hmm....i cant seem to remember if i have asked this question before, but here goes anyway!
when i was in toronto (not long ago as many of you may just remember!), i was told by quite a few people, one a financial advisor, that providing i kept a property in canada, and therefore paid the taxes, hydro etc etc, i could retain my PR status, even if i am not there.
providing of course that i intended to live permanently in canada in a few years time.
to me, that translates to not having to live in canada for the requisite 2 out 5 yrs rule.....
anyone any ideas at all?

I think the CIC site says you have to maintain a "physical presence" in Canada, except under certain circumstances. May be wrong though.

non, ce n'est pas possible

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomer/res-oblig.html

There are "circumstances". When I was still a PR, my other half (a soldier) asked what I would say to a posting to Brussels or Rome. It would have been for four years. When I raised the being in Canada bit I was informed that, as I was accompanying her on "government business" I would count as being present in Canada.

Yes, if you are outside canada married to a Canadian , or on government business it counts as being in canada for PR purposes (but not citizenship maybe?)

What Julius suggested is distinctly not the same thing, and will not maintain his PR status. Sorry Julius, if you want a second go around, you have to get your arse back over here while its still possible to meet the two out of five years residency requirement.

I think citizenship, too. You don't have to be married, either. We were and still are common law (that may change, though).

thanks, all for the response!
and a special ta to you, iaink! you hit the nail on t'head with your last answer!
but at the mo, a return is just not possible, as the kids are about to start their A levels....
i would prefer t have them complete these and then make the move, for what it's worth.
sorry to admit it on this forum, but things are not getting any better here either!

Common law, married, its basically the same thing in this country, only common law saves you buying a big dress and paying $50 a head for the reception.

Ive a feeling the only thing "legitamacy" used to make a difference to was the dual citizenship status of certain kids, but even that law has changed now I think.

Why do you think we are still common law

Being a Quebecoise, she has an awful lot of relatives.

I got really stiffed last weekend, though. I have been wearing an "ownership" ring she bought me for years. She has been banging on for ages about having one on her finger. I've never quite got round to it. On Saturday, in the Byward market, she pulled, apparently at random, a cheap silver job off one of the market stalls and indicated that it was her wedding ring.

The next day, while we were, as I believed, just out shopping, she marched into a jewellers, gave him the ring and said: "make me this in white and yellow gold".

I may end up having to marry the bint after all.

LOL. We saved the expense by flying down to Vegas and having Elvis do the deed. $500 all in as I recall, pictures, flowers, video, 3 songs, limo, the lot, plus airfairs of course.

Thankyou, Thankyouverymuch

My wedding cost £750 complete with 30 well fed guests.

But if I was referred to as a bint on a forum, then I would take a very dim view, despite being very laid back about stuff in general & the costs of everything would go up as I would feel unloved even if wasn't remotely said seriously.

Ah, but were you serenaded by the King himself

She (Franco) refers to herself as my bint. She previously called herself my bird.

I have, perhaps, not been entirely honest about explaining the meanings of new words that I teach her.

Damn, I know my nuptials were lacking a certain something.

Have to say, I really fancy a LV wedding! Might force OH to do it again, this time without MIL.

Ok, you're forgiven.

I don't mind bird, chick or honey.....pet, hen.....and I love lassie, which I often get called by the tradesmen around here.

PS As in wee lassie, said in a Scots accent not a woof-woof!