Hey there! Just fyi. My husband's Landed immigrant card is up for renewal (5 years).
What they don't tell you is you have to keep track of every time you leave the country and come back.
It would have been helpful info 5 years ago. Lucky for me I am OCD and I kept phone records/cell records/tickets/charge card records so I can pretty much figure it out.
You have to list everything - date in/date out every time (vacations, work etc, that is more than a day trip) Would have been easier if I had kept an *actual* calendar that I marked. They also require documentation, photos, copies of various docs....almost like applying for the RIDC all over again. :(
Anyway. Once you get to age 55 you can apply for citizenship (I know you didn't have intent, but I am seeing now it might be easier in the long run!) without having to write the test! Just saw that now - age 55 and up are exempt from the test-so it's quite easy!! Much better than trying to keep track of dates (and employers, and addresses over the years!)
Thanks for that info CC! It will be very helpful for me. I am going to get a 5 year diary and will keep track of my visits in and out of the country. I just yesterday finally rec'd my PR card after being promised it would take no more than 4 to 6 weeks to arrive. Would you believe 10+ weeks? Now am waiting on SIN card which is supposed to take 10 days to arrive in my mailbox. Well, the guy at Service Ontario said the printing machine in New Brunswick is broken and I am looking at 4 to 6 weeks worth of a wait. Now where have I heard that before? Ha ha ha ha ha ha.......
Ya, I am not surprised. Once we get my husband's paperwork in for the PR card (because we won't be able to fly out without it) it will take 3 months. They are dealing with backlog...from May at the moment. :(
My husband's original PR card took 5 months and 2 wks from time of application until getting the card. I thought that was fairly quick compared to what they told us it would be. For some countries, application from outside takes 2 years....or more
oh, and btw, start the application for the renewal of your PR card a year in advance (the sooner the better!!) and just fyi, you will need an IMM5455 which you can ONLY order from them - and it will take approx 2 wks to get to you....by mail.... You are allowed to keep your PR card if not expired until you pick up your new one.
I wish someone would have told us all this 5 years ago... :(
CC... Lots of great information you are giving me. Thanks. I am going to be writing this all down so I won't forget.
And, with my application for the PR card done from here inside Canada.... it took just a little over 29 months from start to having the card in my hand. And, there were no problems except for the time factor in getting it done.... you know.... no police records, jail time, political terrorist.... that sort of thing. Just your everyday normal married spouse of a Canadian resident.
Yes! When they ask you for your date of being a PR - it's not the date on the front of the card (the expiry date) its the date in teensy weensy printing on the back of the card under the strip. I can barely read it with my glasses on! Anyway, we stuck the wrong date on the forms because of this. Also - the place "landed" is also written in the same spot. Ours said "Huntingdon" - I had to look that up because I didn't know where that was even though we are within 5 miles of there.... :( It's not a "real" place anymore, just a former community absorbed by the local city. I don't even think it has a postal code.
I think what I might do is partially fill out and print an emergency visitor visa in case my husband has to go across the border if his mom becomes ill....he won't have a PR card for a few months and that makes me nervous. He can LEAVE the country without a PR card, he just can't get back in....
I think why my husband's PR card took only 22 wks...I have an old school chum that is very high up in immigration....he put in a good word for us unofficially. It may have helped. ;)
Discovered that from the time of application for citizenship to becoming Canadian is actually 1 1/2 years....so we didn't have any other option but to apply for the PR card as well.
I can't stress enough...start applying for your PR card in your 4th year here. :(
Also...found out that time outside the country when you were accompanying your Canadian spouse doesn't *officially* count as time outside of the country if it comes down to the wire with the number of days, and in that case you would need a copy of your marriage certificate to accompany.
The whole process is more tedious than anything. :( The stress from it probably is what caused my latest trip to ED as per my latest blog entry! :( I am the one doing all the footwork, research and application for my husband....
11 comments:
You're quite welcome (Though, I must confess, I stole the link from Eric Whitacre, teehehe)
:-D
Hugs!
