PR Card Renewal Delay in Calgary Office - Looking for Advice

[planet2]

Hi all,

My mom has been a permanent resident since 2004. She had two instances when she overstayed her term outside Canada and in both cases was allowed back to Canada on humanitarian basis. After that, she travelled back to Canada two more times and in both cases met her residency obligations.

We sent an application to renew her PR card in December 2013. For a while, we did not hear from the immigration office and then we were told that her file was sent to Calgary office in July 2014. When I last called in September, I was told it would be processed by this December. I call today and they inform me it is up to 14 months delay since the moment of receipt of application in the Calgary office!

My mom is currently out of the country and has a return ticket for February 2015. If she does not get her renewed card on time, can she use her record of landing to return? I understand just because her card is not processed, it does not mean that her PR status is revoked and immigration should still let her in the country. If my mom does not get back in February next year, then her residency obligations are again going to be jeopardized. I feel this is so unfair. We applied for PR renewal well in advance, and they keep changing the processing times .

What can I do? How can I plead with the Calgary office to facilitate issuance of the card? I plan to send them a fax, but also is there anything else I can consider doing? Would hiring an immigration lawyer help?

Thank you.

 

[scylla]

Does she hold a visa exempt passport?

 

[planet2]

No, she does not.

 

[scylla]

In that case she needs either a valid PR card or a travel document to return to Canada. Otherwise the airline won't let her board the plane.

Alternatively, if she has or can get a US tourist visa, she could fly to the US and then cross the border into Canada using her record of landing. Note that she will have to cross in a private vehicle - she can't use public transportation (e.g. bus or taxi).

 

[planet2]

We can certainly prepare documentation and request a travel document. But is there anything else we can do to influence the local office? I am interested in experience of people who were in the same situation. I feel like the government is not providing a good service with these unreasonable delays.

 

[scylla]

We can certainly prepare documentation and request a travel document. But is there anything else we can do to influence the local office? I am interested in experience of people who were in the same situation. I feel like the government is not providing a good service with these unreasonable delays.

In that case you'd be better off posting this to the Permanent Residency Obligation section of the forum. However I don't think there's anything you can do to expedite a decision.