Canada eliminates a difficult security measure from the application process of permanent resident card

Canadian department of Citizenship and Immigration (CIC) has recently announced another significant change to the process of applying for a new or a replacement of permanent resident card (or PR card) that will eliminate the need of providing a guarantor.

Effective June 16, 2008, applicants for a new or replacement PR card are no longer required to obtain the signature of a guarantor or sign a statutory declaration in lieu of a guarantor. The removal of the guarantor requirement, a security measure meant to establish the applicant's identity and residence, was dropped in favor of using a person's existing passport, driver's license, or employment and educational information.

Few weeks earlier, CIC has provided flexibility to applicants applying to renew their PR card by allowing them to hold on their still-valid cards and return them to a CIC officer at time of collecting the new card. However, if the card has already expired, then it was made necessary to return the expired card with the application for renewal. In all cases, a replacement card will not be issued until the previous card is returned or otherwise accounted for.

In past, applicants applying to renew their PR card were required to submit their soon-to expire card along with their renewal application, which prohibit them to leave Canada for the waiting period of approximately ten weeks. Similarly, applicants especially newcomers were required to find and provide a guarantor who has known them for at least two years or sign a statutory declaration in lieu of a guarantor.

Both of the recent changes will definitely improve the process of applying for a new or a replacement of PR card and help reduce wait times.

The PR card is a status document that provides secure proof of permanent resident status to landed immigrants. To be eligible for a PR Card, an individual must be a permanent resident of Canada and be physically present in Canada. A permanent resident who is under an effective removal order may not be found eligible for the card. Permanent residents who are outside Canada and do not have a valid PR Card must apply for a travel document from a Canadian visa office in order to return to Canada.