Living outside Canada while citizenship application under process

[jobaka]

Hello all,

Do I need to inform CIC if I stay outside canada for little more than a month, when my citizenship application is in process?
Current stage: passed the knowledge test

Thank you

 

[Ghess23]

Yes it says if travelling more than 15 days then you should inform them and make sure to send proof of ticket when you’re back on Canada cause they pause your application if you’re away.


While we process your application, contact us if any information on your application changes or if you

• change your address
• plan to leave Canada for more than 2 weeks in a row
• can’t check your application statusonline and the normal processing time for your application has passed
• are charged with a crime
• applied as part of a group, but now want to continue the application by yourself

This is from https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/become-canadian-citizen/after-apply-next-steps.html

 

[h348400034]

You can estimate when will you receive the next step, and decide whether or not report to IRCC. Because when you report it, IRCC will hold your case until you back to Canada. There is no guarantee that they will assigned officer to you after you are back.
If they decide to assign your case to an officer, then notice your are not in Canada, they will put it on hold.
Based on current IRCC status, lots of cases just pending for a long time, and no officers are look at it. Lots of 2021 and 2022 applicants are pending there. I guess you don't want to put your self into that case.

 

[yyzstudent]

You can estimate when will you receive the next step, and decide whether or not report to IRCC. Because when you report it, IRCC will hold your case until you back to Canada. There is no guarantee that they will assigned officer to you after you are back.
If they decide to assign your case to an officer, then notice your are not in Canada, they will put it on hold.
Based on current IRCC status, lots of cases just pending for a long time, and no officers are look at it. Lots of 2021 and 2022 applicants are pending there. I guess you don't want to put your self into that case.

Unless you can provide proof from IRCC, stop spreading rumours and stop telling people to not follow IRCC instructions.

 

[h348400034]

Unless you can provide proof from IRCC, stop spreading rumours and stop telling people to not follow IRCC instructions.

You find find cases in some threads that their cases was hold because they are not in Canada.
IRCC only process the citizenship application while you are in Canada, they put you on hold to avoid send invite for test, interview and oath.
because those activities usually must done within Canada.

I saw other people's gcms notes where the status is HOLD instead of IN PROGRESS.

But If you are not able to travel back to Canada when receive interview or oath. Definitely report to IRCC when you plan to leave.

 

[yyzstudent]

You find find cases in some threads that their cases was hold because they are not in Canada.
IRCC only process the citizenship application while you are in Canada, they put you on hold to avoid send invite for test, interview and oath.
because those activities usually must done within Canada.

I saw other people's gcms notes where the status is HOLD instead of IN PROGRESS.

But If you are not able to travel back to Canada when receive interview or oath. Definitely report to IRCC when you plan to leave.

Without proof they are anecdotal. Without proof that the hold was because they were not in Canada, they are anecdotal.

Once you provide source material from the IRCC instruction manual, stop giving people misleading advice. You are quite literally telling people to misrepresent when the instructions are clearly to let ITCC know that they are outside the country for longer than two weeks. If their applications would be denied due to it, and banned from applying for citizenship for the next 5 years, you walk away scot free.

 

[h348400034]

Without proof they are anecdotal. Without proof that the hold was because they were not in Canada, they are anecdotal.

Once you provide source material from the IRCC instruction manual, stop giving people misleading advice. You are quite literally telling people to misrepresent when the instructions are clearly to let ITCC know that they are outside the country for longer than two weeks. If their applications would be denied due to it, and banned from applying for citizenship for the next 5 years, you walk away scot free.

That's why I said need to estimate the when will receive the next steps. Based on other people's cases, if you think you won't get any update within the time you are not in Canada, or you can get back to Canada if you receive any update, it's okay to not report to IRCC.

IRCC would never explain why the cases are in hold. I am waiting for 17+ months and lots of people waiting since 2021, IRCC just didn't assign any officer to their cases or way over due. At least I can see it from my GSMC notes.

I just provide advice to people to avoid get into this case when No officer got assigned to the application.

Maybe if you are 2023 applicant, you are fine. IRCC launched a pilot program this year, that's why you can see 2023 applicants get their oath within 4-5 months. They are hiring new employers working on pilot program.
But for 2021 and 2022 applicants, some cases even the waiting time are longer than 21 months, the IRCC agent still say those cases are routine, and wait for IRCC officer to review. So they are shortage for 2021 and 2022 applicants (in old system) but lots of officers on 2023 applicants (new pilot program)

I didn't say not to report leaving, just need to decide based on personal situation. I just don't want people get stuck in their applications. You can suggest people always report, then if their application was put on hold or no officer look at it even after the hold, you also walk away scot free. It may take years to get application approve.