Applying for Canadian Citizenship as an individual or as a couple?

[Vedha]

I am Canadian PR for around 3 years and I am planning to apply for citizenship. But, my wife has been a Canadian PR for only 2 years. So, should I wait for my wife to complete the 3 years and then apply for citizenship together? Or, can I apply as an individual applicant now?

Also, in 2018, I was outside of Canada for the first 5 months, will that be an issue if I am applying for citizenship?

I would really appreciate your help with this.

 

[canvisa13]

You need to be in Canada for 1095 days in last 5 years to be eligible. If you are outside of Canada for more than 180 days in any given year, then you need PCC of that country.

All citizenship applications are individual applications even if you apply as a family. So you don't need to wait, if you are already eligible. Good luck!

 

[alex the king]

Hi, your spouse can apply later , you can start your process if you met the eligibility, Make sure you have 1095 days Minimum before you sign the application. check your dates in physical presence calculator below. Please remember you must have filed taxes at least 3 years in last 5 years in Canada.

Physical presence calculator

https://eservices.cic.gc.ca/rescalc/resCalcStartNew.do


forum to read and understand

https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/application-for-canadian-citizenship-a-comprehensive-guide.687393/

You can get more details and how to fill the form from the forum mentioned above or from CIC website.


it is up to your situation and personal interest weather to wait until your spouse qualify for citizenship. Well you apply together or Solo Immigration officer treat both files separately , Many family applicants has got different processing time unless if you write a request/explanation letter asking process them together ,which means if one file got delayed due to any reason (additional verification) both files will be on hold.

If you qualify and meets the all requirements go ahead and apply, IMO.

 

[Vedha]

Hi, your spouse can apply later , you can start your process if you met the eligibility, Make sure you have 1095 days Minimum before you sign the application. check your dates in physical presence calculator below. Please remember you must have filed taxes at least 3 years in last 5 years in Canada.

Physical presence calculator

https://eservices.cic.gc.ca/rescalc/resCalcStartNew.do


forum to read and understand

https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/application-for-canadian-citizenship-a-comprehensive-guide.687393/

You can get more details and how to fill the form from the forum mentioned above or from CIC website.


it is up to your situation and personal interest weather to wait until your spouse qualify for citizenship. Well you apply together or Solo Immigration officer treat both files separately , Many family applicants has got different processing time unless if you write a request/explanation letter asking process them together ,which means if one file got delayed due to any reason (additional verification) both files will be on hold.

If you qualify and meets the all requirements go ahead and apply, IMO.

I am really sorry for the late reply. I really appreciate the detailed answer. Actually, I will be completing my 3 years in April 2021. I have filed my taxes for 2017 ( I was in Canada for just 11 days), 2018( I was in Canada since April), 2019, and 2020. Is it OK if I apply for citizenship in May 2021? Because I would not have filed my taxes for 2021, and one of the requirements is that the taxes should be filed for at least 3 years.

 

[Vedha]

You need to be in Canada for 1095 days in last 5 years to be eligible. If you are outside of Canada for more than 180 days in any given year, then you need PCC of that country.

All citizenship applications are individual applications even if you apply as a family. So you don't need to wait, if you are already eligible. Good luck!

Sorry for the late reply. I appreciate your answer to my question. I was in India for more than 180 days in 2017 and 2018. So I should be getting PCC from India.

 

[BadGamer6]

You need to be in Canada for 1095 days in last 5 years to be eligible. If you are outside of Canada for more than 180 days in any given year, then you need PCC of that country.

All citizenship applications are individual applications even if you apply as a family. So you don't need to wait, if you are already eligible. Good luck!

I might need to correct it here. The application form says in the past 4 years for a consecutive 183 days, then you need to provide a PCC. If they are added up to 183 and they are not consecutive in any given year, you don't have to provide it. The instruction guide provides some very good examples:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/guide-0002-application-canadian-citizenship-under-subsection-5-1-adults-18-years-older.html#Step3
Refer to Question 10.

Example 3
In the past 4 years, you took 10 trips to the United States of America (USA). Each trip lasted 3 weeks, for a total of 210 days. You would answer “No” to the question and you would not need to provide a police certificate from the USA because you did not spend 183 days or more in a row in the USA.

 

[BadGamer6]

Sorry for the late reply. I appreciate your answer to my question. I was in India for more than 180 days in 2017 and 2018. So I should be getting PCC from India.

Please refer to my reply and check the instruction guide on IRCC's website to see if your 183 day is consecutive. And the PCC period covers 4 years before signing your application, not 5. It is different from the period to calculate your physical presence.

 

[Vedha]

Please refer to my reply and check the instruction guide on IRCC's website to see if your 183 day is consecutive. And the PCC period covers 4 years before signing your application, not 5. It is different from the period to calculate your physical presence.

The 183 days consecutive is a great point. I am planning to apply for citizenship in June. So I would have stayed outside Canada, in the last 4 years, for 170 days and 150 days. I am hoping I won't have take PCC then.