Citizenship Judge Hearing

[shak909]

Hi Guys,

Does anyone has experience of appearing for Citizenship Judge Hearing? I have hearing next week and looking for some tips. I applied for citizenship in November 2007, got my test in July 2008 but at the time of test officer told me that I was missing 40 days from my obligatory time of 1095 days and I had to fill residence questionaire even though I ramined in Canada from the time of application till date of test. Anyway I got letter for Citizenship Judge Hearing after 2 years of my test.

Thanks,
Shak

 

[canvis2006]

Take all documents which support your application, and please share your experience after the hearing.

Which local CIC office are you dealing with?

 

[kamal225]

Hi Guys,

Does anyone has experience of appearing for Citizenship Judge Hearing? I have hearing next week and looking for some tips. I applied for citizenship in November 2007, got my test in July 2008 but at the time of test officer told me that I was missing 40 days from my obligatory time of 1095 days and I had to fill residence questionaire even though I ramined in Canada from the time of application till date of test. Anyway I got letter for Citizenship Judge Hearing after 2 years of my test.

Thanks,
Shak
Hello,
in regard to your situation there should be no problem, did you do the test, is the hearing regarding missing days or that you did not pass the test, if you were late or missing 40 days you cant do the test anyway judges for citizenship are very polite and nice but you have to study again in case they may ask you any question about canada and you have to read the new book not the one you studied before many changes has happened since to the old book, take proof that you were in the country stay cool / calm when answering questions and take proof thay you were here in canada good luck

 

[shak909]

Thanks guys for answering. Office is in Toronto downtown St Claire where I have to appear and judge is Mr. Gill
I appeared in the test but after the test officer told me to fill residence questionaire because I am missing 40 days. I am sure I did pass the test but the reason for hearing is not written on the letter.

 

[kamal225]

I am glad you met with the judge and again it is the 40 days that is missing
or try to remember if you have for example a balance of unpaid car ticket they could question that just to see your response and your behaviour
that is fine st clair office i know for a fact is the best office in regard to your matter and agian they are not there to judge you but to tell where you stand before you turn into a real future canadian
but you should have asked the judge what is the reason for the interview
could be too much travel outside canada one question in their mind too would be WILL YOU STAY INCANADA AFTER BEING A CANADIAN CITIZEN

anyway good luck and keep us updated and try to proof in the questionaire that you were here all the time needed to meet your citizenship
good luck

 

[Leon]

For citizenship, they have basic residence and physical presence. Basic residence is 1095 days since you were admitted to Canada as a PR or if you were in Canada before getting PR, you could count those days at half rate but only within the previous 4 years. If you apply before having that, they will refuse your application.

Physical presence is actually having been in Canada for those 1095 days. If you apply with basic residence but without meeting physical presence, you need to have some exceptional circumstances for why they should give you citizenship anyway. They will still process your application but they will have you talk with a citizenship judge to explain your situation. In most cases, this takes so long that you would be better off waiting until you have physical presence before applying.

You can find more information on this at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english//resources/manuals/cp/cp05-eng.pdf The chapter about exceptional circumstances is 5.9 on page 13. It says that they will take into account things like if you are only a few days short, if your family is in Canada and if your absences from Canada seem to be temporary such as business trips and not that you are returning to another home you have in another country.

 

[Alabaman]

one question in their mind too would be WILL YOU STAY INCANADA AFTER BEING A CANADIAN CITIZEN

What if you do not want to stay in Canada after being a Canadian Citizen?? Do they really consider this?? Doesnt the law just require you to fulfill the physical presence of 1095 days in past 4 years? So why should they be questioning if you intend to stay? Arent there Canadian citizens all over the world??

Any thoughts?

 

[Leon]

If you do fulfil the 1095 days physical presence, there will not be any hearing. It's only when you apply without having the physical presence that they impose their own conditions on why they should give you citizenship.

 

[shak909]

Thanks guys for your support. My citizenship judge hearing went very well. Judge Gill is very nice fellow and finally getting all the documents required, he approved my citizenship request and asked me to wait for oath letter in 2-3 weeks. I asked him what happened to my application at first place and he told me that I was missing 3 days as per their caculations but then application had to go through different path than normal applications and that's why it took so long (2 years).
Anyway he asked every single proof of my stay in Canada whatever you can think of.

 

[Alabaman]

Wow. 40 days...3 days... I wonder whose calculation was right. I guess this underscores the need to wait additional days before applying. 2 years was sure a long time.

Congrats and thanks for providing a feedback.

 

[rosicky10]

Hello,
I as well have to see a Citizenship in couple of days. I am of course really nervous, but seeing this topic has calmed me a bit. I have been out of the country for too long, I currently play soccer in Europe. I spent most of my life in Canada but the last couple of years have lived in Europe. I believe I was around 100 days under the requirment but I have been in Canada 11 years before that. I don't have much family or friends outside of Canada. I will talk to my club to release me for November 2nd but what if they don't let me? Can I hire a lawyer and what are my chances? I am really good with my coach so I am certain I will be there. But what do they ask me? What do I have to know? Any help would be great.
"Anyway he asked every single proof of my stay in Canada whatever you can think of."
-Did he mean the reasons why I want to stay in Canada? Family and friends should be enough of an answer.

 

[sherrybenipal]

i have got a judge hearing date on jauary 11 2011 but unfortunately i am outside of canada for study purpose {as i goto a college in a different country} i cannot appear before a judge. i couldnot take the citizenship test either beacuse of the same reason which was scheduled on august 17 2010. so is it possible for me to reschedule my citizenship test any tiime in summer in 2011 as i am planning to come back during that time to canada . Please HELP!!!!!!!

 

[Leon]

I find it likely that if you do not appear for your hearing that they will consider your citizenship application abandoned and you will have to apply again. Have you contacted them and told them that you can not come to your hearing?

I think it is very unlikely that they will schedule your citizenship test at a time that is convenient for you. They feel that citizenship should be important enough to you that you will bend your schedule to fit theirs and not the other way around. If they decide to let your application go forward, they would give you another date, could be in summer 2011, winter 2011/2012, who knows but if you don't go to your hearing to convince them that you are still interested, I think they will considered it abandoned.

Are you at least still within your PR residency requirements?

 

[ankurshah77]

Hi,

Any one did the intereview with citizenship judge? I want to know what are the questions asked.

I am having my interview next week in Surrey...

 

[filbert]

I have an interview with the judge next week too. I'm from Surrey. I'm starting to think that I have failed my exam :-[ If anyone could give me some tips or pointers on what to expect or what the judge might ask, I would really appreciate that. I'm getting too anxious this has already been too stressful for me