If approved for PR - Can I still VISIT Canada prior to moving?

[LordX]

I have kind of a specific question. I have applied for my family to live in Canada. After reading through some of the documents about what to do after PR status is confirmed, I got confused.

We live in the USA - and frequently visit Canada (prior to Covid). We are currently building a house in Canada, and will eventually move there once it is completed fully, and travel begins to get back to normal.

My question: Let's say my family was accepted TODAY, and I got all the documents mailed to me. My home to live in Canada is NOT complete. Can my wife still 'visit' Canada prior to declaring residency? One of the forms made it seem like once you come to Canada, you can not leave or live anywhere else, even temporarily, and this concerns me. I do not want to jeopardize my family's PR status in any way - but we need to visit a few times to finalize things with the house before everything is technically ready for us to permanently relocate.

Sincerely,

Hank

 

[k.h.p.]

None of the documents say that once you become PR you cannot leave Canada even temporarily.

All the documents say that you must meet a residency obligation - you must be in Canada for 2 years out of 5 once you are a PR. That is, after your first 5 years as a PR, you need to be able to look back each time you interact with IRCC and see 2 years spent in Canada in the past 5.

For your first few years, you are "earning" time to meet this obligation.

 

[LordX]

Apologies - I found the document in question - it is in regards to Covid restrictions. My family members can travel with me (a citizen) - but it looks like if you are attempting to use the PR documents in order to cross, they DON'T want you leaving again - Link:

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/immigration-applicants.html#approved

 

[k.h.p.]

Apologies - I found the document in question - it is in regards to Covid restrictions. My family members can travel with me (a citizen) - but it looks like if you are attempting to use the PR documents in order to cross, they DON'T want you leaving again - Link:

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19/immigration-applicants.html#approved

Yes, they don't want people using the "coming to Canada to live permanently" exemption to be a tourist. Additionally, travelling back and forth right now without a real reason to do so wouldn't be the best idea, but you can if they are travelling with you. Remember that you may be subject to COVID testing, etc., each time you cross the border depending on how you do it.