Naieem Ashraf

Hi

I immigrated to Canada in June of 2000 from the UK. I got Permanent Resident
Visa straight away as my wife was Canadian. We have been living here for the
last three and a half years with occasional visits abroad lasting no more
than two weeks.

So the problem is now that my company is sending me back to the UK for a one
year contract that they need me to do. They say that the contract could even
be longer than that. They want me to leave by end of January. I was not
expecting this and am now kicking myself for not having applied for a PR
card or Citizenship earlier. I have a few questions.

1. What if I apply for a PR card now. How long will it take to get here. Do
I need to pick it up? Can I have it mailed to my in-laws? Do I have to be in
the country while they process it? I realise that I will not be let back in
without a travel document or the PR card.

2. I am also now eligible to apply for Canadian Citizenship. Can I apply for
this from the UK? The issue is that currently I will have satisfied the
criteria of 3 out of 4 years. If I leave for England I will have lost a year
hence not being eligible to apply again. Can I apply here before I leave and
leave the address as my in-laws? And then come back for whatever issues may
occur?

3. Do I need to tell Canadian Immigration that I will be going abroad on
account of my company sending me there?

Please advise what my best option is. I do eventually want to come back to
Canada and do not want to have to reapply and pay the landing and processing
fee and wait the time it takes to get the Visa all over again. Thank you in
advance and sorry for the long post.

Regards

Andrew Miller

1. PR Card will have to be picked up in person. But if you are British
passport holder then you don't need PR Card to board the plane coming to
Canada, so don't worry about it.

2. No, you must apply while in Canada. But you may leave as long as you have
Canadian address and can come back for test and oath.

3. No.

Naieem Ashraf

Thank you for your clear and concise help.

"Andrew Miller" <> wrote in message
news:7hOJb.153050$ss5.125324@clgrps13...
    > 1. PR Card will have to be picked up in person. But if you are British
    > passport holder then you don't need PR Card to board the plane coming to
    > Canada, so don't worry about it.
    > 2. No, you must apply while in Canada. But you may leave as long as you
have
    > Canadian address and can come back for test and oath.
    > 3. No.
    > --
    > ../..
    > Andrew Miller
    > Immigration Consultant
    > Vancouver, British Columbia
    > email:
    > (delete REMOVE from the above address before sending email)
    > ________________________________
    > "Naieem Ashraf" <> wrote in message
    > news:GYNJb.22482$...
    > > Hi
    > >
    > > I immigrated to Canada in June of 2000 from the UK. I got Permanent
    > Resident
    > > Visa straight away as my wife was Canadian. We have been living here for
    > the
    > > last three and a half years with occasional visits abroad lasting no
more
    > > than two weeks.
    > >
    > > So the problem is now that my company is sending me back to the UK for a
    > one
    > > year contract that they need me to do. They say that the contract could
    > even
    > > be longer than that. They want me to leave by end of January. I was not
    > > expecting this and am now kicking myself for not having applied for a PR
    > > card or Citizenship earlier. I have a few questions.
    > >
    > > 1. What if I apply for a PR card now. How long will it take to get here.
    > Do
    > > I need to pick it up? Can I have it mailed to my in-laws? Do I have to
be
    > in
    > > the country while they process it? I realise that I will not be let back
    > in
    > > without a travel document or the PR card.
    > >
    > > 2. I am also now eligible to apply for Canadian Citizenship. Can I apply
    > for
    > > this from the UK? The issue is that currently I will have satisfied the
    > > criteria of 3 out of 4 years. If I leave for England I will have lost a
    > year
    > > hence not being eligible to apply again. Can I apply here before I leave
    > and
    > > leave the address as my in-laws? And then come back for whatever issues
    > may
    > > occur?
    > >
    > > 3. Do I need to tell Canadian Immigration that I will be going abroad on
    > > account of my company sending me there?
    > >
    > > Please advise what my best option is. I do eventually want to come back
to
    > > Canada and do not want to have to reapply and pay the landing and
    > processing
    > > fee and wait the time it takes to get the Visa all over again. Thank you
    > in
    > > advance and sorry for the long post.
    > >
    > > Regards
    > >
    > >