gibsonslanding

hi team....I know I've asked a similar question before but a slight variation this time....

so, we are PR, cards run out this may! we put in for citizenship in aug 2012 so just a waiting game now but question is: I have been invited to a wedding in figi in September, does the fact that I've applied for citizenship negate the fact that I have to renew my PR card? it seems pointless to me but the cic website seems to indicate that I would need a current PR card to re-enter Canada....BUT, it's just more money and the same paperwork to re-apply for the PR card, when we have a citizenship request in! which could be granted before September!!! left and right hand and all that.....

anyone else had a similar challenge? and what did ya do about it?

cheers

MarkG

I renewed mine, then got my citizenship ceremony the day the original PR card ran out .

christmasoompa

And you were kind enough to give the same answer in the OP's previous thread on the same subject.

OP, please re-read your previous thread and all of the answers you were given then, plus the Sticky thread above about travelling without PR cards.

gibsonslanding

okay...I got it, ta?

basically, I just have to re-new....more money, eh? if you work it out, seems to me like a nice little side money earner! 'cos you can't apply for citizenship until nearly your PR runs out, eh?....

Former Lancastrian

Not really. Most can apply for citizenship after 3 years so still 2 years left on PR card. If no intentions of travelling outside Canada then no need to renew PR card until you get citizenship. Initial PR card costs is zero so how is this a money grab?

Zoe Bell

3 years assumes you NEVER leave the country, not even for one night. Citizenship applications are taking , what, two years now. Add on to that the time you need to factor in that the PR card renewal takes , then yes pretty much everyone is going to have to renew. And while yes, technically you only really need the card if you want to avoid hassle at the airport if you need to leave the country for what ever reason, I can guarantee if someone came on here saying that they'd let their PR card expire and now needed to get back in to Canada there would be a chorus of people calling them cheap for not renewing.

lets face it at the moment pretty much everyone is going to have to renew it

Former Lancastrian

True but $10 a year is hardly a money grab seeing that a renewal is $50 and good for 5 years

SarahBC

Hi,

I'd renew your PR cards now.

We sent our renewal application in at the end of September. The enquiry line said we're now awaiting a letter to invite us to an interview at the Vancouver office to collect our new cards. The CIC website implies that upcoming travel (with an airline ticket) would allow the process to be expedited).

Now not everyone is required to attend an interview to collect the new cards. We don't know why we're the lucky ones but it seems increasingly common:

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=823090

Sarah

JAJ

I doubt it's a money grab. It's unlikely that the C$50 fee comes anywhere close to covering processing cost. Which in turn explains why they can't process applications in reasonable time.

Waggle

If your PR card runs out and citizenship has not yet been granted, are you not out of status?

Or do the citizenship application grant you implied status?

Although under the current rules we'll be eligible to apply for citizenship at the end of this year, seems likely we'll be ineligible by the time we get there because of the new proposed reforms making it take longer to be eligible.

Former Lancastrian

No to both questions. Legally no requirement to have a PR card within Canada however all new PRs are usually issued with one. You can let your card expire if not travelling outside Canada. You still must however meet the 730 day residency obligation for every 5 year period. There is no implied status on PR. You are still considered a PR while citizenship application is in process.

Waggle

So as long as you remain in Canada and meet the 730 days / 5 years you can just keep living there and working there forever without having to formally renew anything?

Zoe Bell

Yes . don't confuse the status with the card.
In fact it is perfectly possible to be in possession of a valid pr card but not be able to keep your pr status.