Faiqa wrote:1- How long is required to stay initially in Canada to receive the landing card so that later on when circumstances get better, it will allow us to go back without any problem.
Once you satisfy the Immigration Officer that you meet all the requirments for 'landing' as a Permanent Resident your Confirmation of Permanent Resident counterfoil/ paper accompanying the Can PR visa in your passport is endorsed with 'not valid for travel'. The details in it are used to generate a Permanent Resident Card which will be posted to an address you give the IO at landing. The card is usually posted to you within a month of your landing date. The IO will take your photo for the PR Card.
There is no minimum period before you can leave Canada after becoming a PR. However to maintain your PR status you must be
physically present in Canada for
2 years in every 5 year period. CIC have put in place allowances for those working for the Federal Government, those seconded by their Canadian employer on a'bona fide' basis and those accompanying a Canadian citizen spouse to ignore absences in such circumstances.
If you leave Canada before your PR Card arrives you should ask a friend at the relevant address to forward it to you upon recipt from CIC. Sometimes CIC will need to re-take your photos so if you are not in Canada this is a problem. You need a PR Card to re-enter Canada if travelling by commercial carrier i.e. plane, coach, train, boat etc. If you do not have a PR Card you must apply for a Travel Document (its actually a visa) at a Canadian Diplomatic Post e.g. Embassy confirming your PR status and valid for a single entry into Canada within a period of six months. You have to satisfy the Visa Officer that you have not lost your PR status when applying for the TD.
Faiqa wrote:2-What will happen, if my dependents do not accompany me first time and I go only by myself for two weeks. Later on after expiring their visa, if my family members wish to join me in Canada, how difficult would it be for them to come. Do they have to apply again from the scratch or just medical or I have to apply to sponsor them.
The principal applicant and any dependents can only enter Canada within the validity of the Immigrant Visa. You would have to sponsor your family for Can PR in the family class category. You need to demonstrate Canadian residence and a minimum Canadian income over a period of 12 months. Its best if they land now taking into account the need to repeat medical/ security checks and additional hefty fees coupled with undertakings of financial support for 3-10 years as pointed out by my fellow moderator Cosmopol for a sponsorship application post your landing.
Faiqa wrote:3. After getting the landing card, how long after I must return to Canada to keep the immigrant status.
See 1.
Note that if there has been a material change in your circumstances that you have failed to notify the visa office your visas are no longer valid and you will not be admitted as a PR or worse can be deported for fraud. Common problems include a failure to notify marriage, the birth of a child and convictions.
Congratulations on your success and hope things work out for you in Canada.
Kind Regards
Kayalami
