Leaving Canada after submitting application

[Elkam123]

Hello;

I spent the required time in Canada (4 years) and I had a job there and my kids in school and all. Now I want to submit my application and leave Canada to go back to my home country for two years. I will still have my Canadian mailing address and I will be visiting Canada often and I can return any time in needed for a test or oath. But I will be most of the time outside Canada.

With the ongoing delays the interview could be one or more year from now. I am sure I can prove that I spent 4 years in Canada. But it will be clear I no longer live that, although I have ties (own a house).

Will that cause any problems or delays?

 

[akmh1b]

https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/relocating-outside-of-canada-and-pending-citizenship-application.545612/

 

[Elkam123]

https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/relocating-outside-of-canada-and-pending-citizenship-application.545612/

Thank you for the reply.
I have no intentions to hide and facts from the IRCC.

I have already completed the necessary days in Canada to apply. But I will leave right after application.

The address issue: I can keep the house rented and ask friends to check the mail for me every two weeks. This is a costly option! Is there another option to monitor the mail after leaving, for example, changing the mailing address to a friend's address, so that they can receive the mail for me? I will be clear that I left Canada, and no longer live in my first address and this new address is that of a friend.

Is that ok to do?

 

[smash1984]

Thank you for the reply.
I have no intentions to hide and facts from the IRCC.

I have already completed the necessary days in Canada to apply. But I will leave right after application.

The address issue: I can keep the house rented and ask friends to check the mail for me every two weeks. This is a costly option! Is there another option to monitor the mail after leaving, for example, changing the mailing address to a friend's address, so that they can receive the mail for me? I will be clear that I left Canada, and no longer live in my first address and this new address is that of a friend.

Is that ok to do?

I believe so, there was a recent thread on this issue in this sub-forum (with lots of fighting going on as well) but what you are trying to do seems perfectly fine.

In fact somebody (in Spain I think) informed the IRCC that they were living abroad when they left and still came back for the test, oath, etc. Look up that thread, it will be useful for you.

 

[bourney0]

As for maintaining a mailbox in Canada, one of these services may prove useful. I use one in the USA for my business and love it. Every time they receive a piece of mail someone scans it and I receive a notification and link via email.

https://www.yoreoyster.com/blog/virtual-mailbox/

 

[Elkam123]

As for maintaining a mailbox in Canada, one of these services may prove useful. I use one in the USA for my business and love it. Every time they receive a piece of mail someone scans it and I receive a notification and link via email.

https://www.yoreoyster.com/blog/virtual-mailbox/

Thank you for the reply. But if during the interview I am asked about this mailing address, is it ok to say that this is a paid service?

 

[canuck78]

Thank you for the reply.
I have no intentions to hide and facts from the IRCC.

I have already completed the necessary days in Canada to apply. But I will leave right after application.

The address issue: I can keep the house rented and ask friends to check the mail for me every two weeks. This is a costly option! Is there another option to monitor the mail after leaving, for example, changing the mailing address to a friend's address, so that they can receive the mail for me? I will be clear that I left Canada, and no longer live in my first address and this new address is that of a friend.

Is that ok to do?

You should make sure you remain compliant with your RO for your PR status.

 

[Elkam123]

You should make sure you remain compliant with your RO for your PR status.

I will apply in March 2021. My PR card expires Sept 2021. But I'm eligible for renewal since I spent more than 3 years in Canada.

I want to have the new card before the old one expires, so I can travel back to Canada at short notice once I have a test invite. I read reports of people applying to renew card and having to wait for months. I know I can travel on a prtd, but the card will give me access to traveling at short notice and not miss the test.

 

[harirajmohan]

Thank you for the reply. But if during the interview I am asked about this mailing address, is it ok to say that this is a paid service?

officer is not interested in knowing whether its a paid service or not. You can give any address as mailing address(can be friend's, relative's or po box too).

I will apply in March 2021. My PR card expires Sept 2021. But I'm eligible for renewal since I spent more than 3 years in Canada.

