Can I gain citizenship?

[Rhiannon329]

Here's my situation:

Myself - Born in 1983, Gainesville, FL - Living in the States / US Citizen
Mom - Born in Toronto, Ontario - Living in the States
Dad - Born in Buffalo, NY - Living in the States
Brother - Born in Toronto, Ontario - Living in Canada
and
My Husband - Born in 1976, Miami, FL - Living in the States / US Citizen

I had lived in Canada for 4 years during my childhood and would love to move back, permanently, and with my husband.
How can we legally come to live in Canada, and eventually gain/trade citizenship?

Any help would be much appreciated.
Thank you

 

[scylla]

The best thing to do is use the online "Am I a Canadian citizen" tool provided by CIC. By answering the questions asked, the tool will automatically tell you if you qualify for Canadian citizenship. Here's the link (just click on the "start here" button:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/rules/index.asp

Based on what you've said, it sounds like you may be a citizen already (but verify by using the tool). If you are a citizen and wish to move with your husband to Canada, you will have to sponsor him as a permanent resident first. More information about sponsoring is provided in the first post of this thread:

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/spousal-sponsorship-t46995.0.html

 

[Rhiannon329]

Thank you so much for the starter information, it definitely helps.
But I'm curious about another thing as well...
What if my Canadian mother is living here in the States illegally? And has been for the last 20 years. This should mean that she is still a citizen in Canada, whether she's using it or not.
Will this matter to my situation?

 

[scylla]

If she was born in Canada, then she is still a Canadian citizen even if she has lived illegally in the US for decades. What she has / hasn't done in the US will have no impact on her Canadian citizenship or your status.

Having said that, if she has lived illegally in the US for 20 years, things will get pretty ugly for her if US immigration ever catches up with her. If they do, she can count on a deportation and 10 year ban from entering the US (which can be waived - but not easily). If she is in fact illegal in the US but entered legally (e.g. as a visitor) years ago - your father should really sponsor her for a green card asap. If your father sponsors her, her illegal stay will be forgiven as long as she originally entered the US legally.

 

[Rhiannon329]

Thank you very much for your willingness to answer my questions. This information is very helpful.