PR status and applying for work permit

[hcc7705]

Hello,

My wife and I used to live in Canada from January 2007 to May 2011. We first entered with my work permit, then applied for PR and landed in April 2008 (and got our PR cards).
Then, we moved to France (job change) in May 2011 and have not lived in Canada since.
So, we clearly do not meet residency obligations and always thought that we are no longer PR (lost PR status).
But reading the CIC website and posts on this forum, it sounds like it is not automatic, although I remember that when I came back to visit Canada in 2012, I asked about our PR status and the border officer said that if we don't live in Canada 2 years out of the last 5, we would lose PR status anyways. But I do not recall him saying that we had to do anything.
So, for subsequent visits to Canada, we came as visitors (me being South Korean citizen and my wife being a US citizen, we do not need any visas for short visits) without any problems.
I now got a new job offer from a Canadian employer who is currently preparing the LMIA so that I can apply for a work permit (since we left Canada more than 5 years ago and are not PR).
The plan is to apply for the work permit at the border once we get the LMIA (to clarify, we do NOT seek to enter as PRs--for us, that status was long gone).
Eventually, we would like to apply for PR if we stay in Canada (that is the intention).
We want to be straight and "clean" about this...

Do you foresee any problems?

 

[Jbashto]

I think you'll need to relinquish your permanent resident status. check the cic website for the required documents.
i believe this is the right document
"Application to Voluntarily Renounce Permanent Resident Status form (IMM 5782)"

 

[scylla]

I think you'll need to relinquish your permanent resident status. check the cic website for the required documents.
i believe this is the right document
"Application to Voluntarily Renounce Permanent Resident Status form (IMM 5782)"

Agreed. You'll need to formally relinquish your PR status first. Otherwise you won't be issued work permits.

 

[hcc7705]

Thank you for your feedback.
OK, that is understandable.

But can I relinquish my PR status at the border, at the same time when I apply for my work permit, or do I have to do it beforehand?

And also, after relinquishing, will I be able to apply again for PR after entering as temporary foreign worker?

Thanks.

 

[hcc7705]

OK, maybe I am answering my own question but is it safe to assume that we can voluntarily renounce our PR at the port of entry? I saw on the CIC'S website, a page called "Renouncing permanent residence" and a section called "Section "Voluntary renunciation received at the port of entry"

And I would have no problem getting my work permit (with LMIA and job offer submitted), and eventually apply for PR again?

Thanks!