Help on understanding if I am a Canadian Citizen?

[kpol]

I am trying to understand how to go about obtaining Canadian citizenship and if I may already be entitled to it!

I was born in the UK in November 1977. However my Dad was born in Canada in 1948 to British parents. From what I can gather on the Canadian Citizenship and Immigration website this means my Dad is a Canadian citizen despite him not having lived there since he was 11 years old, and that I am also entitled to citizenship?

Can anyone help me to clarify this? If this is the case how do I go about obtaining citizenship? Do I fill out the "application for citizenship" forms or the "proof of citizenship" forms?

Also if I am entitled to citizenship would my partner (been together for 5 years but not married) be allowed to emigrate there with me?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[PMM]

Hi

I am trying to understand how to go about obtaining Canadian citizenship and if I may already be entitled to it!

I was born in the UK in November 1977. However my Dad was born in Canada in 1948 to British parents. From what I can gather on the Canadian Citizenship and Immigration website this means my Dad is a Canadian citizen despite him not having lived there since he was 11 years old, and that I am also entitled to citizenship?

Can anyone help me to clarify this? If this is the case how do I go about obtaining citizenship? Do I fill out the "application for citizenship" forms or the "proof of citizenship" forms?

Also if I am entitled to citizenship would my partner (been together for 5 years but not married) be allowed to emigrate there with me?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

1. You are most likely a citizen, so you have to apply for proof of citizenship. Need your father's birth certificate and your long birth certificate.
2. You would have to sponsor your partner for permanent residence. The applications are here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/fc.asp
3. You can do that while residing abroad, but first you have to obtain your proof. You will require a statement with the sponsorship as to what your plans are if your spouse is issued a visa in Canada.

 

[kpol]

Hi PMM,

Thanks so much for your help, do you have any ideas on timescales for obtaining the proof of citizenship? I guess I can only start the sponsorship proceedings once I have my proof? Is there any kind of visa my partner could obtain to come over with me and do the sponsorship whilst living there?

Thanks

 

[Leon]

It takes over a year to get a citizenship certificate but if you ask for it to be expedited because of your immediate plans to move to Canada, you might get it faster. As for your spouse, if they are visa exempt to visit Canada, they can come with you as a visitor but would not be allowed to work until they get their PR.

 

[kpol]

Thanks for your help! I'm going to get on with the Proof of Citizenship application as I know that can take months, Ill then work out what I need to do to sponsor my partner once that application is in!

For the Proof of Citizenship application I'm struggling to know what documentation to send. Am I allowed to send certified copies or should I send originals? I need to send :

1) A birth certificate which lists your parents - planning to send certified copy, if i can get one.

2) Proof that one or both of your natural parents were Canadian citizens when you were born - guessing they will want my Dad's Canadian birth certificate

3) Two (2) pieces of personal identification, such as a driver’s license and a health insurance card, one of which must have your photo on it - Drivers license is fine, will send certified copy, as for another piece of ID I'm assuming a passport will suffice?

Is there a website anyone knows of that lists all of the specific forms of ID that are acceptable?



Thanks!

 

[Leon]

Drivers license and passport should be fine.