PR Visa expiring in 3 weeks - Confirmed Short Landing - Can one get a PR Card?

[suba73]

Dear Forum Members:

My PR case has been accepted, but there will be only 3 weeks left on the visa from the earliest date I can travel to Canada for a landing (I couldn't procure some of the later documents to the local visa office in time, so I only got the visa this close to the 1 year after medicals)

The local visa officer who called me to tell me that I need to travel before that date, said that I "must" land in Canada before this visa expiry date, and apply for a PR in Canada, then return to my home country, and then return. She hanged up before I could ask her how I could process a PR that takes 3 months when I only have 3 weeks left on my visa, and now I cannot reach the Canadian High Commission.

Now I've read on this forum and elsewhere that the Immigration Officer at the port of entry will not process your PR and agree to send it to a friend's address in Canada if they are certain you are here for a short landing. Is that true? It is obviously a short stay because my visa says so. And this stay will certainly not be enough to get the PR.

Could you please suggest what someone might (or should) do in this situation.

A) Will I be technically able to "extend" my visa once in Canada, enabling me to extend my stay in Canada for 3 months until the PR Card arrives?

B) If I have to turn back soon after landing, do they still accept a friend's address in Canada to mail the PR Card to, even though they clearly know you are here for a short landing only.

C) I've read on the CIC website, about a "Travel document" that one can prepare from the local country to be able to travel back to Canada without a PR. That sounds complicated and apparently there is a possibility of "refusal", and I'd rather avoid it (after having spent a ton of money just to "touch" Canada and return.) Is this route (Travel Document) something you would advise?

D) Clearly if I cannot stay beyond 2-3 weeks, do you suppose I would have to carry 14000 CAD with me. Does it make sense to buy drafts and cash when I know I can't stay long in Canada? (In fact I might as well leave the airport, and walk back into Arrivals as soon as the "landing" is done, since there is nothing else I can productively do in Canada within the window of time available to me.

Any answers would be much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[scylla]

Your question doesn't make sense. The date on your PR visa is the date by which you must land in Canada if you want to become a PR - that's all. It has nothing to do with how long you can stay in Canada.

 

[suba73]

Dear Scylla,

Thank you for your response!

So this means that my assumption was wrong.. I thought the date on the initial entry PR visa was the last date I was allowed to be in Canada.

This clears things up. So this means that even though my PR visa expires on the 20th of October 2015, I can actually plan for a longer stay as long as I enter Canada before 20th October 2015.

Thank you very much !

Regards,
Suba

 

[Quink]

Dear Scylla,

Thank you for your response!

So this means that my assumption was wrong.. I thought the date on the initial entry PR visa was the last date I was allowed to be in Canada.

This clears things up. So this means that even though my PR visa expires on the 20th of October 2015, I can actually plan for a longer stay as long as I enter Canada before 20th October 2015.

Thank you very much !

Regards,
Suba

Yeah you're all good. Once you "land" you're a permanent resident. The visa you currently hold won't matter any more. The only tricky thing is that you won't get a PR card for a few months which can make it tricky to re-enter Canada for a little while. But you can apply for a travel document, or enter via a land border in a private vehicle. Either way, as long as you can do the initial landing before 20th October then the rest of the process is relatively easy. If you miss this cutoff though you could potentially jeopardise everything, so make sure not to mess that part up!

 

[suba73]

Dear Quink,

Thanks for your response !

So as I understand, the initial visa is for entry only. Then, perhaps it may be better to stay on at least until the card arrives, and avoid re-entry complications.

But because the time left between now and Oct 20th (or 15th to be practical) is too short, it makes any employment planning or training that much harder. But one thing at a time..

Thanks and Regards,
Suba