PR in both Canada and US

[googles 0]

I'm a US citizen. My wife in Canada is from the Philippines on a work permit. Were were married in Canada. We are about to begin the K3 spouse visa process.

My wife is close to the point where she can also apply for/become a permanent resident of Canada. Even though she's planning on coming to the US and becoming permanent here, she's thinking maybe she should also get the Canadian PR too. Why not?

Has anyone had any experiences where the US permanent residence was lost (considered "abandoned") because there was also permanent residency in Canada? Is there any reason why dual-permanent-residencies can't or shouldn't happen?

I'm afraid that having both PR's might cause her to lose one or both if abandonment is assumed. Is this fear silly?

Thanks!

[pushbrk 12,906]

I'm a US citizen. My wife in Canada is from the Philippines on a work permit. Were were married in Canada. We are about to begin the K3 spouse visa process.

My wife is close to the point where she can also apply for/become a permanent resident of Canada. Even though she's planning on coming to the US and becoming permanent here, she's thinking maybe she should also get the Canadian PR too. Why not?

Has anyone had any experiences where the US permanent residence was lost (considered "abandoned") because there was also permanent residency in Canada? Is there any reason why dual-permanent-residencies can't or shouldn't happen?

I'm afraid that having both PR's might cause her to lose one or both if abandonment is assumed. Is this fear silly?

Thanks!

Each country has different requirements for maintaining permanent resident status. It is quite possible to meet both sets of rules but you'll have to decide whether it's practical after becoming intimately familiar with both. Google is your friend for finding the requirements.

[Reba 2]

I believe that in order to retain PR status in Canada, she would have to stay in the country for a certain amount of time. As she would also have to remain in the US to gain and retain PR status, this would likely become rather difficult.

[trailmix 77]

Unless your wife wants to live 2 years out of every 5 in Canada, she will lose her Canadian PR anyway:

Who is a permanent resident?

"A permanent resident is a person who has immigrated to Canada. To keep permanent resident status, a permanent resident must live in Canada for at least two years in a five-year period".

This might be prohibitive for you both, but to answer your original question, in general, there is no problem being a PR of both countries.

As an aside, if you are a Canadian PR, married to a Canadian Citizen and you move to the U.S. - you will still maintain your Canadian permanent residency. Living with a Canadian spouse is considered to be 'residency' - regardless of where in the world you live.

Edited December 14, 2007 by trailmix