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Vistor before becoming a PR

Rorosgurl

Hero Member
Jan 5, 2014
408
89
london ontario
Visa Office......
Ottawa
App. Filed.......
October 12th 2013
AOR Received.
October 17th 2013
File Transfer...
December 2nd 2013
Med's Done....
September 6th 2013
hello again

So i am a US citizen who married a Canadian in August of 2013 and moved to Canada September 2013. Became a permanent resident July 2014. During September 2013-july 2014 i was living in canada with my husband and was crossing the border to visit my family every once in a while. At the border they ask me what i was doing in canada or what will i be doing and i would say going to my husband or visiting my husband. I never had a problem at all. In the citizenship application it asked about the status before becoming a PR. What applies to me.
Thanks guys’ll
 

spyfy

Champion Member
May 8, 2015
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LANDED..........
26-08-2015
hello again

So i am a US citizen who married a Canadian in August of 2013 and moved to Canada September 2013. Became a permanent resident July 2014. During September 2013-july 2014 i was living in canada with my husband and was crossing the border to visit my family every once in a while. At the border they ask me what i was doing in canada or what will i be doing and i would say going to my husband or visiting my husband. I never had a problem at all. In the citizenship application it asked about the status before becoming a PR. What applies to me.
Thanks guys’ll
You had visitor status for that period. List it in your application and your physical presence calculator. Make sure to also list all absences from Canada during that time (trips to the US).
 
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Rorosgurl

Hero Member
Jan 5, 2014
408
89
london ontario
Visa Office......
Ottawa
App. Filed.......
October 12th 2013
AOR Received.
October 17th 2013
File Transfer...
December 2nd 2013
Med's Done....
September 6th 2013
You had visitor status for that period. List it in your application and your physical presence calculator. Make sure to also list all absences from Canada during that time (trips to the US).
Even though i dont have a document stating that? They never stamped my passport.
One more question please. The fbi fingerprints should be for both USA and Canada?
And the 183 days includes the time before i became a PR as a visitor status or after i landed?
 

razerblade

VIP Member
Feb 21, 2014
4,197
1,356
Even though i dont have a document stating that? They never stamped my passport.
One more question please. The fbi fingerprints should be for both USA and Canada?
And the 183 days includes the time before i became a PR as a visitor status or after i landed?
Yes, your official status in Canada was a visitor. The officer going over your file should be able to connect the dots, given you're a US citizen, you won't have a visitor visa. Also, they will automatically retrieve your CBSA records.

FBI fingerprints are not required for the application AFAIK. IRCC may request them at a later stage.

For PCC, requirement is if in the past 4 years immediately preceding the date you sign your application, you spent 183 days or more in another country (cumulative, need not be consecutive), even if before you landed, you are required to provide a PCC.
 
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Rorosgurl

Hero Member
Jan 5, 2014
408
89
london ontario
Visa Office......
Ottawa
App. Filed.......
October 12th 2013
AOR Received.
October 17th 2013
File Transfer...
December 2nd 2013
Med's Done....
September 6th 2013
Yes, your official status in Canada was a visitor. The officer going over your file should be able to connect the dots, given you're a US citizen, you won't have a visitor visa. Also, they will automatically retrieve your CBSA records.

FBI fingerprints are not required for the application AFAIK. IRCC may request them at a later stage.

For PCC, requirement is if in the past 4 years immediately preceding the date you sign your application, you spent 183 days or more in another country (cumulative, need not be consecutive), even if before you landed, you are required to provide a PCC.
So I requested to get my entry and exit records to find out how many days i have been out. I am planning on sending my application hopefully by april 1st. I could have apply since august of last year but i gave myself some extra time to cover the days i was out of canada. Do i still need to get pcc?

I am not sure if i am doing this right.

Married and moved to Canada September 2013
Landed july 2014.
July 2017 would have been 3 years to apply.
Would send the application april 2018.

Should i wait more?
 

razerblade

VIP Member
Feb 21, 2014
4,197
1,356
So I requested to get my entry and exit records to find out how many days i have been out. I am planning on sending my application hopefully by april 1st. I could have apply since august of last year but i gave myself some extra time to cover the days i was out of canada. Do i still need to get pcc?

I am not sure if i am doing this right.

Married and moved to Canada September 2013
Landed july 2014.
July 2017 would have been 3 years to apply.
Would send the application april 2018.

Should i wait more?
If you apply in April 2018, then 4 years prior to that takes us to April 2014. If between April 2014 - April 2018, you haven't spent 183 days or more in another country, then you do not need to provide a PCC, unless specifically requested by IRCC.

From the timeline that you provided, I gather you did not spend more than 6 months in another country between April 2014 - April 2018 ?

IMO, applying in April is good, you'll have enough buffer days as well.
 
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Rorosgurl

Hero Member
Jan 5, 2014
408
89
london ontario
Visa Office......
Ottawa
App. Filed.......
October 12th 2013
AOR Received.
October 17th 2013
File Transfer...
December 2nd 2013
Med's Done....
September 6th 2013
If you apply in April 2018, then 4 years prior to that takes us to April 2014. If between April 2014 - April 2018, you haven't spent 183 days or more in another country, then you do not need to provide a PCC, unless specifically requested by IRCC.

From the timeline that you provided, I gather you did not spend more than 6 months in another country between April 2014 - April 2018 ?

