Risks of Accepting a 'Foreign' job before completion of Citizenship Application

[JoacRy]

Hi All, thought I would share my friends experience (in case anyone is in this situation).

My friend and her husband applied for Canadian citizenship (they have a Canadian born daughter). She and her husband are Canadian 'Permanent Residents'. They applied in Feb 2020 (and then got a 12 month job in the US - which her company made permanent). She and her husband also had a rental property in Canada. Her husband also ended up getting a permanent job in the US (as he was on her work visa) as well. He later transferred to a separate work visa when his company sponsored him separately.

When 'covid' hit they could not return to Canada (as the borders were 'closed'). Their application finished processing in April 2021. The 'Background Check' went from 'In Progress' to 'Completed'. They were expecting a 'Test' Invitation. They had previously informed IRCC that they had moved to the US. They had 'separate' interviews with IRCC agents in June 2021. The agents wer querying about why they were living in the US (after applying for Canadian citizenship). They informed about their Canadian born daughter, rental property, the fact they own shares in Canadian companies and the situation about how they could not return to Canada due to the 'closed' borders.

Following the interviews the 'Background Check' for her and her husband (went back to 'In Progress') from July 2021. I spoke to her on Monday this past week. The 'Background' Check remains 'In Progress'. Since the interview last year there has been no follow up, no request for information, no communication (one way or another). They travelled back to Canada on a holiday in January and called IRCC and they replied that they could not comment on her case over the phone. They were thinking of going to an immigration lawyer and got a few quotes but the lawyers fees are too expensive.

After she told me of her situation, I decided the only way I will accept a job in the US (or any other country) is if I become a Canadian citizen. That way I don't have to meet a 'Residency obligation'.

Interested to see if anyone has been in a 'similar' situation and what was the outcome.

Thank you all for your replies.

 

[akbardxb]

Hi All, thought I would share my friends experience (in case anyone is in this situation).

.......

Interested to see if anyone has been in a 'similar' situation and what was the outcome.

Thank you all for your replies.

If they are already in the US, have permanent jobs there, there is probably no urgency from IRCC's perspective to process their application. Background checks have a validity date, and that could explain why they are back to In Progress. They may have met their physical presence requirements, but would probably go to the bottom of the pile while the backlog is being cleared. Would the lawyer be able to help? In this case perhaps not.
Personally, I believe, it is only fair to the thousands who have applied earlier and are very much living in Canada, that their applications are prioritised.

If your circumstances do not force you to leave Canada before your citizenship is approved, perhaps stay put for now.

 

[JoacRy]

If they are already in the US, have permanent jobs there, there is probably no urgency from IRCC's perspective to process their application. Background checks have a validity date, and that could explain why they are back to In Progress. They may have met their physical presence requirements, but would probably go to the bottom of the pile while the backlog is being cleared. Would the lawyer be able to help? In this case perhaps not.
Personally, I believe, it is only fair to the thousands who have applied earlier and are very much living in Canada, that their applications are prioritised.

If your circumstances do not force you to leave Canada before your citizenship is approved, perhaps stay put for now.

Thanks for the advice. As I said this is for my friend, not me. I will let her know.

 

[UnleashedFX]

If IRCC is allowing people to leave Canada during the application process, then I personally believe it is not fair for them to slow the processing of applications for people who decide to live or work abroad. It's called life. They can't expect people to wait in Canada for months and even years until they process those applications. All applications should be processed based on when they were submitted and not based on an individual's decision on where to live and for how long after the application is submitted. People who have completed their obligations for physical presence, paid their taxes and contributed to the Canadian economy deserve the same processing timelines as those who wish to remain in Canada.