Phone: 416-477-2545 || E: info@TheVisa.ca || Book a Consultation
Once foreign nationals receive permanent residency in Canada, they become ecstatic at the thought of making Canada their permanent home. However, there are certain circumstances that can prevent these individuals from maintaining their permanent residency in Canada, such as obligations in their home country or family emergencies. Essentially, if an individual has not completed their residency requirements then they may lose their permanent residency in Canada. Therefore, in this article, I will explain how to renew your PR card while outside of Canada and important information you must consider prior to renewing your PR card.
When renewing your PR card, it is important to remember that the process is almost the same as applying for a PR card. There are specific eligibility requirements that must be met prior to receiving your PR card and, in this circumstance, renewing your PR card.
To be eligible to renew your PR card, you must meet these specific requirements:
In most cases, permanent residents who have an expired PR outside of Canada and would like to renew their PR cards cannot do so because they have not complied with the residency requirement. It is essential to provide supporting documentation that demonstrates that the individual has been residing in Canada for at least 2 years out of the 5 years of permanent residency. If you cannot prove this and have been residing outside of Canada for the majority of the 5 year period, this can cause challenges for the individual who is trying to renew their PR card.
If you, by chance, have resided outside of Canada for the majority of your permanent residency in Canada, there may be several reasons why this has happened. Of course, permanent residency in Canada relies heavily on the residency requirements and therefore it is extremely important to prove and explain why this requirement was not met. This is especially the case if you are attempting to renew your PR card from outside of Canada. You will need to get a Permanent Resident Travel Document from a Visa Application Centre (VAC) or a Canadian visa office. Keep in mind; unfortunately, you cannot apply for a PR card at any office outside Canada. Therefore, you must mail the PR renewal application to the nearest VAC.
As aforementioned, there are many cases where it is inevitable for the permanent resident to leave Canada and reside outside of Canada but they would still like to renew their PR. In these circumstances, one may apply for a PR card renewal with Humanitarian and Compassionate consideration arguments. By doing this, you can prove to the Immigration officer reviewing your application that you have tried to maintain your permanent residency but for specific reasons, you were unable to meet the residency requirements. Two common examples of cases are listed below and I will explain in detail how to overcome these cases if you would like to renew your PR card.
It is important to note that many foreign nationals that become permanent residents in Canada have a difficult time seeking employment within Canada and are often subject to maintaining or seeking employment in their home country or previous country of residence. In this particular circumstance, you can show evidence of your attempts to seek employment within Canada, such as showing that you have applied to several jobs and positions but were unsuccessful to obtain any valid job offers. Conclusively, you may indicate that your permanent residency and home is in Canada and you have several strong ties to Canada which you would not like to abandon. Please note that the more significant ties you have to Canada, the better the chances of approval.
Many foreign nationals still have many familial obligations in their home countries and often have to return back to their home country for a family emergency, or worse, a family death. There are also other circumstances which involve family members abroad, such as taking care of elderly parents or grandparents. In many cultures around the world, sons and daughters are obligated to take care of their elders. This is especially the case if they are ill and need assistance. If they do not so do, there can be consequences and repercussions from their other family members. As a result, the permanent resident that is taking care of their ill family member may have to leave Canada and stay abroad for several years. This definitely impedes of their renewal of their PR card as they would not be able to meet the residency requirements.
It is imperative that you always have your PR card with you wherever you are travelling, even if it has expired. If it as expired and you are abroad and need to renew it, it is important to remember you must mail your permanent resident card renewal to the nearest VAC. Please note that if you unfortunately did not carry your PR card while travelling outside of the country, then there is a possibility you may not be able to re-enter Canada. Consequently, it is your responsibility to have a valid PR card whenever you are travelling. The decision on whether or not you will receive a new PR card is determined by the Immigration officer when entering Canada and is completely out of our control.
If you are still unsure about how to proceed with renewing your PR card or your certain circumstance is more complicated than the above scenarios, then we can definitely assist you with this application. If you want to apply for a PR card renewal, especially from outside of Canada, it is extremely important to note that these are difficult applications to pursue on your own. It is highly recommended that you seek out professional and experienced help before attempting to submit the application. Here, at Akrami & Associates, we work and have experience with many different immigration issues. We have helped many of our clients renew their PR cards from outside of Canada. If you would like to apply to renew your PR card, please feel free to contact Akrami & Associates at our office at 416-477-2545 for more information or if you would like to book a consultation with an immigration professional for more advise.
With Akrami & Associates, there is always a way!
