RO not met - apply for work visa

[chuck_canada]

Hello there

I would like your opinion on the situation below :

I am a French citizen and I got my Canadian PR in Aug 2016 through the Entry express program. Back then I was single.

I went to Canada for a week in Sept. 2016 and hence activated my PR in Sept 2016. Unfortunately I had to come back to France in Oct 2016 and some family issues made me stay until then. So far i did not meet my RO Obligation.

Also I have a wife/kids who are not Canadian PR. My understanding is that as of today I can not sponsor them As I did not meet my RO.

Today I have a job opportunity in Montreal. I am then wondering:
- should i renunce my Canadian PR by mail so that I can apply for a work Visa.
- or should I keep my canadian PR.


Thank you for your feedback

 

[scylla]

Hello there

I would like your opinion on the situation below :

I am a French citizen and I got my Canadian PR in Aug 2016 through the Entry express program. Back then I was single.

I went to Canada for a week in Sept. 2016 and hence activated my PR in Sept 2016. Unfortunately I had to come back to France in Oct 2016 and some family issues made me stay until then. So far i did not meet my RO Obligation.

Also I have a wife/kids who are not Canadian PR. My understanding is that as of today I can not sponsor them As I did not meet my RO.

Today I have a job opportunity in Montreal. I am then wondering:
- should i renunce my Canadian PR by mail so that I can apply for a work Visa.
- or should I keep my canadian PR.


Thank you for your feedback

It's ultimately your choice what you do. Here's the situation if you want to try to keep your PR status.

You cannot fly to Canada directly since you no longer hold a valid PR card. If you want to try to keep your PR status, you would need to fly to the US and then re-enter Canada through a land border crossing using a private vehicle. When you enter Canada, there is a chance CBSA may report you for failing to meet the residency requirement. If that happens, you'll be called to a hearing and will have to argue why you should be allowed to keep your PR status. This may result in the loss of your PR status. If you are able to enter Canada without being reported, then you'll need to remain in Canada for 2 years straight before you'll be able to renew your PR card. You will not be able to sponsor your wife and children for PR until you have lived in Canada for 2 years and meet the residency requirement. Your wife and children can enter Canada as visitors during this two year period. However your wife will not be able to work and most likely none of them will qualify for health care coverage (until they are PRs).

Did you obtain a SIN when you first became a PR?

 

[chuck_canada]

Thank you for your message.

Yes, I got a SIN when I became a PR. Does that change anything?

As my wife and kids can not stay with a tourist visa, best option would be to renunciate then. have you heard of anyone applying for a work visa after renunciating their PR?

 

[scylla]

Thank you for your message.

Yes, I got a SIN when I became a PR. Does that change anything?

As my wife and kids can not stay with a tourist visa, best option would be to renunciate then. have you heard of anyone applying for a work visa after renunciating their PR?

It doesn't change anything I said above. Without a valid PR card it can sometimes be tricky to get a SIN. So if you didn't have a SIN yet, that would be another complication to add if you want to try to keep PR.

We have had a few cases where people have renounced PR and then applied for a work permit. I don't remember the details of these cases and I'm not sure how you would find those threads.

Is your job offer LMIA-exempt or would your employer need to obtain an approved LMIA before you can apply for a work permit? That's something else to consider. Also, if your aim is to eventually get PR again, make sure you familiarize yourself with the current rules around this and make sure you can qualify and be selected before you make the final decision to renounce.