I doubt that my query is specific to the Canadian Experience Class immigration program, but since that is the program that I am considering applying under, I'm asking it here.
Let's say that someone who wishes to apply for permanent residency wants to, for whatever reason, draw the application process out as long as possible. Let's further assume that this applicant is a US citizen.
To that end, it appears, based on published data and comments contained in this forum, that the standard time period from submitting one's application to getting the PR visa issued is in the 10 to 15 month time period (give or take). I presume that this time period is based upon the applicant submitting documents and getting a medical exam done soon after being requested to do so. By my rough calculation, I figure that one could draw out the application process by around 2-3 months beyond what it would normally take (by waiting until the last possible week to get the medical exam done, for example).
It is my understanding that, once granted, the permanent residency visa is only valid for, and must be "activated" (for lack of a better word) within, 1 year from the date that the applicant's medical exam was taken (or the results were submitted; I'm not sure which, but I don't think the difference is particularly substantive).
So, assume that an applicant's permanent residency application--because they are drawing out the process and waited until the last minute to get the medical exam done--takes around 18 months before the visa is issued. Assuming that the visa was issued 6 months after the date the medical exam was taken (i.e., the medicals were done at month 12), it would appear that the applicant could have until month 24 (i.e., 6 months after month 18) to activate the visa and become a permanent resident, correct?
Regardless of the answer to that question, can the applicant, upon being granted the permanent residency visa, go in and out of Canada (whether to the USA or elsewhere) without officially "landing" and activating the permanent residency visa? Or does the visa become automatically activated (and the applicant automatically "land") upon their first re-entry into Canada, even if the applicant doesn't wish to officially land at that time?
Let's say that someone who wishes to apply for permanent residency wants to, for whatever reason, draw the application process out as long as possible. Let's further assume that this applicant is a US citizen.
To that end, it appears, based on published data and comments contained in this forum, that the standard time period from submitting one's application to getting the PR visa issued is in the 10 to 15 month time period (give or take). I presume that this time period is based upon the applicant submitting documents and getting a medical exam done soon after being requested to do so. By my rough calculation, I figure that one could draw out the application process by around 2-3 months beyond what it would normally take (by waiting until the last possible week to get the medical exam done, for example).
It is my understanding that, once granted, the permanent residency visa is only valid for, and must be "activated" (for lack of a better word) within, 1 year from the date that the applicant's medical exam was taken (or the results were submitted; I'm not sure which, but I don't think the difference is particularly substantive).
So, assume that an applicant's permanent residency application--because they are drawing out the process and waited until the last minute to get the medical exam done--takes around 18 months before the visa is issued. Assuming that the visa was issued 6 months after the date the medical exam was taken (i.e., the medicals were done at month 12), it would appear that the applicant could have until month 24 (i.e., 6 months after month 18) to activate the visa and become a permanent resident, correct?
Regardless of the answer to that question, can the applicant, upon being granted the permanent residency visa, go in and out of Canada (whether to the USA or elsewhere) without officially "landing" and activating the permanent residency visa? Or does the visa become automatically activated (and the applicant automatically "land") upon their first re-entry into Canada, even if the applicant doesn't wish to officially land at that time?
