Hello and advance apologies for the long question
I'm a US citizen and was landed in 2001 based on marriage class (Canadian citizen wife). Back then, I received an old "record of landing document" and I also have a SIN Number. I applied for and received a PR card back when the requirements for cards first started. We lived in Alberta from 2001until 2007. Due to work reasons, we left Canada and moved to California. I let my PR card lapse in 2008 because we had no plans of returning for many years. I exchanged my California license in 2001 and then had a valid Alberta drivers license that expired in 2012.
We then chose early retirement in 2013 and have been living in SE Asia on retirement visas. I currently have a valid California drivers license that expires in 2020 and I will not be able to get another extension for not meeting residency requirements (we renewed twice by mail).
I'm interested in exchanging my California license for an Alberta license before the California one expires but will probably live with relatives in Alberta for awhile before deciding to return for good. I'd enter Canada using my US passport and the six month visitor visa status and worry about reapplying for a new PR card later. We still have joint bank and brokerage accounts with US mailing addresses which we can change to Canada to meet the Alberta residency requirement. According to the AB government website, the requirements for exchanging are as follows and the AMA says you present these documents to them while they verify validity.
It only took 8 weeks back then to get PR status and now it can take a year or more and the rules state you can only drive with foreign licenses for 90 days after returning to be an Alberta resident so that's why I'd like to find out if I can do the exchange based on my first time as a PR
Any assistance from knowledgeable members would be appreciated.
I'm a US citizen and was landed in 2001 based on marriage class (Canadian citizen wife). Back then, I received an old "record of landing document" and I also have a SIN Number. I applied for and received a PR card back when the requirements for cards first started. We lived in Alberta from 2001until 2007. Due to work reasons, we left Canada and moved to California. I let my PR card lapse in 2008 because we had no plans of returning for many years. I exchanged my California license in 2001 and then had a valid Alberta drivers license that expired in 2012.
We then chose early retirement in 2013 and have been living in SE Asia on retirement visas. I currently have a valid California drivers license that expires in 2020 and I will not be able to get another extension for not meeting residency requirements (we renewed twice by mail).
I'm interested in exchanging my California license for an Alberta license before the California one expires but will probably live with relatives in Alberta for awhile before deciding to return for good. I'd enter Canada using my US passport and the six month visitor visa status and worry about reapplying for a new PR card later. We still have joint bank and brokerage accounts with US mailing addresses which we can change to Canada to meet the Alberta residency requirement. According to the AB government website, the requirements for exchanging are as follows and the AMA says you present these documents to them while they verify validity.
- hand in your valid licence that is equivalent or higher than an AB Class 5 or 6 licence to a registry agent
- provide proof of 2 or more years of driving experience, if you want to be issued a full Class 5 licence
- provide proof that you live in Alberta
- provide proof of residence in Canada
It only took 8 weeks back then to get PR status and now it can take a year or more and the rules state you can only drive with foreign licenses for 90 days after returning to be an Alberta resident so that's why I'd like to find out if I can do the exchange based on my first time as a PR
Any assistance from knowledgeable members would be appreciated.