misskatpaw

Hi,

We've just been successful in obtaining PR and reading the doc that CIC send to request our passports, I'm learning that Visas expire 12 months following the date of your medicals (20th Jan)...we're booked to go to canada in May this year anyway, but don't think that we'll be able to move over in 10 weeks time, so we think we'll return for good, maybe in Sept/Oct 12.

So my question is, are we losing anything by 'activating' (if that's the right word?) in May, even though we know we're coming home? Or will there be anything to gain by not activating them in May? Will we get a choice anyway? Can we still land as bog standard (! ) tourists or do we have to do something with the visas by the simple fact that we possess them?

Thanks
Katie

Former Lancastrian

You have the choice. There are advantages and disadvantages to doing it both ways.
Activating in May means its done and should something happen while back in the UK you wont have to worry about COPR expiry date but you also lose a few months of residency requirement. You also wait less if wanting to apply for citizenship later.
If not activating in May you dont lose time meeting residency requirement but if something happened to delay coming later you might be cutting the 12month validity date.

JB0591

Hi, yep you can arrive in Canada as visitors regardless of having PR visa in the passport without doing anything special. The immigration officer will probably ask if you want to land but it is ok to say no.

If you want to land in May you dont need to provide an address as you can provide that when you return. You also do not have to present goods to follow lists as that should be done when you return to take up residency.

misskatpaw

Thanks very much for your timely replies chaps

Can I just clarify then, if we activate them in May on our trip and retun to the UK after our 22 days, what are the implications for the 'residency requirement' that you refer to? I apm aware of the number of days you need to have spent in the country for citizenship in so many years, but what's the residency time frame.

Just for info, We're probably looking at returning between Aug-oct '12 for good.

Regards,

Katie

christmasoompa

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Catego...cy_Obligations

And this one might be useful too - http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Landing_as_PR-Canada

misskatpaw

Awesome, ta