When is it best to apply for Citizenship?

[cindyestteacher]

Hello. I received PR in Sept of 2019. I started working here in Canada the February of 2019 a couple months after I got my OPEN work permit. (I received my permit just before the holidays in 2018.) I've paid my taxes every year since 2019, and haven't left Canada at all.

PR was such a nightmare in my mind and heart (mainly because I made it that way with my searching the forums), that I dread going through this process again, but I want to be a citizen so badly..to truly say I am a Canadian. I think I am almost mentally ready to tackle it.

Next spring I will have lived in Canada for 7 years and have paid 5 years worth of taxes. I want to be sure I have all of my ducks in a row before I apply.
My QUESTION IS: Do you think that will be a good time to apply? spring of 2024? I will have way more than enough days here to my credit. I do a lot of freelance work, and I want to be sure I can easily document my residence here in Canada.

Any obstacles you all see to this? I have a few T-4's but I also self-employed. If I write self-employed for part of the work history, and I give a sufficient description of what I so..(ESL teacher). Do you think that is okay?

Thank you.

 

[yyzstudent]

Hello. I received PR in Sept of 2019. I started working here in Canada the February of 2019 a couple months after I got my OPEN work permit. (I received my permit just before the holidays in 2018.) I've paid my taxes every year since 2019, and haven't left Canada at all.

PR was such a nightmare in my mind and heart (mainly because I made it that way with my searching the forums), that I dread going through this process again, but I want to be a citizen so badly..to truly say I am a Canadian. I think I am almost mentally ready to tackle it.

Next spring I will have lived in Canada for 7 years and have paid 5 years worth of taxes. I want to be sure I have all of my ducks in a row before I apply.
My QUESTION IS: Do you think that will be a good time to apply? spring of 2024? I will have way more than enough days here to my credit. I do a lot of freelance work, and I want to be sure I can easily document my residence here in Canada.

Any obstacles you all see to this? I have a few T-4's but I also self-employed. If I write self-employed for part of the work history, and I give a sufficient description of what I so..(ESL teacher). Do you think that is okay?

Thank you.

How about now?

I too was agonizing over the paperwork as everything from study permit through PR was a nightmare. Turns out the citizenship application, specifically online, is super straight forward.

I applied March 22 this year, cleared everything June 8 and am now waiting for Oath Ceremony.

 

[Americanwife94]

I would now. I felt the same way you did and had way over the required days. I still used an immigration consultant/representative and I’d say it was money well spent. I applied in January this year and I’m waiting for LPP to be done. I’d go for it!

 

[yyzstudent]

I would now. I felt the same way you did and had way over the required days. I still used an immigration consultant/representative and I’d say it was money well spent. I applied in January this year and I’m waiting for LPP to be done. I’d go for it!

I did not use a rep at any point in my immigration process, at all. Mine wasn’t easy, in particularly the PR application which nearly got denied.

The online citizenship application is so straightforward and fail safE a rep is not needed.

 

[Alalac]

Hello. I received PR in Sept of 2019. I started working here in Canada the February of 2019 a couple months after I got my OPEN work permit. (I received my permit just before the holidays in 2018.) I've paid my taxes every year since 2019, and haven't left Canada at all.

PR was such a nightmare in my mind and heart (mainly because I made it that way with my searching the forums), that I dread going through this process again, but I want to be a citizen so badly..to truly say I am a Canadian. I think I am almost mentally ready to tackle it.

Next spring I will have lived in Canada for 7 years and have paid 5 years worth of taxes. I want to be sure I have all of my ducks in a row before I apply.
My QUESTION IS: Do you think that will be a good time to apply? spring of 2024? I will have way more than enough days here to my credit. I do a lot of freelance work, and I want to be sure I can easily document my residence here in Canada.

Any obstacles you all see to this? I have a few T-4's but I also self-employed. If I write self-employed for part of the work history, and I give a sufficient description of what I so..(ESL teacher). Do you think that is okay?

Thank you.

You should apply right away so you will be able to rest and heal your mental issues.. if you filed your taxes for 5 years you are good to go! I had a hard time during my PR journey too, but will apply to citizenship the next day I am able to do it

 

[cindyestteacher]

I did not use a rep at any point in my immigration process, at all. Mine wasn’t easy, in particularly the PR application which nearly got denied.

The online citizenship application is so straightforward and fail safE a rep is not needed.

Your Citizenship app wasn't easy?

 

[cindyestteacher]

I would now. I felt the same way you did and had way over the required days. I still used an immigration consultant/representative and I’d say it was money well spent. I applied in January this year and I’m waiting for LPP to be done. I’d go for it!

Thank you so much. I feel like I'm on a diving board waiting to jump off but I'm afraid. Ugh! I sound so silly. I am so afraid of me being separated from my husband (he is Canadian). It sounds so ridiculous, but I read of such horror stories (and I know I shouldn't) You all give me hope.

 

[yyzstudent]

Your Citizenship app wasn't easy?

