COVID 19 Benefit & Citizenship application

[fullmooncirc]

Hi,
My application for citizenship is in process. I have already received AOR.
Since the beginning of the pandemic I have asked for most of the COVID 19 Relief payments. While traveling, I applied for one of the payment periods that started about 1 week before my return to Canada. I received the payment. However, I am wondering if they will be checking this while processing my citizenship and if this could affect their decision.

Does the department of immigration have access to this information??? Can they see the relief payments I asked for? Or are they separate departments?

Has anyone received Covid payments outside Canada?

Thanks for any info!

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

Hi,
My application for citizenship is in process. I have already received AOR.
Since the beginning of the pandemic I have asked for most of the COVID 19 Relief payments. While traveling, I applied for one of the payment periods that started about 1 week before my return to Canada. I received the payment. However, I am wondering if they will be checking this while processing my citizenship and if this could affect the process.
Does the department of immigration have access to this information??? Can they see the relief payments I got? Or are they separate departments?

Has anyone received covid payments outside Canada?

Thanks for any info!

COVID-19 related payments have nothing to do with your citizenship application.

As long as you had the physical presence when you submitted your application and you still continue to fulfill your PR residency obligations (2 / 5 years requirement) and other requirements for citizenship, you have nothing to worry about.

 

[fullmooncirc]

COVID-19 related payments have nothing to do with your citizenship application.

As long as you had the physical presence when you submitted your application and you still continue to fulfill your PR residency obligations (2 / 5 years requirement) and other requirements for citizenship, you have nothing to worry about.

Thank you for answering!
How do you know this? How can I confirm this information?

 

[from_india_to_canada]

Thank you for answering!
How do you know this? How can I confirm this information?

if you are not committing fraud, then you should have nothing to worry about!

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

Thank you for answering!
How do you know this? How can I confirm this information?

Its common knowledge.

Getting government benefits like EI (and more recently CERB and other COVID-19 related payments) isn't an impediment to obtaining citizenship. However, if you committed fraud and you were charged with fraud and found guilty, then that might negatively impact your chances of becoming a citizen (again, depending on what you were charged with).

If you want to confirm this, you'd have to read about the eligibility criteria for Canadian citizenship and list of prohibitions. Here are a few links that might help.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/become-canadian-citizen/eligibility.html

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/become-canadian-citizen/eligibility/situtations-prevent-citizenship.html

Also, as an addendum, here's the link to the Citizenship Act if you are looking for some legal references :

https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-29/index.html

 

[canuck78]

Hi,
My application for citizenship is in process. I have already received AOR.
Since the beginning of the pandemic I have asked for most of the COVID 19 Relief payments. While traveling, I applied for one of the payment periods that started about 1 week before my return to Canada. I received the payment. However, I am wondering if they will be checking this while processing my citizenship and if this could affect their decision.

Does the department of immigration have access to this information??? Can they see the relief payments I asked for? Or are they separate departments?

Has anyone received Covid payments outside Canada?

Thanks for any info!

If you know you incorrectly received any covid benefits you should be making arrangements to repay back any of the money you received incorrectly. You needed to be in Canada and qualify to receive any of the covid benefits. What you are suggesting is fraud. If you repay now there will be less penalties.