Citizenship test in international transit zone due to COVID measures

[mandhaata]

Yep, you cannot pass the test in airport transit zone, however, you can leave the country in less than 14 days using regular airline.

Got it. Makes sense.

 

[canuck78]

Yep, you cannot pass the test in airport transit zone, however, you can leave the country in less than 14 days using regular airline.

Are you sure you can leave quarantine without approval? My understanding is that you will receive a large fine unless you get approval to leave quarantine early and there is no guarantee that you will get permission.

 

[canuck78]

What if someone cross checks your arrivals/departures with CBSA before or after your oath? As per CBSA records, you will show up as not in Canada (because you didn't go through immigration on to the land side). Then your citizenship can be denied or revoked later.

If you can do the immigration, cross to land side and then fly back, then you should be fine.

You will receive a large fine if you don't follow quarantine guidelines.

 

[canuck78]

Other people have tried to only come to Canada and leave right away. This example is slightly more complicated but if you don't quarantine you could also receive a very large fine. Canada doesn't want people coming into Canada for a day or two and potentially spreading covid on their way back through the airport.

https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/planning-to-drive-to-canada-from-united-states-to-write-citizenship-test-any-experiences.725865/

 

[mandhaata]

Other people have tried to only come to Canada and leave right away. This example is slightly more complicated but if you don't quarantine you could also receive a very large fine. Canada doesn't want people coming into Canada for a day or two and potentially spreading covid on their way back through the airport.

https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/planning-to-drive-to-canada-from-united-states-to-write-citizenship-test-any-experiences.725865/

Isn't it ironic that one of Govt. offices is inviting people to write a test (with a condition that one has to be physically present in Canada to write the test) and another related branch of Govt. supposedly does not want people to come to Canada for a day or two

At least in this pandemic situation they could have removed this "must be physically present in Canada" as a pre-requisite for taking the test.

 

[sr5095]

How about landing in buffalo and crossing border on a rented car, you can give test and return to US within couple of hours

 

[mandhaata]

How about landing in buffalo and crossing border on a rented car, you can give test and return to US within couple of hours

Yes, considering Canada Border Authorities allow this for us, to declare that we will self quarantine in our rental car, complete the test and go back to US.
Not sure though, because at some page on their website, they are also saying, if you do not have a plan to quarantine for 14 days then do not come to Canada.

 

[sr5095]

Yes, considering Canada Border Authorities allow this for us, to declare that we will self quarantine in our rental car, complete the test and go back to US.
Not sure though, because at some page on their website, they are also saying, if you do not have a plan to quarantine for 14 days then do not come to Canada.

Can you please refer to the section?

 

[dpenabill]

Isn't it ironic that one of Govt. offices is inviting people to write a test (with a condition that one has to be physically present in Canada to write the test) and another related branch of Govt. supposedly does not want people to come to Canada for a day or two

At least in this pandemic situation they could have removed this "must be physically present in Canada" as a pre-requisite for taking the test

No, it is not ironic. The requirement that the applicant be IN Canada during the test event, and when taking the oath of citizenship, is not merely a technical formality. It is almost certain that for the IRCC this requirement is a BIG DEAL, and they take enforcing it very seriously.


Lengthy Explanation:

There is no explicit provision prohibiting citizenship applicants from living abroad after applying, while the application is pending, not CURRENTLY (there was one until 2017, even though fairly soon after the Liberals formed a majority government in 2015, by early 2016, the authorities ceased to enforce it).

BUT the fact that there is no provision prohibiting living abroad while the application is pending is merely about what the law allows. Not what government authorities expect. Not what the law intends. The law clearly intends to provide a path for immigrants to become citizens-in-fact not just obtain citizenship status.

Applicants living abroad after applying for Canadian citizenship should be aware that many Canadians do not consider it merely ironic when individuals seeking to become Canadian citizens choose to not be citizens-in-fact even before they obtain the legal status of citizen. There are many Canadians, including more than a few working in the bureaucracy of IRCC, who harbour a negative view toward those they perceive to be applying-on-the-way-to-the-airport, or seeking-a-passport-of-convenience. It is at the least careless, if not foolish, to fail to recognize such sentiments are still widely held, or to dismiss the extent to which such sentiments might trigger elevated or more strict scrutiny.

Moreover, the more blatantly apparent it is there are a significant number of people taking advantage of what the law allows, in this way, the greater the risk that when (not just if) a Conservative government is formed (there are rumblings suggesting an election this year, by the way), that government will move to stop the practice many Canadians label applying-on-the-way-to-the-airport. As already noted, the Conservatives had previously adopted and implemented a provision which explicitly rendered a citizenship applicant no longer eligible if the applicant was determined to be residing outside Canada while the application was pending.

It is very difficult to discern to what extent current staff within the citizenship branch of IRCC continue to have such elevated concerns or suspicions about applicants perceived to have applied-on-the-way-to-the-airport, or as some describe it, seeking-a-passport-of-convenience, but it is easy to apprehend those sentiments are still strong among many. Thus, even though there is no direct consequence, a recognition of this quite likely fuels the tendency of many who are living abroad after applying to conceal their actual residential address from IRCC, in an effort to avoid non-routine processing. (By the way, which should be obvious, making misrepresentations in the citizenship application process, including by omission or concealment, is NOT merely a bad idea, it is a stand alone ground for denying an application, or revoking citizenship later if not discovered sooner, and even a crime.)