I want to have the new card before the old one expires, so I can travel back to Canada at short notice once I have a test invite. I read reports of people applying to renew card and having to wait for months. I know I can travel on a prtd, but the card will give me access to traveling at short notice and not miss the test.

If you want your card earlier then why wait till March to apply as you can apply within 270 days of expiry.

 

[bourney0]

Thank you for the reply. But if during the interview I am asked about this mailing address, is it ok to say that this is a paid service?

As harirajmohan says above, the officer will not care whether or not you are using a paid service. If they ask whether it is your home address you can tell them that it is your permanent mailing address since your home address changes from time to time.

 

[hungnguyen]

Hello everyone, I have a related question, can I leave Canada right after submitting the citizenship application or should I wait until I receive the AOR?

 

[smash1984]

Hello everyone, I have a related question, can I leave Canada right after submitting the citizenship application or should I wait until I receive the AOR?

You can leave right after submitting, but you should wait until you get your AOR.

 

[Lomi90]

I am trying to find a bit of an understanding on this topic myself.

I am moving to Europe early Feb 2021 for two years. My application is currently 'in process' on ECAS. Just curious if all I needed to do was update my home address on ECAS to my abroad address and use a mailing address of a friend or relative within Canada? Would this be enough for IRCC to keep my application going and not get in trouble with them for some reason?

Unfortunately no one knows what will happen with the tests and I am not expecting I will have this done before I move. Is it then likely that I will have to fly to Canada for the test, return back abroad and then fly in again for the oath? What is the usual time frame between the test and oath invite (pre-covid)? And I assume that after the oath has been taken I would have to stay in Canada until I receive my passport since I would have to destroy my PR card. Or can I apply for a passport abroad with just the certificate?

Sorry for the many questions but I would like to be prepared for everything. Thank you!

 

[BOYX]

I am trying to find a bit of an understanding on this topic myself.

I am moving to Europe early Feb 2021 for two years. My application is currently 'in process' on ECAS. Just curious if all I needed to do was update my home address on ECAS to my abroad address and use a mailing address of a friend or relative within Canada? Would this be enough for IRCC to keep my application going and not get in trouble with them for some reason?

Unfortunately no one knows what will happen with the tests and I am not expecting I will have this done before I move. Is it then likely that I will have to fly to Canada for the test, return back abroad and then fly in again for the oath? What is the usual time frame between the test and oath invite (pre-covid)? And I assume that after the oath has been taken I would have to stay in Canada until I receive my passport since I would have to destroy my PR card. Or can I apply for a passport abroad with just the certificate?

Sorry for the many questions but I would like to be prepared for everything. Thank you!

Well with no testing (that anyone here knows of) occurring after the March halt, your guess is honestly as good as ours.

If I were to speculate based on the past, I would say it’s quite likely you would have to fly twice. Usually it would be around a couple of months at best between testing and the oath. Post COVID, I am willing to bet this timeline would be much longer given the backlog. However, someone could argue with reason that it shouldn’t affect the timeline.

As for the passport, you can apply for it abroad. Just have your friend mail the certificate to you OR pick it up yourself, whatever you’re comfortable with. Although, I wonder how you’ll be able to enter the country without a PR Card up until you receive your passport, so keep that restriction in mind. I believe you’re legally forbidden from entering into your home country on a foreign passport.

 

[Lomi90]

Well with no testing (that anyone here knows of) occurring after the March halt, your guess is honestly as good as ours.

If I were to speculate based on the past, I would say it’s quite likely you would have to fly twice. Usually it would be around a couple of months at best between testing and the oath. Post COVID, I am willing to bet this timeline would be much longer given the backlog. However, someone could argue with reason that it shouldn’t affect the timeline.

As for the passport, you can apply for it abroad. Just have your friend mail the certificate to you OR pick it up yourself, whatever you’re comfortable with. Although, I wonder how you’ll be able to enter the country without a PR Card up until you receive your passport, so keep that restriction in mind. I believe you’re legally forbidden from entering into your home country on a foreign passport.

This is of great help! Thank you so much and I will keep everything in mind that you have explained. Let's see what happens with the testing... lol