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Brubar

Newbie
Jul 19, 2017
4
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My father was born in Montreal and lived there his first 5 years. He was then brought to Detroit (but he always remained a Habs fan) where I was born in 1947. I am confused by the 2009 legislation. Am I eligible to become a dual citizen ? I would like to live on Vancouver Island part of the year and travel on a Canadian passport.
 
What's wrong with traveling on an American passport ? It gets you access to pretty much the same countries visa-free, no?
There's hardly a difference when traveling.

Yeah its different living in Canada, but US has a great lifestyle too. Plus things are cheaper there.
 
What's wrong with traveling on an American passport ? It gets you access to pretty much the same countries visa-free, no?
There's hardly a difference when traveling.

Yeah its different living in Canada, but US has a great lifestyle too. Plus things are cheaper there.

They are looking for benefits and free health care. You think he did not know that his entire life? I doubt he wants the passport to visit Vancouver as it is well known that American passport is better than Canadian. Actually even the green card is better than the PR card.
 
well he should be entitled to canadian citizenship as his dad was a canadian, but he should check the rules on CIC website and apply for "proof of citizenship" if he is eligible.
 
They are looking for benefits and free health care. You think he did not know that his entire life? I doubt he wants the passport to visit Vancouver as it is well known that American passport is better than Canadian. Actually even the green card is better than the PR card.
Not necessarily ... some people from the US would pretend to be Canadians on purpose, since Americans are more of a target in certain countries, especially with the new president. Anyway, of the law says he's eligible, then there's nothing wrong with it, even the Russian spy's kids who only spent a year in Canada are claiming Canadian citizenship simply because of being born here, while people who have been paying into the system are worried about being called Canadian of convenience if they want to live somewhere else after becoming citizen
 
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You are not "eligible to become a Canadian citizen;" you ARE a Canadian citizen. Now, you have to apply for proof via a citizenship certificate. Check IRCC website for details and necessary documents. Welcome to Canada!
 
As links18 stated, yes, you are a Canadian citizen. Did your father become a U.S. citizen before or after you were born? Do you happen to have a grandparent who was born in the U.K.? The reason for these questions is that there is a chance that you also inherited British citizenship. It only applies to children born abroad to Canadians between 1947 and 1949.
 
They are looking for benefits and free health care. You think he did not know that his entire life? I doubt he wants the passport to visit Vancouver as it is well known that American passport is better than Canadian. Actually even the green card is better than the PR card.
If OP is only residing couple months of the year, then likely OP is not eligible for health coverage in BC. There is 3 month waiting period, then you have to start explaining absences of 30 days or more in any year. Neither is it "free", in BC we pay premiums of $900 per year per adult.
 
They are looking for benefits and free health care. You think he did not know that his entire life? I doubt he wants the passport to visit Vancouver as it is well known that American passport is better than Canadian. Actually even the green card is better than the PR card.

But a person holding American passport or green card has to file US tax regardless where he lives, compare there is no tax obligations (except NR) for Canadian passport holders and PR living outside Canada.
 
You are not "eligible to become a Canadian citizen;" you ARE a Canadian citizen. Now, you have to apply for proof via a citizenship certificate. Check IRCC website for details and necessary documents. Welcome to Canada![/QUOTE
Extremely helpful. Thanks I'm on it. Now I just have to find someone who can "certify" a Montreal home birth recorded only in the records of the Baptist Church.
 
no tax obligations (except NR) for Canadian passport holders and PR living outside Canada.
First you should cut off all ties in Canada: no house, no family (kids and wife) in Canada, no car, no furniture in a storage, no bank account, no membership of any kind of association.
And do not forget about residency obligations for PR in Canada.
 
First you should cut off all ties in Canada: no house, no family (kids and wife) in Canada, no car, no furniture in a storage, no bank account, no membership of any kind of association.
And do not forget about residency obligations for PR in Canada.

Keeping bank accounts is okay. Especially if the bank withholding any interest incurred. Keep the house and rent out is also an option.
 
Extremely helpful. Thanks I'm on it. Now I just have to find someone who can "certify" a Montreal home birth recorded only in the records of the Baptist Church

What IRCC requires is your father's birth certificate as issued by the Directeur de l'état civil:

http://www4.gouv.qc.ca/EN/Portail/Citoyens/Evenements/DevenirParent/Pages/certf_acte_civl_naisn.aspx

You may want to contact the Directeur de l'état civil, tell them what you have (religious record of a home birth) and ask for advice on getting an official birth certificate.

Contact information: http://www.etatcivil.gouv.qc.ca/en/contact-us.html
 
Extremely helpful thanks
FYI: IF you were born in the U.S. in 1947, and IF your father had not become a U.S. citizen by the time you were born, and IF you were not registered before 1949 as a Canadian citizen, you also inherited British nationality. However, you would only be a British citizen today if you also had a U.K.-born grandparent. If not, you would be (in addition to a U.S. and Canadian citizen) a British Overseas Citizen, which is probably unique among citizenships, in that it doesn't give the right of residence anywhere in the world!
 
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