Hello. We have lived in Canada for almost 5 years as PR's. My husband applied for citizenship on summer. Few months later he lost his job and I just finished my contract job too , so we decided to fly to our home country for a trip and visit our families for the winter time. A month after we've arrived to our home country my husband got an invitation for the test , hew flew back to Canada , passed the test and the interview , and got oath letter on spot. He flew then the second time and got his citizenship and Canadian passport. Upon returning to our home country he received a very good job offer which he has accepted and I also was able to return to my old workplace where I've worked before immigrating to Canada. Therefore we have decided to stay in our home country for a while. We have put our house for sale and shipped all our belongings in container. A week before we have went to the trip, I have also applied for citizenship. My application now shows in process and I believe that I'll be called soon for the test. I'm freaking out because I'm not sure if the officer can deny the certificate on grounds that we currently started our lives in other country. What should I answer on questions like "where do you live" ? or "what do you do for living"? Technically our house was not sold yet , and I have not updated "home address" in ECAS to the non Canadian one , I'm doubtful whether it can be considered as misrepresentation? In general , what are the implications of our situation and particularly myself , and what should I do ? What CIC can do ? Thank you in advance.
Living in another country - applying for citizenship.
- Thread starter Fleur88
- Start date
There is no residency requirement for Canadian citizenship anymore, only a physical presence requirement during your qualifying period. If you satisfy those requirements when you apply, you can leave the country afterwards, but you have to maintain your PR status until the oath. If your husband is a Canadian citizen and as long as you are residing with him abroad, you can't really lose PR status on residency grounds.
Keep in mind however, that IRCC currently requires a Canadian mailing address and any correspondence regarding your application will be sent there (or should be sent there). This can create logistical nightmares regarding test dates, etc. Moreover, although there is no legal bar to living abroad while your application is pending, it might pose factual issues for IRCC and cause them to look more closely at your physical presence declarations, which could delay your application and lead to possible RQ, etc. It will be your burden to prove you met the requirements.
Keep in mind however, that IRCC currently requires a Canadian mailing address and any correspondence regarding your application will be sent there (or should be sent there). This can create logistical nightmares regarding test dates, etc. Moreover, although there is no legal bar to living abroad while your application is pending, it might pose factual issues for IRCC and cause them to look more closely at your physical presence declarations, which could delay your application and lead to possible RQ, etc. It will be your burden to prove you met the requirements.
You may look at @dpenabill comments on a similar thread, should be insightful :
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/applying-from-outside-of-canada.540105/
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/applying-from-outside-of-canada.540105/