+1(514) 937-9445 or Toll-free (Canada & US) +1 (888) 947-9445

Letter of Explanation :Required or Not for Citizenship Application

JSPCAN

Hero Member
Oct 20, 2016
280
4
Hi Seniors,

Is it a general trend to attached a Letter of Explanation along with Citizenship Application ?

Regards
JSPCAN
 

JSPCAN

Hero Member
Oct 20, 2016
280
4
No, you only provide what's required as per the checklist.
I think I would need to, as there are many points which need to explained/clarified.

Is it a strict NO...NO or I can provide one if the sitation deems so?

Regards
JSPCAN
 

Das67

Hero Member
Oct 19, 2019
967
560
I think I would need to, as there are many points which need to explained/clarified.

Is it a strict NO...NO or I can provide one if the sitation deems so?

Regards
JSPCAN
If you feel like you need to explain something then go ahead add a letter.
 

icykool23

Star Member
Dec 11, 2016
188
88
I think I would need to, as there are many points which need to explained/clarified.

Is it a strict NO...NO or I can provide one if the sitation deems so?

Regards
JSPCAN
Do you want to shed light on any specific issues? If you add it to explain anything, it won't hurt the application.
 

navid2014

Hero Member
Jul 9, 2014
529
159
I have included '2' LOE with my spouse Citizenship application, so I don't think that it would be any problem as you are providing additional information and just pointing them into the right direction.
 

blingyrie

Hero Member
May 10, 2017
289
113
I think I would need to, as there are many points which need to explained/clarified.

Is it a strict NO...NO or I can provide one if the sitation deems so?

Regards
JSPCAN
Go for it ...remember the officers reviewing have tons of workload so keep it concise and as short as possible
 

hopetbly

Newbie
Jun 21, 2022
4
0
Hello, can anyone give their opinion whether I need to provide Letter of Explanation on my citizenship application?

1) I was born and raised in Dubai to immigrant workers, and we only had Temporary Residence before we left for Canada. Dubai does not grant citizenship to children born to foreign parents. Therefore, I gained natural citizenship from my parents' birth country. Is it enough if I put Dubai > Status: Other > Reason: Birthplace, Dependent, Student. And for the End Date would it be when we left Dubai?

- I didn't choose Status: Student since I was thinking that it was related to those who applied for a study permit, which I didn't. I only studied there until the 7th grade.


(Image credits to the individual who posted a thread on this forum.)

2) We were a landed PR since 2016 and I graduated highschool here. I am in 3rd year of my university. Would it be better to provide my highschool diploma as my Proof of English Proficiency? Or an official university transcript although I haven't completed my degree.

Thank you!
 

abbas.pasha

VIP Member
Sep 17, 2016
3,601
2,022
Hello, can anyone give their opinion whether I need to provide Letter of Explanation on my citizenship application?

1) I was born and raised in Dubai to immigrant workers, and we only had Temporary Residence before we left for Canada. Dubai does not grant citizenship to children born to foreign parents. Therefore, I gained natural citizenship from my parents' birth country. Is it enough if I put Dubai > Status: Other > Reason: Birthplace, Dependent, Student. And for the End Date would it be when we left Dubai?

- I didn't choose Status: Student since I was thinking that it was related to those who applied for a study permit, which I didn't. I only studied there until the 7th grade.


(Image credits to the individual who posted a thread on this forum.)

2) We were a landed PR since 2016 and I graduated highschool here. I am in 3rd year of my university. Would it be better to provide my highschool diploma as my Proof of English Proficiency? Or an official university transcript although I haven't completed my degree.

Thank you!
Ii shared my experience about the immigration statues with you in a private message
It may or may not answer what you were asking for 100%.
Regarding the proof of language..this is what I read through this link
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/guide-0002-application-canadian-citizenship-under-subsection-5-1-adults-18-years-older.html

Examples of the types of language evidence that can be submitted include:

  1. You attended or are currently attending a secondary or post-secondary education program in English or French, either in Canada or abroad, including:
    1. A degree, diploma, certificate or official transcripts from a secondary or post-secondary education program showing you studied in English or French, in Canada or abroad.
 

akbardxb

Champion Member
Nov 18, 2013
1,244
464
Mississauga
LANDED..........
28-03-2014
Hello, can anyone give their opinion whether I need to provide Letter of Explanation on my citizenship application?

