Re-entering Canada After applying for new card and leaving

[Mosho]

Hello!

I have been living in Canada for 22 months between 2012-2014. I got my PR Card in 2007 with the rest of my family (who are already citizens). I moved back (to Israel, was still in the army) and moved back in 2012 just before my card expired. They told me it's somewhat problematic but let me in and I had no issues since. I enrolled in a Canadian university and didn't leave for said 22 months. After 22 months, I had enough days to meet my PR obligations (spent summers in Canada) and applied for a new PR Card. I was enrolled in a co-op program and found an internship back in Israel for 8 months as a part of my degree requirements. I ended up staying until now (over 2 years), postponing my enrollment back at university twice, for a year each time.

Meanwhile, I received a request from CIC to send pages from my passport to support my claims, which I did. I have since did not hear from them. I filled the online information request a few times but did not get anything back. Until recently (4 months ago), the online application status page still said the application is being processed but as of today I can't find it there anymore.

Right now, I don't meet the requirements (I only have the 22 months). As an Israeli citizen I don't need a Canadian Visa. I am enrolled at said university for the term beginning in May.

What are my options for re-entry? Can the 8 months I spent fulfilling my degree requirements (I received credit points) be added to the 22 months I spent in Canada? Can I use my Israeli passport to travel physically and get it sorted there? should I contact someone? Since I applied for a new PR and sent my expired one, I do not currently have a physical PR card.

Thanks!

 

[Mosho]

Browsing through the forum I found an indirect number I used to contact CIC (until now nothing I tried worked outside Canada) and they said they sent me the PR card months ago but it was to the wrong address (I had 2 addresses, one that I lived in and one where my family lives), which was probably my fault, but the (very helpful) CIC representative told me it's all good and I should just go and apply for a travel document. Phew!

 

[zardoz]

Browsing through the forum I found an indirect number I used to contact CIC (until now nothing I tried worked outside Canada) and they said they sent me the PR card months ago but it was to the wrong address (I had 2 addresses, one that I lived in and one where my family lives), which was probably my fault, but the (very helpful) CIC representative told me it's all good and I should just go and apply for a travel document. Phew!

Beware. If you do not CURRENTLY meet the residency obligation requirements, applying for a Travel Document will trigger another assessment of your compliance and could be refused. This is completely independent of your previously being allowed to renew your PR card. You could still end up with your PR status being revoked. Having a valid PR card somewhere in Canada will NOT protect you.

 

[Mosho]

Beware. If you do not CURRENTLY meet the residency obligation requirements, applying for a Travel Document will trigger another assessment of your compliance and could be refused. This is completely independent of your previously being allowed to renew your PR card. You could still end up with your PR status being revoked. Having a valid PR card somewhere in Canada will NOT protect you.

So the best course of action would be to try and obtain the card? Otherwise what are my options? I already bought a plane ticket, but I guess I could fly to the states and enter with a car since I'm from a visa exempt country.

 

[Rob_TO]

So the best course of action would be to try and obtain the card? Otherwise what are my options? I already bought a plane ticket, but I guess I could fly to the states and enter with a car since I'm from a visa exempt country.

You can't fly directly to Canada without a valid PR card or PR TD. The airline will not let you board. And as mentioned, if you apply for PR TD and don't meet RO as of that specific day, most likely your PR TD will be denied and process begun to revoke PR status.

Note that for your current renewal in progress, CIC may ask you to pick up your new card in person at a local CIC office, they may not mail it.

You can try to enter Canada via USA land border, however you run the risk of being reported for not meeting RO, and having your PR status revoked.

Having a valid PR card or not, you can still be reported upon entry to Canada if you don't meet the RO from that specific day you are entering.

Long story short, since you are outside Canada and current don't meet RO, there is no guaranteed way at all that you can re-enter Canada without being reported. Any way you attempt carries risk.

