Docs needed to prove presence in Canada

[people]

Hi,

I am interested in knowing about the main documents needed for proving presence in Canada .Do we need to prove presence for every month or day before applying for citizenship.
Moreover can anyone leave Canada for long period such as overseas studies,after completing 1095 days requirement and applying for citizenship.Is this long absence going to affect his application and make Citizenship judge doubtful about his future intents.Plz explain

Thanks

 

[matthewc]

You have to declare all absences from Canada. You don't have to specifically show proof you were in Canada at the time of applying, but could be required to if called for an interview with a citizenship judge. I would expect CIC checks their computer systems to see if you've been coming or going from Canada (from when they swipe your passport / PR card) and whether those absences are declared on your application.

You have to be resident in Canada for 3 years out of the 4 years immediately before you sign the application, so if you complete the 1095 days in Canada, but then leave for more than 1 year without applying, you'd have to start again building up the required physical presence when you got back.

As long as you clearly meet the physical presence requirement, you're unlikely to be called for an interview with a citizenship judge. If you leave for a long period after applying for citizenship in those circumstances, I don't think it matters too much, but you would have to be in Canada if they call you for an interview and to get citizenship. They don't always give you a great deal of notice to write the test / appear for the oath.

If you leave when you don't clearly meet the requirements, then sure it could count against you if it's apparent you aren't really established in Canada.

 

[erikvirgo]

"You have to declare all absences from Canada. You don't have to specifically show proof you were in Canada at the time of applying, but could be required to if called for an interview with a citizenship judge. I would expect CIC checks their computer systems to see if you've been coming or going from Canada (from when they swipe your passport / PR card) and whether those absences are declared on your application...."

MatthewC or others - are the computer systems - where passport is scanned or PR card is swiped - applied in the borders between US and Canada? Or this is just mainly in the airports?

 

[AllisonVSC]

Mine gets swiped every time I enter Canada by car though when going to the US (I'm an American citizen) they rarely do so.

 

[AllisonVSC]

You have to declare all absences from Canada. You don't have to specifically show proof you were in Canada at the time of applying, but could be required to if called for an interview with a citizenship judge. I would expect CIC checks their computer systems to see if you've been coming or going from Canada (from when they swipe your passport / PR card) and whether those absences are declared on your application.

You have to be resident in Canada for 3 years out of the 4 years immediately before you sign the application, so if you complete the 1095 days in Canada, but then leave for more than 1 year without applying, you'd have to start again building up the required physical presence when you got back.

As long as you clearly meet the physical presence requirement, you're unlikely to be called for an interview with a citizenship judge. If you leave for a long period after applying for citizenship in those circumstances, I don't think it matters too much, but you would have to be in Canada if they call you for an interview and to get citizenship. They don't always give you a great deal of notice to write the test / appear for the oath.

If you leave when you don't clearly meet the requirements, then sure it could count against you if it's apparent you aren't really established in Canada.

Hi matthewc, just a clarifying question, if you don't mind. You mention that you have to be a "resident in Canada" for 3 of the 4 years before applying for citizenship. In the next paragraph you use the phrase "physical presence requirement". Does that mean if you vacation (short ones, weeks not months) out of Canada that you must compensate for those days by adding to the three years? Is it necessary to accrue and account for 1095 or more actual days in the 4 year period? Or is it sufficient to be a resident for 3 years with short trips (annual vacations etc) having no consequence?

Your thoughts as well as anybody else's are appreciated! Allison

 

[PommeDeRoute]

Hello,

All absences need to be declared, even the short ones. The only short absences that do not need to be declared are those of 1 day or less outside of Canada, like if you spend the day shopping in the US and return to Canada the same day. Basically they want to know anytime you spend 24 consecutive hours or more outside the country.

P.d.R.

 

[people]

thanks everyone for the inputs.