Driving to Vancouver from Seattle
 

Hi
Thank u for taking time to read this.
After much deliberation, not having met the PR residency requirements, we have decided it’s too late to move to Canada now, also not helped by our ages…wife and me are 67!
Our PR cards ran out in 2013 and I never renewed them, as we had been living in the uk.
My question is, I need to go to Vancouver to close down our bank accounts and hopefully withdraw what little is in our accounts there (not more than $5000).
We have friends in Seattle who we can visit and then drive over the border.
I won’t be hiding anything from the border people and am quite happy telling them why I’m visiting Vancouver and that my PR has expired and we have no intention in staying in Canada.
Ive checked Google but its come up with various things that could get us barred from visiting Canada ever again.
How should we tackle this pls?

Re: Driving to Vancouver from Seattle
 

Are any of the things that can get you barred from Canada applicable to you?
As far as I understand, you are visiting friends in Seattle and then travelling to Canada to close a bank account, then returning to the UK
As long as you have your ET done, I don't see the problem - show them your return ticket to the UK if asked any questions.

Re: Driving to Vancouver from Seattle
 

67 isn't too old, plenty of people older than that move, usually parents moving to join their adult children and grandchildren. But sounds like you're a long way off meeting the PR requirements, when were you last in Canada and how did you enter?

If you want to go back now and are sure you aren't keeping your PR, then you should formally renounce it. Then you won't have any hassle no matter how you enter.

https://ircc.canada.ca/english/infor...s/5781etoc.asp

Also, you shouldn't need to visit Vancouver in person to shut down a bank account, so if that's the only reason you're going, contact the bank and do it directly with them instead.

Re: Driving to Vancouver from Seattle
 

The problem is the OP can't get an ETA as a PR of Canada, hence they'll need to renounce that status first.

Re: Driving to Vancouver from Seattle
 

Hi and thanks for all the help.

We were in Canada in 2010, lived there for a year and then moved back to Uk due to family issues with parents alone here.

So we never were able to comply with the residency requirements.

But I feel we are made out to be some kind of criminals, when all we want to do is meet friends in Seattle and Vancouver, and while we’re in Vancouver, may as well close our bank account.

Isnt it a fact that we’ve been away since 2013, and because we never met the residency requirement, we have lost the Landed status now?

Finally, yes I do realise that we can still move, we have firmly decided to stay in the uk now.
Canada and for that matter, moving anywhere has lost its appeal.

Re: Driving to Vancouver from Seattle
 

He said that they left Canada in 2013 after only living there for a year; and he never renewed the PR card.... wouldn't his status have expired by now?

Re: Driving to Vancouver from Seattle
 

Legally the OP is still a permanent resident and will remain so until one of the actions in section 46(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act occurs.

Loss of Status

Permanent resident

• 46 (1) A person loses permanent resident status
  • (a) when they become a Canadian citizen;
  • (b) on a final determination of a decision made outside of Canada that they have failed to comply with the residency obligation under section 28;
  • (c) when a removal order made against them comes into force;
  • (c.1) on a final determination under subsection 108(2) that their refugee protection has ceased for any of the reasons described in paragraphs 108(1)(a) to (d);
  • (d) on a final determination under section 109 to vacate a decision to allow their claim for refugee protection or a final determination to vacate a decision to allow their application for protection
  • Effect of renunciation
    (1.1) A person who loses their permanent resident status under paragraph (1)(e) becomes a temporary resident for a period of six months unless they make their application to renounce their permanent resident status at a port of entry or are not physically present in Canada on the day on which their application is approved.
  • The OP has the option of submitting an online application to renounce their PR status or go to a Port of Entry in Canada and see if they will do it there.
    
    https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration...nt-status.html
    
    What should happen at the POE is the OP would formally be reported for not meeting the residence requirements and be issued with a removal order. They would be allowed entry into Canada until the removal order becomes enforceable.
    

I have no idea of the processing times to renounce PR status.

Re: Driving to Vancouver from Seattle
 

Many thanks for all the responses!
I think we will just turn up at the border with Seattle and tell them why we are there.
i will have docs to prove I work in uk, passport etc.
As I say, I have no intention of moving there.
The Canada I knew years ago has gone.
Sad. 👍

Re: Driving to Vancouver from Seattle
 

Right, so you really need to formally relinquish your PR status. Trying to enter as a visitor with PR status is likely to be long, messy, and potentially have you referred to an immigration judge. Just renounce it asap and then you can enter normally.

Good luck.

Re: Driving to Vancouver from Seattle
 

You might want to fill out the form and ensure you have the required documents etc., to take with you if you don't want to submit the application prior to arriving.

https://ircc.canada.ca/english/infor...s/5781etoc.asp

Why would I renounce my permanent resident status?

There are multiple situations in which a person might wish to renounce their permanent resident status including:

• You want to accept a diplomatic or official position with a foreign government; or
• You want to obtain citizenship or permanent resident status in another country and that country requires you to renounce permanent resident status in Canada; or
• You only want to visit Canada and you know you have not met the residency obligations because you have been outside of Canada for a long period of time and
  • You don’t want to wait for a visa officer to assess whether or not you are still a permanent resident of Canada; or
  • You would like to apply for a temporary resident visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA); or
  • You would like to avoid delays at the Port of Entry.
• You no longer want to live in Canada permanently.