I got my invitation, when should I land?

[Newbie1990]

Hello,

I have some questions related to the express entry immigration system.

Suppose that I got my invitation on August 1, 2017.
Then, I accepted my invitation and submitted all the required documents.
Then, I got my visa.

Question #1:
When will my visa expire? Is it a one-year visa from the date of my medical exam, or what?

Question #2:
How long should I stay in Canada on my first landing? 30 days? Less? More?

Question #3:
What if I am not ready to move to Canada immediately, can I go land for 30 days, and then come back to my country?

Question #4 (related to #3):
Suppose that I landed in Canada for 30 days and came back to my country. How much time do I have until I can come back to Canada for the second time while I am still eligible to the PR and the citizenship?

Question #5:
After I secure my visa, I want to keep delaying coming to settle permanently in Canada to the maximum. What can I do?

Question #6:
If I have the required amount of money as a proof of funds, but at the same time I have a personal bank loan that is not closed, will that affect my application?

 

[21Goose]

Hello,

I have some questions related to the express entry immigration system.

Suppose that I got my invitation on August 1, 2017.
Then, I accepted my invitation and submitted all the required documents.
Then, I got my visa.

Question #1:
When will my visa expire? Is it a one-year visa from the date of my medical exam, or what?
Yes, one year from medicals. Single entry.

Question #2:
How long should I stay in Canada on my first landing? 30 days? Less? More?
As long as you like. You can leave on the next flight if you want.

Question #3:
What if I am not ready to move to Canada immediately, can I go land for 30 days, and then come back to my country?
See above.

Question #4 (related to #3):
Suppose that I landed in Canada for 30 days and came back to my country. How much time do I have until I can come back to Canada for the second time while I am still eligible to the PR and the citizenship?
Your PR card will expire in 5 years from the date you land. At that time, you'll have to show that you spent at least 2 years of the five in Canada. If you don't, they can cancel your PR.

Question #5:
After I secure my visa, I want to keep delaying coming to settle permanently in Canada to the maximum. What can I do?
You can wait three years before you have to come. If you do that, however, you will have to stay for the entire two year period following to make sure you meet the residency requirements. No traveling abroad.

Question #6:
If I have the required amount of money as a proof of funds, but at the same time I have a personal bank loan that is not closed, will that affect my application?
No, it shouldn't, but it may depend on the size of the loan or other factors

 

[Newbie1990]

Thank you so much that was SUPER helpful.

I now have a new question.
You said:

Your PR card will expire in 5 years from the date you land. At that time, you'll have to show that you spent at least 2 years of the five in Canada. If you don't, they can cancel your PR.

Now my question is about the citizenship:

Question #7:
So let's say I did my first landing in Canada, then spent 3 years in my home country, and I came to spend the last 2 years out of the 5 in Canada without traveling anywhere. How will this affect my citizenship eligibility?
Is it true that you have to spend 3 years out of 5 to be eligible for the citizenship? Are these 5 years the same the those given to you for the PR? Or do these citizenship 5 years start after you do your second landing?

 

[21Goose]

Thank you so much that was SUPER helpful.

I now have a new question.
You said:

Your PR card will expire in 5 years from the date you land. At that time, you'll have to show that you spent at least 2 years of the five in Canada. If you don't, they can cancel your PR.

Now my question is about the citizenship:

Question #7:
So let's say I did my first landing in Canada, then spent 3 years in my home country, and I came to spend the last 2 years out of the 5 in Canada without traveling anywhere. How will this affect my citizenship eligibility?
Is it true that you have to spend 3 years out of 5 to be eligible for the citizenship? Are these 5 years the same the those given to you for the PR? Or do these citizenship 5 years start after you do your second landing?

Yes, you need to have been physically present in Canada for 3 years before you can file for citizenship. That starts the minute you land for the first time. You could land on the 1st of Sep 2017 and file on the 2nd of Sep 2020, as long as you don't travel at all.

 

[Newbie1990]

But what if I followed the scenario you suggested.

I land the first time, and then I exit Canada for 3 years, and then come back to spend the last 2 years out of 5 so that my PR does not expire. If I do this, what happens to my citizenship? What conditions follow so that I can file for citizenship in this particular case?

 

[21Goose]

But what if I followed the scenario you suggested.

I land the first time, and then I exit Canada for 3 years, and then come back to spend the last 2 years out of 5 so that my PR does not expire. If I do this, what happens to my citizenship? What conditions follow so that I can file for citizenship in this particular case?

Well, you just wait one more year till you have three years of physical presence and then file. You can't file before that.

 

[Newbie1990]

Well, you just wait one more year till you have three years of physical presence and then file. You can't file before that.

Okay. So for the citizenship it doesn't have to be 3 years out of 5. They just have to be 3 years. Right?

 

[21Goose]

Okay. So for the citizenship it doesn't have to be 3 years out of 5. They just have to be 3 years. Right?