In any event, make no mistake, the requirement that the applicant be IN Canada during the test event, and when taking the oath of citizenship, is not merely a technical formality. Not only is there a near ZERO chance Canada will allow testing or oath taking outside Canada, it is almost certain that for the authorities this is a BIG DEAL, and take enforcing it very seriously. The premise of this topic is, frankly, close to ludicrous; just the attempt would likely, at the least, knock the application off-the-rails into some fairly difficult non-routine processing and at the least rather lengthy delays.

 

[bellaluna]

Isn't it ironic that one of Govt. offices is inviting people to write a test (with a condition that one has to be physically present in Canada to write the test) and another related branch of Govt. supposedly does not want people to come to Canada for a day or two

At least in this pandemic situation they could have removed this "must be physically present in Canada" as a pre-requisite for taking the test.

Rhetorical question: Why would you want to be a citizen of this country if you don’t want to be in this country? I think it’s more of a measure to weed out those who want to abuse the status.

 

[carl321]

Just reschedule your test?

 

[adey786]

I have started to think those who fly in to give test/Oath and fly out are actually in a zone which most likely to be treated as misrepresentation.

Probably keep this in mind, IRCC has ramped out interviews and now every one is being interviewed after the test just to iron out such instances.

I have heard from people saying that they would use a lawyer to represent their case whilst they are abroad. Even in those cases - I am not a legal or immigration professional- but plain fact finding can indicate that the applicant is misrepresenting his/her case by falsely claiming to be in Canada, but is not actually living in Canada.

I seriously hope that people dont abuse this window or IRCC may come up with much more stringent requirements (bank statements, employer call verifications) to actually establish residency in Canada. If that starts to happen, I fear it will have massive impact on processing of cases !

 

[fr72]

You will receive a large fine if you don't follow quarantine guidelines.

Thank you captain obvious. Read what I wrote again and tell me where I am asking anyone to disobey quarantine guidelines.

Maybe Canada should increase the IELTS reading score cutoff for immigrants.

 

[fr72]

What is so wrong about applying on the way to the airport? Just impose worldwide taxation on all Canadian citizens and that will fix all problems of people coming back to Canada only in old age (including Canadian born citizens who fly off to Silicon Valley after 21 yrs of sucking up free health and education).

Of course, the xenophobes wont do that. Because it was never about tax contributions, just about keeping immigrants on a leash like dogs. For conservatives, immigration is merely a transaction which helps them fund the existing social programs. No wonder they hate family streams which they see as not as profitable. Im sure as @dpenabill said, they will re instate 2 tier citizenship when they come to power using any excuse they can get. All the more reason to not solely rely on Canada as your only 1st world nationality. The ones with 1 foot outside Canada are actually the smart ones. If and when conservatives come to power, citizenship certificate becomes a mere visa.

 

[adey786]

What is so wrong about applying on the way to the airport? Just impose worldwide taxation on all Canadian citizens and that will fix all problems of people coming back to Canada only in old age (including Canadian born citizens who fly off to Silicon Valley after 21 yrs of sucking up free health and education).

Of course, the xenophobes wont do that. Because it was never about tax contributions, just about keeping immigrants on a leash like dogs.

To add to your comment about worldwide taxation:

"Canada still apply worldwide taxation on Canadian tax residents. PRs often are tax resident despite living abroad."

Yes, you can do a test at airport (for the sake of argument), but read on:

I suppose you are abroad and looking at taking test at the airport. Technically, you can do it and there is no issue with it (apart from any quarantine requirements that may apply). However, there are many catches :

1- IRCC is interviewing each and every applicant who has given test. First they are calling Canadian numbers which is a check if person is living in Canada. The interview reveals a lot of information about you, and IRCC may find out that a person is not living in Canada. If IRCC get to know that a person doesnt live in Canada, they expect your file to have an update of recent (overseas) address. If they dont see overseas address on file, IRCC may consider this as mis-representation and deny citizenship application/impose restrictions.
2- During interviews, IRCC reviews passport and can make out that the person is actually living abroad and that would be pretty much "game over" as officer would naturally want to get confirmation of entry and exits to Canada from CBSA records
3- Let's assume one moves beyond this point and undertakes Oath. Citizenship certificate is sent by mail at Canadian address. One can't receive citizenship certificate outside of Canada. More so, as a part of Oath ceremony, applicant has to tear off/cut PR card into 2 pieces so one needs Canadian passport to travel back in!
4- Passport also is send to local mailing address. However, passport request can be made at Canadian consulates abroad. Not sure how Canadian consulate accommodate first pasaport request from a new citizen.
5- As a PR one is deemed tax resident, even if living abroad (read on) and expected to file Tax returns. To cut tax ties with Canada, there is a specific CRA process under which Final Tax return is submitted before a person can become non tax resident. The repercussion is huge. CRA would expect submission of tax returns and may tax overseas income (following worldwide taxation principles) at Canadian tax rates. Yes, there will be a tax credit for tax paid overseas, but Canadian tax incidence is high, imagine taxing income earned in Tax havens.