Did not advise CIC before leaving Canada for Months - Help Please

[Kamloops]

I left Canada after applying for citizenship to visit my wife and stayed for about 5 months. I have a citizenship test in about 12 days. I did not advise CIC before leaving so that they note the reasons of my absence.

Now should I call CIC to inform my recent long absence or do nothing, or just explain to the officer during the interview?

Please help someone.

 

[noolan]

IMHO there is no point informing them now. Just explain it to the Officer.

Don't want to scare you but please prepare yourself for tough questions.

 

[torontonian2003]

Informing them of your travels AFTER you applied I understand has more to do with making sure you're not scheduled for a test or interview or oath while you're out of the country. CIC is more particular about the accuracy of those reported absences immediately prior to the day you signed your application as these are the ones that are counted to calculate that you've met the miminum physical residency requirement.

 

[us2yow]

Kamloops,

Please keep us posted on this posting of how it went so we can all benefit from your account of the experience. Good Luck !

 

[canadiancoops]

I personally wouldnt mention it at all. Has no impact on the residence calculations as after application and any dates travelled after the application where not mentioned in my interview. I spent over 3 weeks in UK wihtout telling anyone and got oath date no problem.

 

[u4g5]

i dont see a problem here.
for 1. u have every right to leave and entry the country for legitimate reason.
2. spending 5 months in a foreign doesnt establish the ground of " no intention to reside in Canada", thus they cant reject ur application for this.
3. just be confident, u did nothing wrong and u will get ur citizenship! cuz u have lived in the country for 1095 days b4 applying! they cant ignore the fact u have fulfilled your duty!

 

[rayman_m]

As per CIC an applicant "SHOULD" inform only if they only leave Canada more than 2 weeks. Here the interpretation of word "SHOULD" is not same as word meaning "MUST". Informing CIC before leaving the country is not a mandatory issue if an applicant is sure about CIC mail access and thus able to return for test or oath on time. But letting CIC know is mostly for self convenience specially when application is in 3rd or 4th month processing zone and anticipating test date soon (2014 onward applications are moving fast) so that CIC does not schedule a test or oath if for any reason may not be able to return as planned.

So the bottom line is, you did not make any mistake neither CIC officer will seek an explanation why you did not inform CIC before leaving the country (legally they not obliged to do so) as long as you did not miss out test/interview date..

 

[u4g5]

As per CIC an applicant "SHOULD" inform only if they only leave Canada more than 2 weeks. Here the interpretation of word "SHOULD" is not same as word meaning "MUST". Informing CIC before leaving the country is not a mandatory issue if an applicant is sure about CIC mail access and thus able to return for test or oath on time. But letting CIC know is mostly for self convenience specially when application is in 3rd or 4th month processing zone and anticipating test date soon (2014 onward applications are moving fast) so that CIC does not schedule a test or oath if for any reason may not be able to return as planned.

So the bottom line is, you did not make any mistake neither CIC officer will seek an explanation why you did not inform CIC before leaving the country (legally they not obliged to do so) as long as you did not miss out test/interview date..

where do you see this "SHOULD" ?
I know a lots ppl left Canada right after they submit citizenship application. Guess that isnt an allowable practice anymore soon.

 

[chakrab]

where do you see this "SHOULD" ?
I know a lots ppl left Canada right after they submit citizenship application. Guess that isnt an allowable practice anymore soon.

no one is saying someone can't leave the country but it is wise to let CIC know. there are lot of people complaining that they are out of country and CIC has scheduled an exam. CIC usually gives a week or so notice for test, so it's tough to return back to canada at such short time.

 

[rayman_m]

Quote from CIC Website:

While we process your application, you should only contact CIC if:

you change your address,
you plan to leave Canada for more than two weeks in a row

 

[chakrab]

I left Canada after applying for citizenship to visit my wife and stayed for about 5 months. I have a citizenship test in about 12 days. I did not advise CIC before leaving so that they note the reasons of my absence.

Now should I call CIC to inform my recent long absence or do nothing, or just explain to the officer during the interview?

Please help someone.

on a different note, why is your wife outside? have you applied for her residency? the officer may ask you that question to verify your intent of staying in canada.

 

[rayman_m]

As leaving without informing CIC is not a mandatory, but yes I agree with other post, while one has pro-longed absence from Canada, CIC may look at deeper into the other factors like as: intention of residing, ties with Canada etc. etc. and thus officer may not give too much thought on absence legitimacy and decide to issue RQ to know more about the applicant..

 

[Kamloops]

on a different note, why is your wife outside? have you applied for her residency? the officer may ask you that question to verify your intent of staying in canada.

Thanks everyone for wonderful information. My wife is outside and I applied about 9 months ago, VO is Singapore. Probably it will take another year for her to immigrate. This is why I spent 5 months outside Canada and may have to go again after few months. I left my full time job and will seek a full time when she comes here.

 

[scylla]

Thanks everyone for wonderful information. My wife is outside and I applied about 9 months ago, VO is Singapore. Probably it will take another year for her to immigrate. This is why I spent 5 months outside Canada and may have to go again after few months. I left my full time job and will seek a full time when she comes here.

You're risking a refusal of your wife's PR application by remaining outside of Canada for so long. Since you are a PR, you must be residing in Canada for the duration of your wife's application processing (i.e. from beginning to end) to qualify as her sponsor. Occasional short trips (e.g. three weeks) outside of Canada are fine. Anything longer and you're definitely creating the risk her PR application will be refused because you are no longer residing in Canada.