Renewing my Canadian PR Card

[toobrown]

Hi, I received my Canadian PR card in May 2008 and since then been staying in US on H1B visa. I married a Canadian Citizen (Holding Canadian Passport) in April 2009 and have been with her since then. My Canadian PR card is expiring in May 2013 and so wanted to send it out for Renewal.
Questions
1. Do I need to be physically present in Canada to do this? Or can I mail all the things?
2. I do understand that I will be able to renew my PR card for another 5 years, as I married and stayed with a Canadian Citizen for more than 2 years, what all documents do I need to send for proving this?

Any other suggestions will be appreciated.

TIA

 

[computergeek]

1. Do I need to be physically present in Canada to do this? Or can I mail all the things?

You can be anywhere, but you must either physically pick up the card in Canada or if they mail a new card to your Canadian address you can have someone mail the PR card to you.

2. I do understand that I will be able to renew my PR card for another 5 years, as I married and stayed with a Canadian Citizen for more than 2 years, what all documents do I need to send for proving this?

You must prove you are married to a Canadian citizen, and that you are accompanying that Canadian citizen outside the country. This should include things like bills and bank statements with both your names at the same address, evidence that you are living together. Ideally, you should also show that your spouse is employed outside Canada - the regulations say you must accompany your Canadian spouse, not vice-versa and I have read some things indicating that CIC is now interpreting this literally, that the primary reason you are outside Canada must be to accompany your spouse, not vice versa. Note that this isn't clearly the rule, but I have read some discussions about this interpretation.

 

[toobrown]

Thanks!

 

[shah0096]

7.5. Accompanying a Canadian citizen outside Canada
R61(4) provides that each day a permanent resident is outside Canada accompanying (that is,
ordinarily residing with) a Canadian citizen constitutes a day of physical presence in Canada,
provided that the Canadian citizen they are accompanying is a spouse or common-law partner or
parent.
In the case of a permanent resident outside Canada accompanying a Canadian citizen, it is not
necessary to determine who is accompanying whom, nor is it necessary to determine for what
purpose. In other words, under A28(2)(a)(ii) and R61(4), as long as a permanent resident is
accompanying a Canadian citizen, the intent and purpose of their absences are not relevant as
the residency obligation is met.

 

[Leon]

A PR renewal application must be made in Canada, however, it is not a solid requirement that the applicant is. If you can mail your PR renewal application to friends or relatives in Canada and they mail it in for you, it would be better. I have heard of someone who was refused because his application was mailed from the US.