Hey there! Just fyi. My husband's Landed immigrant card is up for renewal (5 years).
What they don't tell you is you have to keep track of every time you leave the country and come back.
It would have been helpful info 5 years ago. Lucky for me I am OCD and I kept phone records/cell records/tickets/charge card records so I can pretty much figure it out.
You have to list everything - date in/date out every time (vacations, work etc, that is more than a day trip) Would have been easier if I had kept an *actual* calendar that I marked. They also require documentation, photos, copies of various docs....almost like applying for the RIDC all over again. :(
Anyway. Once you get to age 55 you can apply for citizenship (I know you didn't have intent, but I am seeing now it might be easier in the long run!) without having to write the test! Just saw that now - age 55 and up are exempt from the test-so it's quite easy!! Much better than trying to keep track of dates (and employers, and addresses over the years!)
Just fyi! :)
Thanks for that info CC! It will be very helpful for me. I am going to get a 5 year diary and will keep track of my visits in and out of the country.
I just yesterday finally rec'd my PR card after being promised it would take no more than 4 to 6 weeks to arrive. Would you believe 10+ weeks?
Now am waiting on SIN card which is supposed to take 10 days to arrive in my mailbox. Well, the guy at Service Ontario said the printing machine in New Brunswick is broken and I am looking at 4 to 6 weeks worth of a wait. Now where have I heard that before?
Ha ha ha ha ha ha.......
Ya, I am not surprised. Once we get my husband's paperwork in for the PR card (because we won't be able to fly out without it) it will take 3 months. They are dealing with backlog...from May at the moment. :(
My husband's original PR card took 5 months and 2 wks from time of application until getting the card.
I thought that was fairly quick compared to what they told us it would be. For some countries, application from outside takes 2 years....or more
oh, and btw, start the application for the renewal of your PR card a year in advance (the sooner the better!!) and just fyi, you will need an IMM5455 which you can ONLY order from them - and it will take approx 2 wks to get to you....by mail....
You are allowed to keep your PR card if not expired until you pick up your new one.
I wish someone would have told us all this 5 years ago... :(
CC...
Lots of great information you are giving me. Thanks. I am going to be writing this all down so I won't forget.
And, with my application for the PR card done from here inside Canada.... it took just a little over 29 months from start to having the card in my hand. And, there were no problems except for the time factor in getting it done.... you know.... no police records, jail time, political terrorist.... that sort of thing. Just your everyday normal married spouse of a Canadian resident.
Good luck with your dealings with the CIC.
CC...
Any other hints or tips about the PR Card?
Thanks in advance.
Yes! When they ask you for your date of being a PR - it's not the date on the front of the card (the expiry date) its the date in teensy weensy printing on the back of the card under the strip. I can barely read it with my glasses on! Anyway, we stuck the wrong date on the forms because of this. Also - the place "landed" is also written in the same spot. Ours said "Huntingdon" - I had to look that up because I didn't know where that was even though we are within 5 miles of there.... :( It's not a "real" place anymore, just a former community absorbed by the local city. I don't even think it has a postal code.
I think what I might do is partially fill out and print an emergency visitor visa in case my husband has to go across the border if his mom becomes ill....he won't have a PR card for a few months and that makes me nervous. He can LEAVE the country without a PR card, he just can't get back in....
I think why my husband's PR card took only 22 wks...I have an old school chum that is very high up in immigration....he put in a good word for us unofficially. It may have helped. ;)
Discovered that from the time of application for citizenship to becoming Canadian is actually 1 1/2 years....so we didn't have any other option but to apply for the PR card as well.
I can't stress enough...start applying for your PR card in your 4th year here. :(
Also...found out that time outside the country when you were accompanying your Canadian spouse doesn't *officially* count as time outside of the country if it comes down to the wire with the number of days, and in that case you would need a copy of your marriage certificate to accompany.
The whole process is more tedious than anything. :(
The stress from it probably is what caused my latest trip to ED as per my latest blog entry! :(
I am the one doing all the footwork, research and application for my husband....
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