Clarification on date to sign

[GoCanada1985]

My wife has been in Canada since 2009. She became a PR on June 28, 2012. She has not left Canada since arriving in 2009. Her Pre-PR time more then fully makes up the maximum 365 days (730 half days). Based on the CIC calculator, the first day she is eligible to apply for citizenship is Friday June 27, 2014 (Stressful timing of course). I have been following this forum for a while, and am up to date on Bill C-24. Like many I am expecting it to receive Royal ascent in the very near future, and am fully expecting her application to be either one of the last few to go through under the current rules or one of the first ones to be delayed. So of course I want to send it in as early as possible, but want to make sure it is correct.

I read so much about people saying to wait until at least day 1096 to sign. But are you required to do so aside from being extra cautious? As I mentioned, she has not left Canada since arriving in 2009 so it is a pretty cut and dry application with nothing unusual (working the whole time, comes from an english speaking country, no criminal activity or issues of any kind). As I mentioned the CIC calculator states that June 27 is the date she qualifies. But by my math, if you include her first day (June 28, 2012), June 27, 2014 is the 1095th day. But the calculation specifically says: "Please make sure that the date of application used in this calculation and the date of signature on the application form and on this page are the same"

As I mentioned, given my expectation of this being a deadline application, this one day is the difference from being able to mail it on Friday June 27 and having to wait until Monday June 30 to mail it. So it could potentially be the difference between getting it now and waiting another 2 years.

I would appreciate any thoughts and personal experience on the topic. Especially if anyone has signed it on day 1095 before and either was approved or denied.

Thanks in advance for your opinions!

 

[ezz1981]

Hi,

I signed and dated my application the day I became eligible. My application was approved and had no issue.

Good luck.

 

[eileenf]

I know the deadline is incredibly stressful, but to speak to a different side of the issue, it's really important to make sure that your details are good, so the application doesn't get rejected as incomplete.

This bill will not be implemented on the day of royal assent. The last citizenship bill took 6 months plus after royal assent before it was put into force. The last rumour I heard from a reputable source (and yes, it's just a rumour, and no, I'm not going to name names on a public forum where I'm one of the few people who doesn't use a pseudonym...if you want details, let's meet in real life) said that the government is gearing up for implementation in August.

Is this true? I really don't know. But I strongly suggest that your wife signs on day 1096. One extra day. I also strongly suggest that she get a settlement worker or lawyer to check her application for completeness. The risk of being rejected as incomplete (at some periods of 2013 one half of all citizenship applications were rejected as incomplete) and missing the deadline by months is higher than the risk of missing the deadline by a day.

 

[GoCanada1985]

I appreciate the sentiment of making sure that everything is filled out correctly, and ensuring there is no rejections. I am a detail oriented designated accountant, and we have gone through everything with a fine tooth comb to ensure there is no potential for rejection. But Eileenf, can you clarify your position on the 1096 days? Are you saying that we should wait just to be extra certain and make sure we are not one of the many rejected for being incomplete? Or because you believe that it is actually a requirement to wait for day 1096?

And please, anyone else with any input that agrees or disagrees with what has been said would be appreciated.

 

[chakrab]

I appreciate the sentiment of making sure that everything is filled out correctly, and ensuring there is no rejections. I am a detail oriented designated accountant, and we have gone through everything with a fine tooth comb to ensure there is no potential for rejection. But Eileenf, can you clarify your position on the 1096 days? Are you saying that we should wait just to be extra certain and make sure we are not one of the many rejected for being incomplete? Or because you believe that it is actually a requirement to wait for day 1096?

And please, anyone else with any input that agrees or disagrees with what has been said would be appreciated.

one has to stay in canada for 1095 days to be eligible. so that only happens on 12:01 am on the 1096th and then you are eligible to sign the application. if you sign on the 1095th day, you still haven't completed the full quota of residency requirement when you sign.

 

[Goldline]

Hey man, besides what Eileen said, which is true, it's well stated on the web site that your application must be signed the day after you become eligible. This is the short answer to all your worries. so go get some rest and wait for day 1096 to sign your application.

 

[GoCanada1985]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I had been thinking all this time that we would have to wait till day 1096. One part I left out was that I called a CIC agent this morning. They told me that as long as the calculation says you are qualified, you are able to sign and send it in. But everything else I had seen on here, seemed to say otherwise. As well, the wording on the application does make it appear that you need to sign the next day, but is not fully clear as the wording could be interpreted the other way. Given all of this, we will wait until day 1096 to sign just to be safe I suppose. And what will be will be.

It is shameful though that they would tell me on the phone that it is fine, but even if it may, the wording allows them to reject based on the one day.

Thanks again!

 

[eileenf]

Hi GoCanada,

To be completely honest, I'm not 100% clear whether an application would be rejected for signing on day 1095 as opposed to day 1096, because there is some ambiguity there. Because of that ambiguity, I think it's safer to wait the extra day (or weekend, as it may be).

Regarding the Call Centre agent's opinion, unfortunately, as many of us know, the agents are more generalists than specialists. I have gotten more contradictory information from call centre agents than I care to recall. I recommend asking and noting their name and the date of the call as soon as the call starts, as this introduces a little bit of accountability to the exchange.

Good luck to you and yours!

 

[Msafiri]

My interpretation is that for day 1095 which for simplicity let us say is today Wednesday June 18, 2014 to count it must be a whole day and not a fraction of the day. The day is only 'whole' after midnight and thus into day 1096 which would tie in with the Citizenship Act clause - CIC if you are reading this can I get first dibs at copyright!

 

[chakrab]

My interpretation is that day 1095 which for simplicity let us say is today Wednesday June 18, 2014 to count it must be a whole day and not a fraction of the day. The day is only 'whole' after midnight and thus into day 1096 - CIC if you are reading this can I get first dibs at copyright!

i have mentioned the same in the post above

 

[Msafiri]

i have mentioned the same in the post above

lol yeah copyright to you

 

[Desert Lion]

I do not think so, the online calculator once you do fill it if you are I eligible, it will not permit you to rocked and once you are eligible, you can proceed with you application, I recommend you to submit it once you had the 1095 days this is the law and if she have not left the canada then she accumulates her pints
I recommend her to proceed with the submission with 1095 days, the law might be in effect on or before she apply, it is soon to be implemented

 

[Desert Lion]

The best thing is the experience from people who submitted their application with 1095 days points, is there any applicant who submitted and was accepted or rejected
Thanks

 

[chakrab]

I do not think so, the online calculator once you do fill it if you are I eligible, it will not permit you to rocked and once you are eligible, you can proceed with you application, I recommend you to submit it once you had the 1095 days this is the law and if she have not left the canada then she accumulates her pints
I recommend her to proceed with the submission with 1095 days, the law might be in effect on or before she apply, it is soon to be implemented

yes after 1095 full days are complete. if the calculator says one has 1095 days, then it's the 1096th day already.

better to follow rules than take chances. a single day wouldn't matter so much.

 

[Desert Lion]

The CIC specifically mentioned in their website physical residence of at least 1095 days, if this number shows up on your screen you are safe, more is better but this should be ok, if the calculation comes to 1094' this is not acceptable, these people in CIC are very systematic, and this is the minimum number of days, and in fact your eligibility starts the day before 28 June, it starts 27 June and completes by June 27 and any time during June 28 ok for you to apply