hi, not been on the forum for a while...but like a bad smell im back for some help...our PR cards expire the beginning of 2014...and i think our passports are the same...im worried at the expense..i have to renew all passports and then the cards all in the next year..i think im right in thinking that we never loose our PR status as long as we are in Canada ....but it does prove a problem if we want to travel...can i hang our the PR for a while or will it cause me a problem..any advice id appreciate..thanks...great to be back

Yes, the PR cards are just evidence of you staus as a permanent resident. As long as you meet the residence requirments you will continue to be permanent residents even if your PR cards expire. As you say, it might caue problems if you travel abroad.

thanks Jon, think we will just go for citizenship

My wife's PR card expired once and she let it go for over 3 years before renewing it. Problem was, her European passport also expired and that makes it more difficult to renew a PR card, so make sure they don't all expire.

My PR card expired last year (a week before I travelled home to the UK)!

From what I have been told if you travel to/from the US it's not truly a problem as it's at the discretion of the border guard (you need to prove to him/her that you reside in Canada).

Things to prove you reside are:

• Drivers Licence
• SIN card (starting with a 6)
• Passport with Visa insert
• Health Card

As for traveling abroad you will need a 'temporary waiver' (in england the office is somewhere in london).

You can either go to the office and wait for a same day processing (took about 4 hours sitting in a waiting room (not allowed to leave said room)).

or you can mail it where they state it takes 5 days to process.

I don't know about other countries but if anyone is reading this DO NOT let it expire it is a pain in the bum that causes unnecessary stress whilst traveling.