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javajavajoc

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May 26, 2025
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Hello there!

I'm already studying in Canada, and my SP was approved in june 2024.
When I applied for my study permit to come to Canada, I didn’t include one of the nationalities I held at the time because I thought it wasn’t relevant and wouldn’t affect my application.

Now I’m worried that not including that nationality might be seen as a misrepresentation later on if I try to extend my stay or apply for permanent residency. I’m also concerned that if I contact immigration authorities to explain, it might cause problems or even risk deportation, despite my intention to be honest.
This really sucks, and it is totally my fault! Has anyone been in a similar situation? How did you handle it, and what was the outcome

Thanks in advance!
 
Hello there!

I'm already studying in Canada, and my SP was approved in june 2024.
When I applied for my study permit to come to Canada, I didn’t include one of the nationalities I held at the time because I thought it wasn’t relevant and wouldn’t affect my application.

Now I’m worried that not including that nationality might be seen as a misrepresentation later on if I try to extend my stay or apply for permanent residency. I’m also concerned that if I contact immigration authorities to explain, it might cause problems or even risk deportation, despite my intention to be honest.
This really sucks, and it is totally my fault! Has anyone been in a similar situation? How did you handle it, and what was the outcome

Thanks in advance!

Get advice from an immigration lawyer.
 
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I'm already studying in Canada, and my SP was approved in june 2024.
When I applied for my study permit to come to Canada, I didn’t include one of the nationalities I held at the time because I thought it wasn’t relevant and wouldn’t affect my application.
I agree you should get advice. It may not be a big deal, but that may also depend on the nationality in question - and other factors like how much you've travelled there, hold the passport, etc.
 
Hello there!

I'm already studying in Canada, and my SP was approved in june 2024.
When I applied for my study permit to come to Canada, I didn’t include one of the nationalities I held at the time because I thought it wasn’t relevant and wouldn’t affect my application.

Now I’m worried that not including that nationality might be seen as a misrepresentation later on if I try to extend my stay or apply for permanent residency. I’m also concerned that if I contact immigration authorities to explain, it might cause problems or even risk deportation, despite my intention to be honest.
This really sucks, and it is totally my fault! Has anyone been in a similar situation? How did you handle it, and what was the outcome

Thanks in advance!
https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/i-2.5/section-40.html

Why would you feel a citizenship you hold would not be relevant ?
 
https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/i-2.5/section-40.html

Why would you feel a citizenship you hold would not be relevant ?
This is of course true, misrepresentation - but the question of import in this is whether it's material. And what's material is not always obvious, and can be somewhat subjective.

EG: someone who got Irish or Danish citizenship while a child through their parentage, doesn't hold a passport, and never travelled there - almost certainly not material. (And yes, we've definitely seen cases where people did not even know their parents had ever registered for the citizenship).

Someone with North Korean citizenship with passport obtained while an adult who's also hid other material links with DPRK - problem!

In between - it depends.
 
I agree you should get advice. It may not be a big deal, but that may also depend on the nationality in question - and other factors like how much you've travelled there, hold the passport, etc.
On my SP application, the country of the omitted nationality is not mentioned, I didn't put it anywhere on the SP application other than the birth place of my parents, but I did travel there and live there already, which makes it a tricky situation because it looks like im tryna hide something!
 
On my SP application, the country of the omitted nationality is not mentioned, I didn't put it anywhere on the SP application other than the birth place of my parents, but I did travel there and live there already, which makes it a tricky situation because it looks like im tryna hide something!

Talk to a lawyer
 
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I thought since my other nationalities are more relevant to Canada (European passports) instead of an African one. Looking back, I genuinly was stupid, and i thought that including that would lower my chances of getting a SP

On my SP application, the country of the omitted nationality is not mentioned, I didn't put it anywhere on the SP application other than the birth place of my parents, but I did travel there and live there already, which makes it a tricky situation because it looks like im tryna hide something!
This is motivated reasoning on your part, and you've now just disclosed to us that you CHOSE to leave out information that you thought relevant (if you thought it relevant, no reason to think IRCC would not also think so).

