PR Renewal

[OKK]

111 calender days

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-card.asp

 

[Leon]

Then again back to square one.....You have to be in Canada to apply for a renewal

No, you don't have to be in Canada to apply for it but you might have to come and pick up the card when it's ready.

If you live overseas and come to Canada just to apply for your PR card, you would either have to wait until you get it or you would go home again and then be ready to make a 2nd trip in order to pick it up.

Applying while you are not in Canada would save you the trouble of waiting for your card in Canada for almost 4 months which could also be longer if you get an RQ or it would save you that 2nd trip.

 

[eileenf]

Applying while you are not in Canada would save you the trouble of waiting for your card in Canada for almost 4 months which could also be longer if you get an RQ or it would save you that 2nd trip.

Thanks for the clarification Leon. Could you clarify your RQ comment though? Are you suggesting that RQ's can be issued in response to PR renewals?

 

[OKK]

Thanks for clearing up....but yeah could you clarify RQ comment as i am under the impression which i could be wrong that if there are any doubts they ask you to pick up your PR card where they verify info???
RQ is only for citizenship???

 

[Leon]

They can definitely delay a PR card application to ask for more data. They can call you for an interview and then decide they need more data. They can even be ready to issue the new PR card and when you go to pick it up, they say no, we need more data and at the end if they feel you failed to show that you met the RO, they can also refuse your renewal application.

 

[Yolka]

According to immigration manual on permanent resident cards, you can apply for a PR card even if you are outside Canada. However, the application must originate in Canada.

See
It would therefore be possible to get someone to mail the application for you from within Canada, give your circumstances and give a Canadian mailing address. If they ask you to pick the card up in person, you would have to go and collect it but still better than going twice or spending x months waiting for the processing.

You could also let the card expire and not apply for a new one but if you are not visa exempt, it would be risky if you are applying for citizenship because when they call you for the test / oath, they do it with short notice and you may not have enough time to apply for a travel document and if you are not visa exempt and your PR card is expired, it would be hard for you to get to Canada to do the test.

Thank you Leon. Saying the truth I am very confused with my PR renewal. I am not visa exempt and that"s why I am thinking what is the best way to reduce my trips. I guess the only choice for me is to go in person to Canada to renew it (and wait until I get it), since I am waiting for my test and If I am called for the test I won't be able to enter Canada without my card.

 

[Yolka]

They can definitely delay a PR card application to ask for more data. They can call you for an interview and then decide they need more data. They can even be ready to issue the new PR card and when you go to pick it up, they say no, we need more data and at the end if they feel you failed to show that you met the RO, they can also refuse your renewal application.

Now, that is scary! At least I have not violated any of the PR requirements and obligations and met all the criteria before applying for citizenship and still following the PR requirements (it is not even 1 year since I left Canada). The only thing that bothers us as a family is to live apart again.! but then, the reality is - we can't choose what suits us best :-(

 

[Leon]

To minimize on the time spent away from your husband, you could try to apply while you are still outside Canada and do it now. You may apply up to 6 months before your PR card expires. If you are blessed with fast processing, your new card may be ready for pick up before your current card expires. If not, you could still enter Canada before your PR card expires and wait the remainder of the time for your new card to be ready.

The other option like you said would be to go to Canada before you apply for your card and then wait the 111 days or however long it takes.

 

[Yolka]

To minimize on the time spent away from your husband, you could try to apply while you are still outside Canada and do it now. You may apply up to 6 months before your PR card expires. If you are blessed with fast processing, your new card may be ready for pick up before your current card expires. If not, you could still enter Canada before your PR card expires and wait the remainder of the time for your new card to be ready.

The other option like you said would be to go to Canada before you apply for your card and then wait the 111 days or however long it takes.

That's true! maybe I should do that. I hope I do not need to send my original PR along with the application?

Thank you so much Leon for taking your time to reply my posts, I appreciate that very much.

 

[OKK]

No you dont need to send your original just a photocopy of it.

 

[eileenf]

I hope I do not need to send my original PR along with the application?

Your case illustrates why the subtleties of citizenship and PR card process and policy are important. When people's lives are involved, these subtle points of policy can have huge effect.

Separating spouses from one another and children from their parents for untold months should not be a requirement of a humane immigration system.

This is another reason why the record citizenship processing delays are important. I encourage your husband to write a letter to his MP explaining the citizenship delay is effecting him (as a citizen), his children (as citizens) and his wife (longtime PR). The citizenship delays do not just affect immigrants, they effect Canadian families, Canadian workplaces & Canadian lives. Citizenship rights are not just about immigrants rights, but the rights of Canadian citizens to keep their families together.

 

[Mary Chad]

I personally know of a couple who applied for PR renewal and had formal interview at the time of pickup, plus they had to
submit residency proof including job letter, i myself had to go thru interview at the time PR renewal at St. Clair.

 

[Leon]

That's true! maybe I should do that. I hope I do not need to send my original PR along with the application?

Thank you so much Leon for taking your time to reply my posts, I appreciate that very much.

If your PR card is still valid when you apply, you do not have to send it with your application.

 

[Suin]

How long before the expire date do I need to apply for my PR card renewal?

 

[Leon]

How long before the expire date do I need to apply for my PR card renewal?

You may apply for it as early as 6 months before it expires but not before that. As for how late you can apply, no limit. You can let it expire and apply later but then you may have problems travelling to Canada if you do not have a valid card.