Hi,
i am about to apply for my citizenship, and i heard that some times the officer ask for additional documents as a proof of residence (ex: Phone bills, credit card statement with transactions, etc..)
is this true? if yes, what was your experience with document requested and what did you share?
my issue, i don't keep record or copy of such documents.
Citizenship applicants may be asked to provide additional information and documents during the processing of their application. These can come at various times, including:
-- CIT 0520 PPQ-QAE with accompanying requests for various documents, and this is an extensive request for information, documents, records from other countries, a Canadian citizen reference, finger prints, and more; this appears to be sent SOME applicants around the same time the application gets In Process status (around same time the application is referred to a local office by the CPC-Sydney office); it is purportedly random but there is some doubt about how random it is
-- CIT 0205 known as "RQ lite" which typically asks for very specific documents (though some have received this form with all the boxes checked, meaning they are asked to submit the full list of documents on this form); this can be sent to applicants any time between IP and up to the day of the oath, but recently most reports indicate this is usually given to applicants AFTER or sometimes during the interview
-- CIT 0171 which is the "Residence Questionnaire" and is known as full-blown RQ, which requires the applicant to provide a lot of information, much of it a repeat of information in the application and some of it additional information, and to submit a broad range of documents to support the applicant's claims about travel history, presence in Canada, addresses in Canada, employment and other activities in Canada, and so on
-- some applicants report particular requests by letter; this can happen any time, and appears to not be common (was more common some years ago, before CIC implemented the CIT 0205 RQ-lite requests)
-- some applicants are verbally asked to provide a particular document during the interview, but this is typically to be SENT in AFTER the interview
NOTE: The Interview Is NOT a Hearing. It is primarily focused on verifying specific supporting documents, and thus there are specific documents the applicant is asked to bring to the interview. The interview is about checking those specific documents and asking a few questions to verify information provided by the applicant.
With perhaps some unusual exceptions, there is little or nothing to be gained by bringing additional documents to the interview. If IRCC is going to request additional documents, it is NOT LIKELY having them at the interview will make a difference let alone suffice (possible exception in some unusual situations described in the last item listed above, where the applicant is verbally asked to provide particular documents at the interview, without a formal written request).
In particular, the interview is NOT an opportunity for the individual applicant to make the case or otherwise present additional evidence. It is specifically a "Program Integrity" interview. It is essentially to screen the information and documentation which was submitted with the application. If there are questions or issues, that triggers non-routine procedures, ranging from Finger Print requests to the Full Blown RQ (that is CIT 0171), with any of the items listed above in-between.
Documents Evidencing (proving) Actual Physical Presence in Canada:
It should be obvious that citizenship applicants might be required to submit additional evidence to prove they were actually physically present in Canada the days the applicant reports he or she was present. The vast majority of applicants will NOT be asked to submit any additional documents. However ANY applicant, no matter how strong the case is on its face, can receive any of the requests I listed above.
Since the CIT 0205 PPQ - QAE, and the CIT 0171 Residence Questionnaire, are the most comprehensive requests, and again any applicant might receive either of these, it is indeed a good idea for a prudent applicant to gather, retain, and maintain many of the records which might be requested. These are discussed in detail in numerous topics here.
See, for example, the post quoted below and others in that same topic.
The most important records are those documenting employment or school or other activities while in Canada and those documenting the applicant's occupant interest in the dwelling which is reported as the address where the applicant lived in Canada. An applicant with a solid work history in Canada, and the documentation which clearly proves this, together with good documentation to show where the applicant was actually living, probably does not need a lot of other evidence or proof, such as credit card or banking records. But, just as one example among many, someone with significant periods of unemployment or self-employment may need more.
THE BURDEN OF PROOF IS ON THE APPLICANT. Too many applicants do not realize that proof of dates they entered Canada and proof of dates they exited Canada CAN FALL WAY SHORT in meeting their burden of proof. All proof of a date of entry shows is that the individual was in Canada that day. That is just ONE day.
Again,
MOST applicants will NOT have to submit additional proof. IRCC will examine and weigh the surrounding factors, including address and work history, among others, and for MOST applicants make the INFERENCE that the applicant was in Canada the days in-between a known date of entry and the next reported date of exit. BUT if for any reason IRCC perceives the POSSIBILITY of any time outside Canada any of those days, the applicant can be required to AFFIRMATIVELY prove actual presence those days in-between entry and exit dates. The extent to which this is imposed can vary widely.
Quote of post as example of what is discussed in other topics about requests for additional documents:
The package that i have received includes:
- A covering letter
- Form CIT 0205 (05-2017) E - Physical Presence Questionnaire - Quality Assurance Exercise
- Appendix - Required Documents
- Request for fingerprints
- Request for a non-family member Canadian citizen as a reference who has known me for at least 2 years
- A consent form for a disclosure of the history of arrivals and departures in the Unites States
Speculatively, I am from a Visa except country and have travelled to the US through the land border several times during the eligible period (for single day meetings). In the list of required documents this consent for disclosure form is specifically refereed to as "Consent to I-94". This could, potentially, be one of the reasons for this process in the case of my application.
There is nothing particularly surprising in the list of requested documents:
- Colour photocopies of all pages of passports from the relevant period
- Entry/ Exit records issued be the countries of your citizenship and/or all countries of current or past (permanent or temporary) resident status other than Canada.
- Provincial / Territorial Personal Health Claims summary
The a longer list of other if scenarios and required paperwork for rentals, home ownership, studying, employment / benefits claims, business ownership / self employment, and professional association memberships.
