Other than the requirements for application for citizenship, is there any hidden papers that not mentioned on the CIC website that we need to know to prepare to be submitted with the rest of the package
Any advise for those who will apply new for citizenship
- Thread starter Desert Lion
- Start date
Double-check your travels that you have the absences in Canada properly accounted.
Just a personal advice from someone who submitted right on the 1095th residency day, give yourself some buffer days beyond 1095 (depending on the number of travels you made). But it's obviously within reason and practicality, that is, you won't delay for half a year for example. Let's say you were away for a week, give yourself 1095+7 days = 1102 days before applying leaving less doubt that you met the minimum residency requirement. In my case, since I applied right after 1095 days, the CIC agent requested a CBSA (Canadian Border Services Agency) validation of entries and exits to Canada even though I already passed my test.
CLICK YES to the option in the citizenship form giving permission to CIC to obtain your travel records. CIC claims they can get a CBSA check on border entries faster than us requesting it ourselves.
Provide a copy of your ENGLISH TEST results (e.g. IELTS, TOEFL), even those you used to submit for your PR. If you have post-secondary education in Canada (for the past 4 years), attach copies of the relevant diploma/certificate or the school transcript.
I also took the liberty of including stamped pages of my passports (both recent and expired) relevant to my travels (within the last 4 years) in addition to the biographical pages (the ones with your photo). This facilitated the interview at the test since the CIC agent in my case do scrutinize for those stamped pages.
Take the initiative to review the booklet "Discover Canada". You can start reading online or as an audio/text app for your mobile device even before you get a copy sent by CIC. Practice the free online citizenship tests on the web. The actual test is easier so you're assured to pass if you do well on the online sample tests.
Good luck
Just a personal advice from someone who submitted right on the 1095th residency day, give yourself some buffer days beyond 1095 (depending on the number of travels you made). But it's obviously within reason and practicality, that is, you won't delay for half a year for example. Let's say you were away for a week, give yourself 1095+7 days = 1102 days before applying leaving less doubt that you met the minimum residency requirement. In my case, since I applied right after 1095 days, the CIC agent requested a CBSA (Canadian Border Services Agency) validation of entries and exits to Canada even though I already passed my test.
CLICK YES to the option in the citizenship form giving permission to CIC to obtain your travel records. CIC claims they can get a CBSA check on border entries faster than us requesting it ourselves.
Provide a copy of your ENGLISH TEST results (e.g. IELTS, TOEFL), even those you used to submit for your PR. If you have post-secondary education in Canada (for the past 4 years), attach copies of the relevant diploma/certificate or the school transcript.
I also took the liberty of including stamped pages of my passports (both recent and expired) relevant to my travels (within the last 4 years) in addition to the biographical pages (the ones with your photo). This facilitated the interview at the test since the CIC agent in my case do scrutinize for those stamped pages.
Take the initiative to review the booklet "Discover Canada". You can start reading online or as an audio/text app for your mobile device even before you get a copy sent by CIC. Practice the free online citizenship tests on the web. The actual test is easier so you're assured to pass if you do well on the online sample tests.
Good luck
I will suggest to have buffer for another reason as well.
For example you left Canada on 11th of January( and your passport is not stamped while leaving from Canada) and landed into another country on 12th or 13th of January(due to distance, time zone, connecting flights).
Now your passport is stamped for 12th or 13trh January.
When you start calculating your physical days for residency you may start from 12th or 13th(as you will be looking for stamps and may forget that you left earlier. Unless you are checking the dates from boarding passes) while actually you left Canada on 11th.
so formula is 1095+number of travels.
This is just my understanding, i am not an expert.
For example you left Canada on 11th of January( and your passport is not stamped while leaving from Canada) and landed into another country on 12th or 13th of January(due to distance, time zone, connecting flights).
Now your passport is stamped for 12th or 13trh January.
When you start calculating your physical days for residency you may start from 12th or 13th(as you will be looking for stamps and may forget that you left earlier. Unless you are checking the dates from boarding passes) while actually you left Canada on 11th.
so formula is 1095+number of travels.
This is just my understanding, i am not an expert.
Good point with the time zone differences Nightrider.
Note also that if you travel across border by land or through some airports like Toronto Pearson or Montreal Trudeau your passport may not be stamped. At Toronto Pearson for example, you only need to scan your PR card and customs declaration in a machine. Your reentry may register with the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) but you won't have a record on your passport for CIC to see on your interview. If you have future travels anytime soon before your application, make sure you request for a stamp at the border (which may mean having to queue among non-resident visitors).
Note also that if you travel across border by land or through some airports like Toronto Pearson or Montreal Trudeau your passport may not be stamped. At Toronto Pearson for example, you only need to scan your PR card and customs declaration in a machine. Your reentry may register with the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) but you won't have a record on your passport for CIC to see on your interview. If you have future travels anytime soon before your application, make sure you request for a stamp at the border (which may mean having to queue among non-resident visitors).
If this is the case and we know for sure the exact date we left Canada, should we put on R calculator the date stamped(to make it match) or the day we actually left Canada which is one day earlier? I'm thinking to do the later and maybe add a note to explain the discrepancy for the agent who may be confused. What u think guys???Nightrider said:
put the dates you left and/or entered canada. a couple of extra days here and there won't be a big deal but at least it is accurate. from what i have seen, they don't really match the exact dates, but try to find out if you have provided all dates and countries visited. the officers do understand that it takes time to fly. personally i hardly have any stamps from the trips to USA but i put every trip on the record. also don't try to submit too quick, give it at least a week extra so that the officer don't feel the urge to make you prove that the dates are absolutely perfect.Goldline said:
I disagree with letting CIC get a list of your entries to Canada directly from CBSA. You can get it yourself and send it to them. That way you know exactly what they are looking at. How will you know there isn't a mistake if you let CIC get it themselves and you don't have an exact copy of what they are looking at? And yes, the list can be different depending on how it is run and who runs it. of course, if you never left Canada, maybe its a moot point for you.
CIC says it may delay your application if you don't let them get it directly, but I don't believe that. The processing times are already very long. How much difference is this going to make? Marginal at best.
CIC says it may delay your application if you don't let them get it directly, but I don't believe that. The processing times are already very long. How much difference is this going to make? Marginal at best.
Well, one can authorize CIC to collect CBSA while can request a copy for their own record. But applicants who has passports with entry & exit stamps to & from destination country and entry stamp in Canadian ports, no need to collect record from CBSA.. Processing time 2014 applications onward will be lower (most cases within 1 year)..
Thank you everybody for your reply. I'm planning to request CBSA report. but just don't wanna do it too early. How long does it take to receive it from them if ordered by mail? and is a copy of PR card enough to send with the request?
and yes I will not apply on day 1096 early in the morning, I'm planning to wait a week but I'm absolutely sure about all the dates because for every entry/exit, either I have the stamp or both the stamp, the boarding pass and the luggage ticket they stick on the pport cover with your name on it. No visits to the US.
and yes I will not apply on day 1096 early in the morning, I'm planning to wait a week but I'm absolutely sure about all the dates because for every entry/exit, either I have the stamp or both the stamp, the boarding pass and the luggage ticket they stick on the pport cover with your name on it. No visits to the US.
Goldline, If you have all the stamps in your PP then why you will need CBSA record? I believe it will take quite longer (months) as there is a ques. People mostly applying for CBSA record who has frequent travel to US or missing stamps in PP.