 

[Mosho]

You can't fly directly to Canada without a valid PR card or PR TD. The airline will not let you board. And as mentioned, if you apply for PR TD and don't meet RO as of that specific day, most likely your PR TD will be denied and process begun to revoke PR status.

Note that for your current renewal in progress, CIC may ask you to pick up your new card in person at a local CIC office, they may not mail it.

You can try to enter Canada via USA land border, however you run the risk of being reported for not meeting RO, and having your PR status revoked.

Having a valid PR card or not, you can still be reported upon entry to Canada if you don't meet the RO from that specific day you are entering.

Long story short, since you are outside Canada and current don't meet RO, there is no guaranteed way at all that you can re-enter Canada without being reported. Any way you attempt carries risk.

Thanks. As I mentioned, I was told over the phone by a CIC representative that the card was sent, albeit to the wrong address. She also said it wasn't sent back to them so I am hopeful the current resident of that address will know something.

I went over many of the appeal cases' results for PR status, and have little doubt that even if I did get reported (but let into Canada) and have to justify staying on as a PR, I would be able to do so. It is a risk I am absolutely willing to take at this point, if I can't retrieve the card. The remaining issue is physically entering Canada.

 

[Almost_Canadian]

Yes, you have a tough choice , enter Canada via US or apply for a PRTD.
I think it would be safer to take your chances with a physical one- on -one chat with an officer at PoE rather than someone in an embassy making a decision based on only documents.
In case of PRTD rejection, that will also mean your PR status is terminated unless you appeal. Whereas at PoE there is a chance to explain your situation and along with your proof of university acceptance, that should swing things in your favor. But do remember that things could go either way even at PoE.
All the best and do let the forum know what you decided to do and how it worked out.

 

[Mosho]

Yes, you have a tough choice , enter Canada via US or apply for a PRTD.
I think it would be safer to take your chances with a physical one- on -one chat with an officer at PoE rather than someone in an embassy making a decision based on only documents.
In case of PRTD rejection, that will also mean your PR status is terminated unless you appeal. Whereas at PoE there is a chance to explain your situation and along with your proof of university acceptance, that should swing things in your favor. But do remember that things could go either way even at PoE.
All the best and do let the forum know what you decided to do and how it worked out.

That does sound like the safer bet.

I did some more reading, and saw that there is something called a "Solemn Declaration Concerning a Lost, Stolen, Destroyed or Never-Received Permanent Resident Card". If I understand correctly, I can fill that out (it hasn't been 180 days) and they might send a new PR card to the right address without going through the process?

 

[Rob_TO]

I did some more reading, and saw that there is something called a "Solemn Declaration Concerning a Lost, Stolen, Destroyed or Never-Received Permanent Resident Card". If I understand correctly, I can fill that out (it hasn't been 180 days) and they might send a new PR card to the right address without going through the process?

They may mail it out again to a corrected address, or they may ask you to pick up the card in person.

 

[Mosho]

As luck would have it, I managed to contact the person who lives in that address and they did keep the PR card for 4 months! Turns out they forgot to send it back, which is just fine by me ;D

That simplifies my situation. Will I still have issues at the airport with the PR card since I don't meet the RO?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Will I still have issues at the airport with the PR card since I don't meet the RO?

Yes, you may still be reported on entry for not meeting the RO.

 

[Mosho]

Anything I should do to mitigate the chances of that?

 

[Rob_TO]

Anything I should do to mitigate the chances of that?

No. It depends entirely on the actions of CBSA officers you encounter, or if you're selected for a trip to secondary inspection.

 

[Mosho]

The card finally arrived. Before I board the plane, I have another question. Should I disclose the details about my status right away, or wait until asked? I wouldn't want to appear like I'm hiding something if it might hurt me in the long run.

 

[zardoz]

The card finally arrived. Before I board the plane, I have another question. Should I disclose the details about my status right away, or wait until asked? I wouldn't want to appear like I'm hiding something if it might hurt me in the long run.

Answer questions that are asked, truthfully. Don't offer information that has not been requested.