I just realized I forgot to mention a week of travel to Mexico in my "Absences from Canada" section in the Physical Presence Calculator. I had just landed in Canada a week prior to my trip, as a visitor, and came back to Canada after the 7 days as a visitor. I did list this period in the "time spent in Canada as a protected person" so it looks that there's a gap... Should I contact the IRRC? what should I do? will my application be returned to me?
As per my signature my application is currently on route to NS
Edit: The trip was 4 years ago and according to the guide, we only need to include "
all the times you spent
outside Canada in
3 out of the last 5 years."
I didn't leave Canada in the last 3 years but I still listed my absence from Canada from 5 years ago prior to moving here. How badly did I mess this up?
Every trip right from your first entry into Canada in the past 5 (eligibility period) years must be entered in the physical presence calculator. If you did not have any temporary residence status in Canada and you landed for the very first time in Canada as a PR within the last 5 years, you should only enter all the trips you took to travel outside Canada after you became a Permanent Resident.
I'm not clear on what your situation is, could you please elaborate. In the last 5 years, when did you enter Canada on what status? When did you get your PR? How many times did you leave Canada since becoming a PR (and the duration of each trip)? How many times did you leave Canada before becoming a PR from Canada (and the duration of each trip)?
If you've already sent the application, the only thing I can think of now is fill out a webform, attach a new physical presence calculator, let them know that you've made a mistake in the physical presence calculator you submitted with your application and ask them to attach the new one to your file. Not sure if they'll be able to do that before you receive an AOR but give it a try.
Did you at least apply with a buffer? If you subtract the number of days you were outside Canada for this trip to Mexico, do you still have over 1095 days of physical presence? If yes, then the webform approach will work. If no, then it is best that you send a new application and withdraw the old one because you should have at least 1095 days of physical presence on the day before you sign your citizenship application.
May be someone who was in a similar situation can weigh in.
PS: Applications will only be returned if you miss something completely (have gaps in history or missed a checkbox or a document). They won't return your file for this. Not trying to scare you here but there is a non-zero chance for this to be considered misrepresentation. That is why, try to remedy it right from the beginning and save all the communication you send to IRCC regarding this. Send in a webform immediately as mentioned above.