I’m currently applying for Canadian citizenship and meet the required number of days for eligibility at the time of application.
In the form, there’s a question that asks:
“During your 5-year eligibility period, did you have a valid temporary resident status before becoming a permanent resident?”
Here’s my situation:
I had two work permits.
- The first was issued with an error by IRCC (shorter validity than it should have had).
- After contacting them, I was reissued a second work permit about a month later with a full 3-year validity.
I had no issues entering this information in the application.
Later, while waiting for my PR application decision, I also applied for a BOWP (bridging open work permit). However, before IRCC finalized the BOWP, my PR was approved. As a result, the BOWP application was
withdrawn.
The citizenship application now asks:
“Did you apply for an extension?”
The only options are
Yes or
No, and it requires me to provide the date of approval or refusal.
Since the BOWP was withdrawn (not approved or refused), I’m unsure how to answer. My current thought is to select
No, and if needed, use the date on the withdrawal letter as the “refusal” date. I can also provide a letter of explanation with the withdrawal letter explaining my situation.
Has anyone else been in a similar situation? How did you handle this in your citizenship application?
