Canada PR renewal

[PND]

Friends,

Wanted to get your expert opinion on my case -

I got my Canadian PR card in 2012, I landed in Canada in mid 2013 to Toronto and lived there for 1.5 years. In 2015 Feb, I came back to US and since then living in US. My PR card is expiring on mid 2017. As I am in US right now, can I apply for renewal for my PR card. Do you think it is easier to get my renewal remotely since I only lived in Canada for 1.5 years or should I relocate to Canada in few months and apply for renewal? Does my US stay pose any risk to PR renewal?

Thanks

 

[frege]

Friends,

Wanted to get your expert opinion on my case -

I got my Canadian PR card in 2012, I landed in Canada in mid 2013 to Toronto and lived there for 1.5 years. In 2015 Feb, I came back to US and since then living in US. My PR card is expiring on mid 2017. As I am in US right now, can I apply for renewal for my PR card. Do you think it is easier to get my renewal remotely since I only lived in Canada for 1.5 years or should I relocate to Canada in few months and apply for renewal? Does my US stay pose any risk to PR renewal?

Thanks

Here is what the application page says:

You can apply for a permanent resident card (PR card) if you:

have permanent resident status,
are in Canada,
have not been asked by the Government of Canada to leave the country, and
are not a Canadian citizen.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/pr-card/apply-how.asp

So you have to be in Canada to apply for a new PR card.

What month did you become a PR, and how many months did you live in Canada? (18 months exactly?)

 

[PND]

Thanks frege. I lived in Canada for 20 months. So seems like I have to be in Canada for 4 months more to apply for PR card renewal. Do you think US stay would cause any risk or does two years (out of 5 years) needs to be continuous?

 

[frege]

Thanks frege. I lived in Canada for 20 months. So seems like I have to be in Canada for 4 months more to apply for PR card renewal. Do you think US stay would cause any risk or does two years (out of 5 years) needs to be continuous?

The two years doesn't need to be continuous. You'll need to return to Canada at least 4 months before the five-year anniversary of becoming a PR. But you should go earlier than that to be safe.

Also, even if you manage to renew your PR card, that won't mean your PR status is safe for another five years. Every time you enter Canada they can look to see if you have two years' presence in the five years preceding that entry.

The difference in having a PR card is that there is a chance you'll be lucky and the border guard won't question you about your residency. If your PR card is expired, then for sure you'll be questioned.