Read again.

 

[lr108]

Hello. I received PR in Sept of 2019. I started working here in Canada the February of 2019 a couple months after I got my OPEN work permit. (I received my permit just before the holidays in 2018.) I've paid my taxes every year since 2019, and haven't left Canada at all.

PR was such a nightmare in my mind and heart (mainly because I made it that way with my searching the forums), that I dread going through this process again, but I want to be a citizen so badly..to truly say I am a Canadian. I think I am almost mentally ready to tackle it.

Next spring I will have lived in Canada for 7 years and have paid 5 years worth of taxes. I want to be sure I have all of my ducks in a row before I apply.
My QUESTION IS: Do you think that will be a good time to apply? spring of 2024? I will have way more than enough days here to my credit. I do a lot of freelance work, and I want to be sure I can easily document my residence here in Canada.

Any obstacles you all see to this? I have a few T-4's but I also self-employed. If I write self-employed for part of the work history, and I give a sufficient description of what I so..(ESL teacher). Do you think that is okay?

Thank you.

Your taxes are done. Physical presence looks done (No travel should be a big plus since moving here). If you are over 54, you don't even have to worry about the test. If there is T4/ self employment overlap and there is no place to furnish, then you can just put your T4 and add more info on a letter explaining the same. List down the dates and employments. Same goes for anything that has additional info like travel etc. The goal is, when your case officer looks at your file, he/ she should see all the relevant info without any confusion. So an explanation letter helps with this.

All your ducks seem to be in a row already. I moved to Canada by Fall 2019 as well and applied for Citizenship this Mar'23. I'm waiting for Oath now. I had 3 tax returns and 1150 days. Online applications get AOR in 2-3 weeks. Paper applications seem to take an additional month.

If you are still concerned or have questions with your application, you can always consult with an attorney, perhaps for an hour call to sort out your questions. So you can still file it yourself instead of them filing for you.

Make hay while the sun shines. IRCC seems to be processing 2023 applications fast and no one knows when they'll throw down the anchor. Good luck.

 

[Americanwife94]

Thank you so much. I feel like I'm on a diving board waiting to jump off but I'm afraid. Ugh! I sound so silly. I am so afraid of me being separated from my husband (he is Canadian). It sounds so ridiculous, but I read of such horror stories (and I know I shouldn't) You all give me hope.

Not silly at all! You could be me, I actually remember telling someone I felt like I had jumped out of a plane the day after I applied and I was just waiting for the parachute.

In 6 months you could be looking back wishing you had started earlier, or you could be getting ready to take your citizenship test.

Like @yyzstudent said, it’s an easy application and a representative isn’t needed, I just used one for peace of mind because I also struggled with anxiety before applying. There is another (Canadian!) version of you on the other side of this cheering you on!

 

[cindyestteacher]

Your taxes are done. Physical presence looks done (No travel should be a big plus since moving here). If you are over 54, you don't even have to worry about the test. If there is T4/ self employment overlap and there is no place to furnish, then you can just put your T4 and add more info on a letter explaining the same. List down the dates and employments. Same goes for anything that has additional info like travel etc. The goal is, when your case officer looks at your file, he/ she should see all the relevant info without any confusion. So an explanation letter helps with this.

All your ducks seem to be in a row already. I moved to Canada by Fall 2019 as well and applied for Citizenship this Mar'23. I'm waiting for Oath now. I had 3 tax returns and 1150 days. Online applications get AOR in 2-3 weeks. Paper applications seem to take an additional month.

If you are still concerned or have questions with your application, you can always consult with an attorney, perhaps for an hour call to sort out your questions. So you can still file it yourself instead of them filing for you.

Make hay while the sun shines. IRCC seems to be processing 2023 applications fast and no one knows when they'll throw down the anchor. Good luck.

Very thorough and great advice. Thank you so much You've already had your interview? If so, how'd it go?

 

[cindyestteacher]

The passport travel history should also show the agent that I haven't left Canada, too, correct? I just want to have all ducks in a row and be as thorough as I can.

 

[yyzstudent]

The passport travel history should also show the agent that I haven't left Canada, too, correct? I just want to have all ducks in a row and be as thorough as I can.

I had zero travel. Even though the online form says to scan bio pages, I scanned all pages of both passports I’ve had the past 5 years. I wanted to preempt a possible request for all pages.
If you create the online account you have 60 days to complete the application. At least you can poke around and see what is needed. You’d be surprised at how straight forward it is. If you have all the documents it will ask for, you can have your application done in under an hour.

 

[cindyestteacher]

Thank you ALL for your time. Last questions...
1) Is the interview virtual?
2) Questions for the interview? (I tend to get VERY nervous!)
My most humble THANKS for your time and input.

 

[yyzstudent]

Thank you ALL for your time. Last questions...
1) Is the interview virtual?
2) Questions for the interview? (I tend to get VERY nervous!)
My most humble THANKS for your time and input.

Interview is random.