1) I was born and raised in Dubai to immigrant workers, and we only had Temporary Residence before we left for Canada. Dubai does not grant citizenship to children born to foreign parents. Therefore, I gained natural citizenship from my parents' birth country. Is it enough if I put Dubai > Status: Other > Reason: Birthplace, Dependent, Student. And for the End Date would it be when we left Dubai?

- I didn't choose Status: Student since I was thinking that it was related to those who applied for a study permit, which I didn't. I only studied there until the 7th grade.


(Image credits to the individual who posted a thread on this forum.)

2) We were a landed PR since 2016 and I graduated highschool here. I am in 3rd year of my university. Would it be better to provide my highschool diploma as my Proof of English Proficiency? Or an official university transcript although I haven't completed my degree.

Thank you!
The country is UAE and not Dubai. Status would be "Legal Resident" - since you were born there, effective date would be your DOB and end date would be the day your visa was cancelled. This is what I followed.

If I may add, UAE is one of the countries whose former residents are subjected to closer scrutiny regarding RO, because of the e-gate facility. Ensure that your evidence for meeting RO is absolutely buttoned down, all days accounted for and every single non-Eng/Fr stamp on your passport on all pages of all passports valid during your eligibility period are translated and copies included. In all probability it will be asked for at interview, if you have ANY history of travel outside Canada during your eligibility period.

If you graduated high school in Canada, your school leaving diploma will suffice.
 
Last edited:

hopetbly

Newbie
Jun 21, 2022
4
0
The country is UAE and not Dubai. Status would be "Legal Resident" - since you were born there, effective date would be your DOB and end date would be the day your visa was cancelled. This is what I followed.

If I may add, UAE is one of the countries whose former residents are subjected to closer scrutiny regarding RO, because of the e-gate facility. Ensure that your evidence for meeting RO is absolutely buttoned down, all days accounted for and every single non-Eng/Fr stamp on your passport on all pages of all passports valid during your eligibility period are translated and copies included. In all probability it will be asked for at interview, if you have ANY history of travel outside Canada during your eligibility period.

If you graduated high school in Canada, your school leaving diploma will suffice.
I made a mistake on the end date as I added the date we left the country, while the actual expiry date was on 2020 (according to Google translate). Do you know who to contact to correct this mistake? I submitted my application 3 days ago and I couldn't make any edits on it...
 

akbardxb

Champion Member
Nov 18, 2013
1,244
464
Mississauga
LANDED..........
28-03-2014
I made a mistake on the end date as I added the date we left the country, while the actual expiry date was on 2020 (according to Google translate). Do you know who to contact to correct this mistake? I submitted my application 3 days ago and I couldn't make any edits on it...
It is probably not a major issue unless you travelled back and forth during your eligibility period and your UAE residence visa was valid at the time. IRCC is more concerned about whether you meet your RO in Canada and not how long you held status in a different country.

The only way you can make changes / update your application is via a webform and that too after you get an AOR. Till then there is no record of your application in the system.

BTW, why would you need Google Translate for a UAE visa. The follow the Gregorian calendar on their dates which are also written in English?

For now don't worry too much about it as long as you are ok in all other aspects of the application.
 

hopetbly

Newbie
Jun 21, 2022
4
0
It is probably not a major issue unless you travelled back and forth during your eligibility period and your UAE residence visa was valid at the time. IRCC is more concerned about whether you meet your RO in Canada and not how long you held status in a different country.

The only way you can make changes / update your application is via a webform and that too after you get an AOR. Till then there is no record of your application in the system.

BTW, why would you need Google Translate for a UAE visa. The follow the Gregorian calendar on their dates which are also written in English?

For now don't worry too much about it as long as you are ok in all other aspects of the application.
Thanks for replying! No idea as I only have a photocopy of my resident card that was written in all Arabic, so I just added the date I left the country (2016), on my application. It expired on 2020.

Also, what's an RO? I never travelled during my eligibility period (2018-2023) so I hope it won't be a major issue.
 

akbardxb

Champion Member
Nov 18, 2013
1,244
464
Mississauga
LANDED..........
28-03-2014
Thanks for replying! No idea as I only have a photocopy of my resident card that was written in all Arabic, so I just added the date I left the country (2016), on my application. It expired on 2020.

Also, what's an RO? I never travelled during my eligibility period (2018-2023) so I hope it won't be a major issue.
RO is the residence obligation ie the number of days you have to be living in Canada to be eligible for citizenship. Wait till you get your AOR and then update. I believe it is important up be upfront on a mistake rather that it getting picked up in the interview later.

Do you mean Emirates ID when you say 'resident card' ?