Maintaining Immigration Status

[rp_tp]

Hi,

I got my immigration status last year in July, I am already done with my stamping process. On letter received it says I need complete 2 years out of 5 year period starting first entry which I made in Dec 2014. Can I stay out for 3 continuous years and then go back for last 2 years is this allowed ? or I need to keep on visiting every 6 months for a week to keep my immigration status.

 

[rp_tp]

Opinions Welcome

 

[jagaban]

Going by what i gathered from posts. It doesn't matter how you spend or spread the 2 years. It is a cumulative things it doesn't have to be at regular intervals or at a stretch.

 

[Quink]

Can I stay out for 3 continuous years and then go back for last 2 years is this allowed ?

Yes, but it's risky. What happens if you do that, and then during the 2 years in Canada there is an emergency back home? You won't be able to leave without putting your permanent residence in jeopardy, since you'd already have burnt up the 3 years allowed outside of the country.

 

[takhan]

Hi,

I got my immigration status last year in July, I am already done with my stamping process. On letter received it says I need complete 2 years out of 5 year period starting first entry which I made in Dec 2014. Can I stay out for 3 continuous years and then go back for last 2 years is this allowed ? or I need to keep on visiting every 6 months for a week to keep my immigration status.

In CIC website it is clearly written u can leave n enter Canada as many times u wish to so its fine. Just remember that in the first 5 years the total time you stayed in Canada should be 2 years altogether.

 

[copypaper]

For the first 5 years, you must make sure you can stay 2 years. So if you get PR and then go home right away, you need to come back to Canada before 1095 days and you should be allowed in. But, as others said, then you need to sit tight (unless you are married to Canadian citizen or have a job at Canadian company which can send you overseas). So you wouldn't be flexible during that time.

After the first 5 years, when you enter they look at the 5 years before your entry date. So, if you left for three years now, live in Canada for 2, then you could leave for another almost 3 years, and still come back as PR.

You also need to consider your residency for tax and health insurance purposes. It is different than CIC's definition. Some provinces have a wait time of 3 months or more until you can use the health care.