Query regarding my citizenship application (should I enter TRV visa in application?)

[awwmeup]

I have started my online citizenship application, and I'm hoping to get some clarification.

I came to Canada in Dec 2019 as a student, and got my WP in Jan 2021. I also applied for my TRV and got a visa that says "visitor". WP expired in May 2022, but I applied for the extension in Aug 2022. Applied for my PR on Oct 2022. I had to leave the country on Dec 2022, but in Jan, when I was still outside, I got my PR approval email. So I returned back to Canada using that visitor visa, responded to the portal email and got my PR in Feb 2023.

Now my question is, where the application asks for "During your 5-year eligibility period, did you have a valid temporary resident status before becoming a permanent resident?", should I enter the visitor visa status too? Because if I don't add it there, the the physical presence calculator doesn't accept that, since of course I cannot return to the country if I don't have a valid WP permit.

Will adding my visitor visa to the application cause any issues? Of course worst case scenario would be to apply for my citizenship after 3 years, so that I only have to enter my details for the last 5 years, so anything before I got my PR won't be an issue, but I would like to hear your opinion too.

 

[armoured]

I have started my online citizenship application, and I'm hoping to get some clarification.

I came to Canada in Dec 2019 as a student, and got my WP in Jan 2021. I also applied for my TRV and got a visa that says "visitor". WP expired in May 2022, but I applied for the extension in Aug 2022. Applied for my PR on Oct 2022. I had to leave the country on Dec 2022, but in Jan, when I was still outside, I got my PR approval email. So I returned back to Canada using that visitor visa, responded to the portal email and got my PR in Feb 2023.

Now my question is, where the application asks for "During your 5-year eligibility period, did you have a valid temporary resident status before becoming a permanent resident?", should I enter the visitor visa status too? Because if I don't add it there, the the physical presence calculator doesn't accept that, since of course I cannot return to the country if I don't have a valid WP permit.

Will adding my visitor visa to the application cause any issues? Of course worst case scenario would be to apply for my citizenship after 3 years, so that I only have to enter my details for the last 5 years, so anything before I got my PR won't be an issue, but I would like to hear your opinion too.

Do you have the 1095 days not including any days prior to becoming a PR?

 

[awwmeup]

Do you have the 1095 days not including any days prior to becoming a PR?

I have 1142 days, but that includes my temporary visa days too (including WP and visitor). Since becoming PR, I have 777 days as of today.

 

[armoured]

Others can comment. The issue comes up if any days that are in doubt - not obviously showing in IRCC systems as having a specific status - might lead to longer processing.

When might something be in doubt? For example if you applied to extend/change a status before it expired and the decision came after the date of expiry (usually referred to/understood to mean the status was implied or whatever).

Now note: I am not saying this will cause problems, and I'm not saying I know this is how it happens. From what I've seen, though, it seems this sometimes happens, and it looks like that's what the issue might be - i.e. that their systems don't record what the status was in that interim.

I'll let others comment on specifics because your calendar looks complicated. Not clear to me there's an easy solution. From what I understand worst case is just delays in getting citizenship.

 

[awwmeup]

Others can comment. The issue comes up if any days that are in doubt - not obviously showing in IRCC systems as having a specific status - might lead to longer processing.

When might something be in doubt? For example if you applied to extend/change a status before it expired and the decision came after the date of expiry (usually referred to/understood to mean the status was implied or whatever).

Now note: I am not saying this will cause problems, and I'm not saying I know this is how it happens. From what I've seen, though, it seems this sometimes happens, and it looks like that's what the issue might be - i.e. that their systems don't record what the status was in that interim.

I'll let others comment on specifics because your calendar looks complicated. Not clear to me there's an easy solution. From what I understand worst case is just delays in getting citizenship.

I agree, and to be on the safer side, I might as well just apply for citizenship once I have 1095 days as PR so that I can exclude all the temporary residence days. But I'll wait for someone to respond, or even reach out to a consultant. Thanks for taking your time to respond though, appreciate it.

 

[armoured]

I agree, and to be on the safer side, I might as well just apply for citizenship once I have 1095 days as PR so that I can exclude all the temporary residence days. But I'll wait for someone to respond, or even reach out to a consultant. Thanks for taking your time to respond though, appreciate it.

You might feel more comfortable using, for example, if the approximately 16 months on a work permit and (if I understood correctly) 8 months or so in 2020 (depending on when you apply, since months in 2020 will drop out of calcs) are very solid / clear. (Some of this might come down to understanding exactly when each status was valid).

You are currently gaining (at least) one-half day for every day you remain in Canada, which helps to increase your day count, so it's possible you can get to a total number of 'clear' (obviously in status) days that will make you feel comfortable. But if that's better than just waiting and applying so that you have a straight 1095 days as a PR, I don't know and you'll have to decide. Maybe others can give more comfort.