No. It IS 3 years out of five, but it's the five years immediately preceding your application for citizenship. And those five years aren't related to the PR, it's simply a block of time.

If you file on 2nd Sep 2020 as per my example, the five year period is 2015-2020, and you need to have been physically present as a permanent resident for 1095 days in that five year block. Yes, you weren't a PR in 2015, but that's not the point - the requirement is 1095 days physical presence as a PR in the five years immediately preceding your application, that's all.

 

[Newbie1990]

No. It IS 3 years out of five, but it's the five years immediately preceding your application for citizenship. And those five years aren't related to the PR, it's simply a block of time.

If you file on 2nd Sep 2020 as per my example, the five year period is 2015-2020, and you need to have been physically present as a permanent resident for 1095 days in that five year block. Yes, you weren't a PR in 2015, but that's not the point - the requirement is 1095 days physical presence as a PR in the five years immediately preceding your application, that's all.

Great!

So, I do my first landing on the 1st of Sep 2017, then I go back to my home country and spend 3 years. Then, I come back to Canada on Sep 2020 and live 2 full years with no traveling abroad. Then, I decide to stay one more year in Canada without traveling, making them a total of 3 years in Canada without leaving at all. By Sep 2023 I can apply for the citizenship.

Yes?

 

[picklee]

Yes, you need to have been physically present in Canada for 3 years before you can file for citizenship. That starts the minute you land for the first time. You could land on the 1st of Sep 2017 and file on the 2nd of Sep 2020, as long as you don't travel at all.

Actually, you could apply as soon as Sept 1 2020 because your landing date and any partial day you spend in Canada counts as a full day.

 

[picklee]

Great!

So, I do my first landing on the 1st of Sep 2017, then I go back to my home country and spend 3 years. Then, I come back to Canada on Sep 2020 and live 2 full years with no traveling abroad. Then, I decide to stay one more year in Canada without traveling, making them a total of 3 years in Canada without leaving at all. By Sep 2023 I can apply for the citizenship.

Yes?

Technically, yes. However, in practice you will receive more scrutiny from CBSA when you try to re-enter Canada because you need to satisfy the officer that you will comply with your PR residency obligation.

For example, if you landed then left Canada for 3.5 years and returned, CBSA would report you for not complying with your residency obligation (because logically there is no way that you could stay 2 years without your PR card expiring) and the formal procedures to strip your PR status would begin.

You should check the citizenship forum for more advice on this topic. Leaving for 3 years is cutting it very close. What would you do if you needed to return to your home country for an emergency?

 

[21Goose]

As long as you meet the exact residency requirement. In practice, it's best to leave a buffer of six months or so - as @picklee says, you'll be stuck inside Canada otherwise.

 

[Newbie1990]

Actually, you could apply as soon as Sept 1 2020 because your landing date and any partial day you spend in Canada counts as a full day.

LOL!
1 day won't make a difference but thanks for the info.

Technically, yes. However, in practice you will receive more scrutiny from CBSA when you try to re-enter Canada because you need to satisfy the officer that you will comply with your PR residency obligation.

For example, if you landed then left Canada for 3.5 years and returned, CBSA would report you for not complying with your residency obligation (because logically there is no way that you could stay 2 years without your PR card expiring) and the formal procedures to strip your PR status would begin.

You should check the citizenship forum for more advice on this topic. Leaving for 3 years is cutting it very close. What would you do if you needed to return to your home country for an emergency?

Question #8:
I see your point. But I won't leave Canada for 3.5 years. I would leave it for exactly 3. Would I still face scrutiny? (Regardless of the fact that I would be stuck in Canada for the next 2 years.)

However, here's what's more likely to happen:

Question #9:
I land in Canada and I leave the next day. I come back after 2 years. Forget about citizenship, if I do this, am I safe as far as PR is concerned?

 

[Newbie1990]

For example, if you landed then left Canada for 3.5 years and returned, CBSA would report you for not complying with your residency obligation (because logically there is no way that you could stay 2 years without your PR card expiring) and the formal procedures to strip your PR status would begin.

You said:

"because logically there is no way that you could stay 2 years without your PR card expiring"

I didn't quite get that. Please advise.

 

[picklee]

LOL!
1 day won't make a difference but thanks for the info.

Question #8:
I see your point. But I won't leave Canada for 3.5 years. I would leave it for exactly 3. Would I still face scrutiny? (Regardless of the fact that I would be stuck in Canada for the next 2 years.)

However, here's what's more likely to happen:

Question #9:
I land in Canada and I leave the next day. I come back after 2 years. Forget about citizenship, if I do this, am I safe as far as PR is concerned?

Yes you would still receive more scrutiny. Check the citizenship forum about PR RO.

For question 9, yes this would be the safer option. Leave yourself more time than just the minimum.

You said:

"because logically there is no way that you could stay 2 years without your PR card expiring"

I didn't quite get that. Please advise.

If there's only 1.5 years validity on your PR card (in the example I gave) and you have only been in Canada for two days, then obviously you are violating your residency obligation.