IMO, applying in April is good, you'll have enough buffer days as well.
If you apply in April 2018, then 4 years prior to that takes us to April 2014. If between April 2014 - April 2018, you haven't spent 183 days or more in another country, then you do not need to provide a PCC, unless specifically requested by IRCC.

Would they still count the days between September 2013- april 2014? Or april 2014-july 2014 when i landed?

Again thank you so much for clarifying everything.

Also would a USA high school diploma work?
 

razerblade

VIP Member
Feb 21, 2014
4,197
1,356
If you apply in April 2018, then 4 years prior to that takes us to April 2014. If between April 2014 - April 2018, you haven't spent 183 days or more in another country, then you do not need to provide a PCC, unless specifically requested by IRCC.

Would they still count the days between September 2013- april 2014? Or april 2014-july 2014 when i landed?

Again thank you so much for clarifying everything.

Also would a USA high school diploma work?
the period that they look at is 5 years preceding the date the application is signed. This is called the eligibility period, and is also calculated in the physical presence calculator. So if you apply in April 2018, your eligibility period would be April 2013 to April 2018. Does not matter when you landed, eligibility period is always 5 years. You would need to account for everything you did during this period, including any trips/travels outside Canada.

USA high school is called secondary education, correct? If so, then yes it will be accepted.

From the instruction guide, one of the accepted language proofs is as follows:

You attended or are currently attending a secondary or post-secondary education program in English or French, either in Canada or abroad.

  • 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.
 

Rorosgurl

Hero Member
Jan 5, 2014
408
89
london ontario
Visa Office......
Ottawa
App. Filed.......
October 12th 2013
AOR Received.
October 17th 2013
File Transfer...
December 2nd 2013
Med's Done....
September 6th 2013
the period that they look at is 5 years preceding the date the application is signed. This is called the eligibility period, and is also calculated in the physical presence calculator. So if you apply in April 2018, your eligibility period would be April 2013 to April 2018. Does not matter when you landed, eligibility period is always 5 years. You would need to account for everything you did during this period, including any trips/travels outside Canada.

USA high school is called secondary education, correct? If so, then yes it will be accepted.

From the instruction guide, one of the accepted language proofs is as follows:

You attended or are currently attending a secondary or post-secondary education program in English or French, either in Canada or abroad.

  • 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.
So i would still need a pcc if they started counting from april 2013? I am so sorry i keep asking you questions. I just want to be on the safe side.
I have done 2 police checks while applying and waiting for pr.
 

razerblade

VIP Member
Feb 21, 2014
4,197
1,356
So i would still need a pcc if they started counting from april 2013? I am so sorry i keep asking you questions. I just want to be on the safe side.
I have done 2 police checks while applying and waiting for pr.
No, you won't need PCC. For PCC, they look at the last 4 years. I would recommend reading the official application guide (link as follows). All your doubts/questions will be clarified.
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#eligibility

Here are some relevant quotes from the guide.

PCC
Within the last 4 years, if you spent 183 days or more in another country (other than Canada), you must provide a police certificate. You must provide a police certificate for each country where you spent 183 days or more. If you cannot get a police certificate, tell us why.
Eligibility Period
The eligibility period is five (5) years before the date of your application. The minimum amount of time you need to be physically present in Canada is 1095 days within the five years immediately before applying.
 
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Rorosgurl

Hero Member
Jan 5, 2014
408
89
london ontario
Visa Office......
Ottawa
App. Filed.......
October 12th 2013
AOR Received.
October 17th 2013
File Transfer...
December 2nd 2013
Med's Done....
September 6th 2013
No, you won't need PCC. For PCC, they look at the last 4 years. I would recommend reading the official application guide (link as follows). All your doubts/questions will be clarified.
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#eligibility

Here are some relevant quotes from the guide.

PCC


Eligibility Period
You are amazing. Thank you so much for all the help you provided. I appreciate you.
 

spyfy

Champion Member
May 8, 2015
2,055
1,417
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
LANDED..........
26-08-2015
So I requested to get my entry and exit records to find out how many days i have been out.
Just for your information: assuming that you are currently a US citizen your CBSA report will NOT list any exit dates from Canada. The CBSA report only has the dates you ENTERED Canada.
Canada only has exit records if
- The exit was done via the land border AND
- The person exiting was neither a Canadian or US national

And even if you ordered the ENTRY records from the US, they would most likely not list your entries since the US doesn't collect entry dates for US nationals.

So when it comes to knowing when you left Canada, you are on your own. You will only receive entry dates from CBSA.
 

Rorosgurl

Hero Member
Jan 5, 2014
408
89
london ontario
Visa Office......
Ottawa
App. Filed.......
October 12th 2013
AOR Received.
October 17th 2013
File Transfer...
December 2nd 2013
Med's Done....
September 6th 2013
Just for your information: assuming that you are currently a US citizen your CBSA report will NOT list any exit dates from Canada. The CBSA report only has the dates you ENTERED Canada.
Canada only has exit records if
- The exit was done via the land border AND
- The person exiting was neither a Canadian or US national

And even if you ordered the ENTRY records from the US, they would most likely not list your entries since the US doesn't collect entry dates for US nationals.

So when it comes to knowing when you left Canada, you are on your own. You will only receive entry dates from CBSA.
I also ordered foia. That would show both right?