realeasy said:
the following is what I received from CIC.
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Sir, Madam,
Thank you for contacting Citizenship and Immigration Canada. I am pleased to follow up on your request:
Voluntary Relinquishment of Permanent Resident Status
Permanent residents who no longer wish to have that status may advise Immigration Officers overseas or at a Canadian port of entry.
Provisions exist for clients to voluntarily relinquish their status in exceptional circumstances.
A person may be allowed to relinquish their permanent resident status if an officer determines that the individual is willingly giving up their status and fully understands the consequences of that choice. If the officer is satisfied the client is asked to sign a declaration to that effect and can then be considered as a foreign national.
Ease of PR voluntary relinquishment depends on if you meet the Residence Obligation. If you don't meet the RO and are overseas then apply for a Travel Document which will be refused. If you don't appeal in 60 days then your PR status is lost.
1. If you meet the RO still apply for a PRTD and add a letter to the effect that you meet the RO but wish to relinquish your PR and waive all appeal rights. The visa office may send you some paperwork or call you in for interview where you will sign some paperwork. This to the effect that you know what you are giving up.
2. If you turn up at a Port of Entry and don't meet the RO then tell CBSA at Secondary inspection who will write out a Sec 44 report to commence the removal/loss of PR. If you don't appeal in 30 days you've lost your PR. This is not a good option because it leads to the issuance of departure orders which can turn into deportation orders if you end up staying in Canada for more than the 30 days to appeal.
3. If you turn up at a Port of Entry and meet the RO tell CBSA you wish to relinquish. You will sign some paperwork to this effect. Again watch out if issued a departure order. Can't remember what the window is to change your mind with this or if you could but an obvious risk is you relinquish PR at the border then the CBSA agent bounces you on the basis that you may not be a bona-fide visitor (with US GC/visitor visa exempt passport).
4. Depending on your situation maybe you should apply for Canadian Citizenship. Is the issue with CBP or CBSA at the border?