minimum period

[kcube]

I landed in Canada and got my residency on 12th March 2008. But I had to return to India due to personal reasons. Now that I have to be in Canada before 24th march 2011 to meet the residency obligation of at least 2 years of stay in the first five years.
But some issues are forcing me to stay in India for another 6 months. Is there any way I can get to stay for another 6 months in India and yet retain my residency? In this case I won't be able meet the previously mentioned criteria.

Please advice.
mohan

 

[Leon]

No, you can not apply for any kind of permission to stay away longer than 3 years. It is possible that when you enter Canada, you will not get caught on entry and if you get away with that, you should not renew your PR card until you have 730 days but it's best not to risk this if you want to keep your PR. The residency requirements are not at all strict. In many countries, you lose your PR if you leave for more than 6 months.

 

[kcube]

Thanks for your reply Leon,
but I read in some blogs that one could get this extension in case the person had to take care of sick relatives i:e medical requirement. Is this the way to get it?

 

[Leon]

As far as I know, you can not apply for that beforehand. You will have to wait and see if they want to revoke your PR. Then you appeal that based on having humane and compassionate reasons for being away, for example taking care of a sick relative. No guarantee that it will be approved though.

 

[toby]

If you've ever tried to make sense of the stamps in your passport, even when you know what trips you took, imagine how much more difficult it is for a Visa Officer to calculate how long you've been in and outside Canada. So, Leon's suggestion to make a travel history is absolutely imperative.

Do it like this, I suggest.

I am assuming that Canada has not stamped you in or out of the country (Canada doesn't stamp my passport; I am a citizen), and if so you'll have to reply on the entry/exit stamps in your passport made by other countries.

Trip #1 (name the destination country and dates you were outside Canada).
(1) Entry to country A; see entry stamp on page xx of passport.
(1) Exit from country A; see exit stamp on page yy of passport.

Etc

It is implicit that when you exited country A, you returned to Canada -- unless you went on to country B, in which case there will be an entry and exit stamp in your passposrt from that country.

Time not accounted for by entry/exit stamps from other countries is time spent in Canada. However, to make your case for time in Canada stronger, accumulate as much proof as possible: pay stubs; bank statements, utility bills paid; receipts of paying your rent, and even a letter from your landlord saying you were there personally from (date) to (date); letter from your employer; etc etc.

Accumulate as much documentary evidence as possible since Canada is showing signs of suspicion.