Canadian citizenship app in process, can I relocate while its in process?

[nilzzz]

Hello,
My Canadian citizenship application is in process (has been about 6 months). I had fulfilled the residency requirements before applying. Now, I have received an amazing job offer and want to go live there (I'm also a US citizen). Can I relocate without having to worry about losing my Canadian PR status/citizenship? I know as a PR holder you can stay out max 6 months, but if you have already met your days requirements and the app is in process, can I just move without risking anything? Thank you!

 

[Leon]

You can move without any problems but make sure that you either keep a Canadian address for them to send you mail where somebody will be checking it or let them know about your new address in the US. The CIC website even has instructions on how to change your address if you move overseas while applying for citizenship, they tell you to do it through the embassy.

The average time it takes to process citizenship is around 1 year. At some point, you will get a letter telling you to appear for the citizenship exam. You may know 10-14 days beforehand. Be ready to drop everything and go. CIC does not schedule your test at a time convenient for you. 2-4 months later, you will similarly get a letter about appearing for oath. Again, you may know 10-14 days beforehand. Be ready to drop everything and go again. They will also not schedule the oath ceremony at a time when it's convenient for you.

You can postpone both of those events if you really have to but that means you are at their mercy for scheduling. You may have to wait another year and then they'll call you again, again at a time not convenient to you and you may even get asked why you had to postpone, that maybe citizenship is not really important to you anymore.

There is no requirement for Canadian PR holders to come back to Canada every 6 months. You can be outside Canada for up to 3 years in any 5 year period and those 3 years can be continuous.