You wanted to pick and choose, but the question - as I recall - was about OTHER citizenships (you had already disclosed on the form the passport you travel on & that you presumably thought was more convenient, that was probably also your country of birth). And it turns out that you were living in the other country! (where, by the way, IRCC might well ask on what basis you were residing there)

You turned what was probably nothing at all had you just disclosed and that would likely not have been an issue into admitting actual misrepresentation (you just admitted that you thought it was material).

This is why you should speak to a lawyer. Probably still won't be a big deal but a lawyer should be able to keep you from making things worse.
 
This is motivated reasoning on your part, and you've now just disclosed to us that you CHOSE to leave out information that you thought relevant (if you thought it relevant, no reason to think IRCC would not also think so).

You wanted to pick and choose, but the question - as I recall - was about OTHER citizenships (you had already disclosed on the form the passport you travel on & that you presumably thought was more convenient, that was probably also your country of birth). And it turns out that you were living in the other country! (where, by the way, IRCC might well ask on what basis you were residing there)

You turned what was probably nothing at all had you just disclosed and that would likely not have been an issue into admitting actual misrepresentation (you just admitted that you thought it was material).

This is why you should speak to a lawyer. Probably still won't be a big deal but a lawyer should be able to keep you from making things worse.
Yes, I said the truth on here because its literally pointless to lie, so yeah I did pick and choose and as I said already, "I was stupid" and I shouldn't have done that, and I overcomplicated a situation but its because i thought it was cause problem, people coming from that country were getting reiected due to high amounts of people who get visas then overstay, so I didn't wanna be one of them, and raise concerns, I am gonna go to a lawyer asap, but I wanted to see what other people thought if there were in that situation. Thanks guys,
 
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Hello there!

I'm already studying in Canada, and my SP was approved in june 2024.
When I applied for my study permit to come to Canada, I didn’t include one of the nationalities I held at the time because I thought it wasn’t relevant and wouldn’t affect my application.

Now I’m worried that not including that nationality might be seen as a misrepresentation later on if I try to extend my stay or apply for permanent residency. I’m also concerned that if I contact immigration authorities to explain, it might cause problems or even risk deportation, despite my intention to be honest.
This really sucks, and it is totally my fault! Has anyone been in a similar situation? How did you handle it, and what was the outcome

Thanks in advance!
You're right to be thinking ahead, and your concern about potential misrepresentation is valid. In Canadian immigration law, not disclosing relevant information can be considered misrepresentation, even if it wasn't intentional. That said, context really matters.
 
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Yes, I said the truth on here because its literally pointless to lie, so yeah I did pick and choose and as I said already, "I was stupid" and I shouldn't have done that, and I overcomplicated a situation but its because i thought it was cause problem, people coming from that country were getting reiected due to high amounts of people who get visas then overstay, so I didn't wanna be one of them, and raise concerns, I am gonna go to a lawyer asap, but I wanted to see what other people thought if there were in that situation. Thanks guys,
Sorry if that sounded harsh.

In the end, it may not be much of an issue.
 
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I know how overwhelming this process can feel. It’s normal to be worried when things take time. Try to stay organized and reach out whenever you need advice. There are lots of people here who understand exactly what you’re going through. Keep your head up and take it one day at a time.
 
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My file is stuck and i haven't received any meaningful update from IRCC.
I submitted a complete application for Permanent Residence under the Self-Employed Federal Program, which was received by IRCC on June 15, 2020.
IRCC did not acknowledge receipt of my application until September 12, 2023.
As of May'25, only the criminality check has been completed.
No progress has been made on the eligibility, medical, or security assessments.

I have made numerous attempts to follow up with IRCC including: Webform submissions, Phone calls but got no update.
 
My file is stuck and i haven't received any meaningful update from IRCC.
I submitted a complete application for Permanent Residence under the Self-Employed Federal Program, which was received by IRCC on June 15, 2020.
IRCC did not acknowledge receipt of my application until September 12, 2023.
As of May'25, only the criminality check has been completed.
No progress has been made on the eligibility, medical, or security assessments.

I have made numerous attempts to follow up with IRCC including: Webform submissions, Phone calls but got no update.

Post to the Business Immigration section