Letter of Explanation with Citizenship Application

[Gurghum]

Hello all Members junior and senior,

I would like your input on the info given to me by an RCIC after a consultation regarding citizenship application. My background, I got my PR under PNP through Alberta as an inland applicant who have always lived in Alberta for study and work, but after being granted PR 6 months after I got a better opportunity an hour away in a BC small town (I was in an Alberta city close to BC border) so I moved there. So I consulted an RCIC about citizenship application as I am approaching my eligibility date. And was advised to also send a letter of explanation with my application for why I moved and reasons regarding that. I want input from members who had similar situation as me or have an idea if you guys also sent such a letter because you moved provinces (is it a standard process) or it might do more harm than good to send such a letter in as for delays due to extra paperwork which wasn’t necessary. Just clueless, so any help would be appreciated!

 

[SSR88]

Timeline:
1) Came as a student and landed in Canada on September 21, 2021.

2) Got my PR in February, 2024.

3) When should I apply for my citizenship?

 

[canuck78]

Hello all Members junior and senior,

I would like your input on the info given to me by an RCIC after a consultation regarding citizenship application. My background, I got my PR under PNP through Alberta as an inland applicant who have always lived in Alberta for study and work, but after being granted PR 6 months after I got a better opportunity an hour away in a BC small town (I was in an Alberta city close to BC border) so I moved there. So I consulted an RCIC about citizenship application as I am approaching my eligibility date. And was advised to also send a letter of explanation with my application for why I moved and reasons regarding that. I want input from members who had similar situation as me or have an idea if you guys also sent such a letter because you moved provinces (is it a standard process) or it might do more harm than good to send such a letter in as for delays due to extra paperwork which wasn’t necessary. Just clueless, so any help would be appreciated!

IRCC cracking down on whether people remained in their PNP province is relatively recent. As previously stated you actually remained employed in Alberta for 6 months and moved to a border community in a smaller community in BC. Assume the real targets are those who leave within weeks of getting PR and moved from smaller provinces to places like the GTA. You can certainly include a letter explaining your longterm employment in Alberta and how you moved to a neighbouring small community close by after 6 months for a similar position but it is in BC. Employment in smaller communities and people remaining in similar positions unlikely to be a target of any crackdowns. As a PR you do have freedom of movement and you didn’t misrepresent your intention to remain in Alberta and future employment in Alberta during PNP.

 

[steaky]

Timeline:
1) Came as a student and landed in Canada on September 21, 2021.

2) Got my PR in February, 2024.

3) When should I apply for my citizenship?

This is a question for yourself. You can apply for citizenship once you physically live in Canada for 1095 days.

 

[SSR88]

For 2 years and 3 months I was on temporary visa status..can I include that time also?

Like how does the count happen for the 1095 days?

 

[Gurghum]

IRCC cracking down on whether people remained in their PNP province is relatively recent. As previously stated you actually remained employed in Alberta for 6 months and moved to a border community in a smaller community in BC. Assume the real targets are those who leave within weeks of getting PR and moved from smaller provinces to places like the GTA. You can certainly include a letter explaining your longterm employment in Alberta and how you moved to a neighbouring small community close by after 6 months for a similar position but it is in BC. Employment in smaller communities and people remaining in similar positions unlikely to be a target of any crackdowns. As a PR you do have freedom of movement and you didn’t misrepresent your intention to remain in Alberta and future employment in Alberta during PNP.

Thank you so much, yeah your answer makes sense! And helps too! Have you come across where an applicant was asked in citizenship interview about this? That was also brought up by the RCIC I talked to as that they might ask or might not but its only in interview it comes up. He said he hasn’t seen anyone get denied citizenship even if they are asked about it so nothing to worry about, but just something to be aware of. I was hoping to know if in your experience you have seen someone being asked in interview about this? Thanks

 

[Seym]

For 2 years and 3 months I was on temporary visa status..can I include that time also?

Like how does the count happen for the 1095 days?

1) no need to ask unrelated questions in someone else's thread.
2) it would have taken you less time to google it than to ask here, and you would have found out that the time spent as a student counts as 50%, of which you can accumulate a year.

 

[canuck78]

Thank you so much, yeah your answer makes sense! And helps too! Have you come across where an applicant was asked in citizenship interview about this? That was also brought up by the RCIC I talked to as that they might ask or might not but its only in interview it comes up. He said he hasn’t seen anyone get denied citizenship even if they are asked about it so nothing to worry about, but just something to be aware of. I was hoping to know if in your experience you have seen someone being asked in interview about this? Thanks

I really think you are overthinking this. You are unlikely to need a special interview your application doesn’t seem to have any red flags at this point.

 

[canuck78]

Timeline:
1) Came as a student and landed in Canada on September 21, 2021.

2) Got my PR in February, 2024.

3) When should I apply for my citizenship?

Starting in February 2026 if you don’t leave Canada during the next 2 years.