Applying for citizenship, might have an issue with PR obligation

[cadimmigrante]

Hi All,

I am thinking about applying for Citizenship. I have been physically here as a PR for 5 years and have only left for two very short holidays in that time. However, I originally received my PR status a long time ago, while I was a 1st year University Student in the United States. Because I was at a prestigious school I did not want to transfer to a Canadian school so I stayed there. I came to Canada a few times while I was a student but I didn't have any immediate family here or in the states so I didn't make it here for every single break (I went to visit them). I moved here about two-three weeks after graduation and my PR expired the following year (I was short of the 2/5 requirement). I waited a long time before applying for my PR card to be renewed and it was done without a problem. In the meantime I was able to establish myself and now own a house. In the citizenship application it asks when you became a PR and when you began living here, and they also check how often you have entered the country.

Here in lies my uncertainty: firstly while I was a university student I did not have a permanent "home" anywhere, but I do not think I can begin to claim that I "lived" here by virtue that my permanent address was listed as my cousins house here can I? So what do I do? I personally do not think that I should make any misstatements but that will leave an approximately 4 year gap from when I got my residency to when I actually lived here. Also they check how many times you have entered.

Should I put in the application? Or is my best bet just being a PR for the rest of my life? I would really like to become a citizen - will they overlook this because I have exhibited my desire to stay and am now established here? The business that I am can very much require me moving abroad for years at a time so I would severely limited my career by not being able to do so.

Many Thanks

 

[just_do_it]

You sure you did not have enough days to remain a PR?

It would be very strange that they would issue you a PR card if you didnt satisfy the requirements from the previous 5 years. Perhaps they made a mistake on their end or you made a mistake on your application (listing your address as your cousins hence claiming you were a resident of canada the whole time).

Usually, they only go as far as 4 years before the date of your application for citizenship.

Hope you made copies of your PR card renewal application cause i would stick with the same story or it could mean trouble.

 

[Msafiri]

Hi All,

I am thinking about applying for Citizenship. I have been physically here as a PR for 5 years and have only left for two very short holidays in that time. However, I originally received my PR status a long time ago, while I was a 1st year University Student in the United States. Because I was at a prestigious school I did not want to transfer to a Canadian school so I stayed there. I came to Canada a few times while I was a student but I didn't have any immediate family here or in the states so I didn't make it here for every single break (I went to visit them). I moved here about two-three weeks after graduation and my PR expired the following year (I was short of the 2/5 requirement). I waited a long time before applying for my PR card to be renewed and it was done without a problem. In the meantime I was able to establish myself and now own a house. In the citizenship application it asks when you became a PR and when you began living here, and they also check how often you have entered the country.

Here in lies my uncertainty: firstly while I was a university student I did not have a permanent "home" anywhere, but I do not think I can begin to claim that I "lived" here by virtue that my permanent address was listed as my cousins house here can I? So what do I do? I personally do not think that I should make any misstatements but that will leave an approximately 4 year gap from when I got my residency to when I actually lived here. Also they check how many times you have entered.

Should I put in the application? Or is my best bet just being a PR for the rest of my life? I would really like to become a citizen - will they overlook this because I have exhibited my desire to stay and am now established here? The business that I am can very much require me moving abroad for years at a time so I would severely limited my career by not being able to do so.

Many Thanks

1. CIC carried out a Residency Determination in which they found you met the Residency Obligation so they issued the PR Card.

2. You need 1095 days of residence in the 4 years prior to the application date for Citizenship. 'Residence' is not defined in the Citizenship Act but for all intents and purposes its physical presence if you want your application to be 'routine'.

3. You need to declare your absences from Canada in the 4 year 'qualifying period'. Ideally these should match the data that CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) have on file so you avoid being issued a Residence Questionnaire. Do some leg work on the forum read up on RQ threads.

4. Go ahead and apply - on paper you meet the criteria.

 

[cadimmigrante]

Thanks Msafiri,

Just to make sure there shouldn't be an issue if the date of me moving to Canada was 4 years after I received my PR (it asks sequentially on the citizenship form when you became a PR and then when you moved here). As I mentioned before my PR was renewed by virtue of them only checking 5 years prior and not further (I waited until I had met the criteria in the most recent 5 years). Now I easily meet the day requirements to apply to citizenship. Just confirming - I re-read my post and wasn't sure everything was clear. Thanks again.

 

[Msafiri]

Not an issue. Fill out the online residence calculator and you will note it corrects for PR issuance/landing date vis a vis application date. If you have issues with this come back to the forum.

Good luck