HELP! A citizen got rejected for Canada Child Tax Benefit for residency status

[KLG]

I have become a Canadian citizen in 2005 and have been residing in Canada ever since.
However, after I applied for CCTB for my newborn in January 2014 through the Vital Statistics Agency (which claims that you can apply for CCTB at the same time when you register the birth of your baby on their website), I received a letter from CRA rejecting my application because "I do not meet the residency requirement".

It was a shock to me as I have been lawfully filing income tax return every year since I landed in Canada in 2001 and I have a full time job for couple years.... of course I did provide my SIN when I applied for CCTB.
It's also very disturbing as it was a lengthy waiting period - it took the CRA about 4 months to gather the wrong information!
As frustrated as I was, I called the CRA, only to get told that I should write a formal appeal letter and send it along with the proof of my citizenship - a copy of my citizenship card - and then everything should sort out in 3 weeks.
When I questioned the rep on the phone as to why they denied my application for residency reason, he said "becuase we don't have your immigration status on file".... is it possible at all???
I'd really like to know if CRA doesn't have our immigration status in Canada based on our SIN after someone's been filing tax return for more than 10 years.

Another outrageous letter arrived 3 weeks later after I sent an objection letter and a copy of my citizenship card.
Besides lots of blah blah blah, it said that there will be someone contacting me to discuss my case in 3-6 months, based on their current case load.
Can someone please tell me how hard it is to solve a simple case like this - a case that the CRA mistakenly rejected using the wrong info at the first place?

Has anyone ever experienced similar situation?
I really want to file a complain but does someone know any more efficient way?

P.s. my husband is also a Canadian citizen for couple years and has been filing tax return every year.
I really don't know why a simple application can get this complicated provided with all necessary document..

Any thoughts or advice is greatly appreciated..

 

[salem10]

I have become a Canadian citizen in 2005 and have been residing in Canada ever since.
However, after I applied for CCTB for my newborn in January 2014 through the Vital Statistics Agency (which claims that you can apply for CCTB at the same time when you register the birth of your baby on their website), I received a letter from CRA rejecting my application because "I do not meet the residency requirement".

It was a shock to me as I have been lawfully filing income tax return every year since I landed in Canada in 2001 and I have a full time job for couple years.... of course I did provide my SIN when I applied for CCTB.
It's also very disturbing as it was a lengthy waiting period - it took the CRA about 4 months to gather the wrong information!
As frustrated as I was, I called the CRA, only to get told that I should write a formal appeal letter and send it along with the proof of my citizenship - a copy of my citizenship card - and then everything should sort out in 3 weeks.
When I questioned the rep on the phone as to why they denied my application for residency reason, he said "becuase we don't have your immigration status on file".... is it possible at all???
I'd really like to know if CRA doesn't have our immigration status in Canada based on our SIN after someone's been filing tax return for more than 10 years.

Another outrageous letter arrived 3 weeks later after I sent an objection letter and a copy of my citizenship card.
Besides lots of blah blah blah, it said that there will be someone contacting me to discuss my case in 3-6 months, based on their current case load.
Can someone please tell me how hard it is to solve a simple case like this - a case that the CRA mistakenly rejected using the wrong info at the first place?

Has anyone ever experienced similar situation?
I really want to file a complain but does someone know any more efficient way?

P.s. my husband is also a Canadian citizen for couple years and has been filing tax return every year.
I really don't know why a simple application can get this complicated provided with all necessary document..

Any thoughts or advice is greatly appreciated..

Hi, don't worry. Every this will be sort out and solved. I had similar experience with CRA. They stopped my CTB at some time and sent me a letter or illegibility. I sent complain with full information file with documents (more than 60 pages). They replied similar to you, an officer will contact you in 4-6 months based on load ..." I received first contact after a bout 9 months. And the hole problem were solved in about 12 months.
What I want to say to you is if you sent all document they need, they put it in order to the CRA's officer who is responsible to review complaints. This files are in order and they cannot advance a file over others. So, they expect to review your submission in 4 - 6 months.

I am not sure, but I remember that there is fast track to solve dispute with CRA if the value under investigation is less that $1200. Please review "solve dispute" section on CRA website.

Best,

 

[jazibkg]

CRA may not have files or the information relating to other agencies such as CIC/CBSA. Our biggest problem is that we think that everything has a centralized database which is all linked, which is not the case.

My brother's application had a similar issue and we had to send over copies of our immigration papers to prove status.

 

[KLG]

Thank you both for your input.
I guess I'll just have to re-send all supporting document to CRA, and wait... and wait....
It's just very frustrating to see all the inefficiency when things can be more simplified.