sammon said:
Thanks!
I didn't know about multi use travel document
I'm still confused though why I can't apply to pr card when I'm temporarily here - it's not against the law and all conditions will be met... or there will be a problem?
In addition to observations by
Tubsmagee:
A PR can indeed apply for a new PR card while temporarily in Canada. And, making the application from within Canada meets the eligibility requirements for obtaining a new card.
So long as the PR truthfully and completely provides the information requested in the application, as I noted before this process could go OK.
But as you in part acknowledged in your initial query, the information you provide, given your circumstances, is more or less likely to raise concerns or questions. In particular, the recent extended absence abroad, particularly in conjunction with employment abroad, is more or less likely to trigger elevated scrutiny and non-routine processing. There is a substantial risk the processing timeline will be much, much longer.
In the meantime, if you do not remain in Canada you are required to promptly notify IRCC of your change in address. This is another one of those areas where, perhaps, many are in effect getting away with not doing this . . . but a failure to provide IRCC with one's actual residential address can constitute misrepresentation by omission, and is not an approach a legitimate PR wants to take. (While this may not trigger Inadmissibility proceedings, to terminate PR status based on misrepresentation, although it could, the risk is substantial it will be identified, resulting in compromising the PR's credibility, which generally makes most future transactions with IRCC more difficult.)
Regarding PR TD:
Last year IRCC did indeed begin issuing multiple-use PR TDs valid for a period of up to five years. Whether a particular PR in your situation would be issued such a multiple-use PR TD is an unknown. IRCC has not been forthcoming with information about which PRs will be issued multiple-use PR TDs. They mostly appear to be intended for PRs who are living abroad with a Canadian citizen spouse, but not every PR in this situation has been issued the multiple-use PR TD. They may also be intended for PRs employed abroad by certain employers, such as by the Canadian government, but probably not for PRs working abroad for any Canadian employer even if that time employed abroad qualifies for the credit toward compliance with the PR RO.
Legitimate, qualified PRs, particularly those for whom the circumstances of being abroad are more or less clearly
temporary, who have good records to document their actual presence in Canada, should have minimal problems obtaining a PR TD while in a country like France. Reports suggest the process routinely takes days, a week to two weeks or so.
There are other countries where it is more difficult to obtain a PR TD. And, of course, if there are concerns about the PR's compliance with the PR RO that can result in longer processing times. In the situation you describe, particularly given regularly returning to Canada along the way, and regarding which you can include an explanation (in the PR TD application) for the extended absence which further includes a description of your employment highlighting its temporary nature, and so long as you are not
cutting-it-close relative to complying with the PR RO, there should be no problems promptly obtaining a PR TD. And perhaps such explanation would help you obtain a multiple-use PR TD.
Even if not issued a multiple-use PR TD, once you have gone through the process that should facilitate smooth sailing for subsequent PR TD applications . . . again, so long as you are not
cutting-it-close relative to complying with the PR RO.
Overriding note:
It is difficult to reliably forecast how such things will go for any individual PR. It varies, and can vary greatly, depending in large part on many different variables.
While there are bureaucratic hurdles (which again are essentially unavoidable unless and until one becomes a citizen) imposing some inconvenience for PRs who go abroad for extended periods of time, related to enforcing the rules, otherwise IRCC does not ordinarily impose problems for legitimate, qualified PRs. But how things go can depend on factors other than the technicalities. For example, there is no technical requirement that a PR
deserves to keep PR status, but it would be foolish for anyone to overlook the possible impact resulting from negative impressions or perceptions about this. This in particular makes it difficult to forecast how things will go for a specific PR since there are so many things which can influence the impression the PR makes.
At the risk of sounding inconsistent, it is nonetheless true that IRCC tends to be a lot more flexible and accommodating than many apprehend, but it can also be surprisingly strict and difficult for many who believe they do not deserve such handling. When things are difficult, there is usually a reason, and indeed often multiple reasons. With some exceptions, those who are clearly playing by the rules tend to avoid problems, while those who are
cutting-it-close or appear to be taking advantage of the Canadian immigration system are more likely to encounter issues.
Which is to say, if you are entirely on the
up-and-up in your dealings with CBSA and IRCC, and staying well within the lines, all this should go relatively smoothly, and even the process for obtaining a PR TD as needed should not be problematic. And, indeed, as noted, so long as you keep IRCC properly informed, an application for a new PR card while temporarily in Canada may go OK -- but do not rely on this happening.
