end of her PR status once they realize she didn't qualify.

Are there other ways to do this legally. For example: is it legal for her to apply for a tourist visa at the same time as owning this card or is it possible to fly to the USA on a tourist visa and drive across the border with the expired PR card?

We have since had 2 children and we are now more interested in settling down permanently.

I am a Canadian citizen. She has been living outside Canada with me.
We only came back to Canada for short visits.
She did apply for and receive a SIN

We went through the border near the expiry in 2009 and the guard told us that she wouldnt qualify and we said that we knew that and he decided not to send us to immigration but said he normally would have done that so I imagine her pr status is still intact as had no notice of any kind.

 

[dpenabill]

Concur in particular with the response by PMM.

For emphasis, however: be sure to follow the instructions in making the application for the PR TD, and in particular to do your best to include the documents specified in the checklist for the PR TD application. This includes, in particular, proof of qualified relationship (copy of marriage certificate for example; or proof of cohabitation sufficient to establish common-law relationship), proof of accompanying citizen's citizenship, proof of living together abroad, full copy of all passport pages for both of you.

 

[alok4best]

In case you are a Canadian citizen, the days she spent outside Canada living with you still counts towards her residency obligations.

If you are not a Canadian citizen, then she can either apply for a travel document, or you can come to US, and then cross the border in a private or rented car using just the COPR.