Not sure how to specify Physical Presence if lived outside Canada during eligibility period

[Resolver]

Hi,

I'm finalizing documentation for Citizenship Application, and I have a question as for to how fill the form and Physical Presence Calculator.

The situation is following:
- I arrived to Canada as Skilled Worker in the beginning of 2015.
- I became PR at the end of 2015.
- I'm applying at 2018, which makes my eligibility period (as specified in calculator) 2013 to 2018.
- I also have been travelling to Canada as a tourist couple of times, before coming to live there as Skilled Worker.

Now I have following questions:
1. There is a question in the form "During your eligibility period did you live outside Canada?".
Here I have a misunderstanding.
Although my eligibility period is 2013 to 2018 and I did live outside Canada during that period, this was BEFORE I arrived to Canada as landed immigrant in 2015 (work permit).
So, what should I specify here?
And if I should specify "yes" do I still have to fill out form CIT0177 even though it doesn't apply to me?

2. In Physical Presence Calculator there is a question "List time with Canadian temporary resident or protected person status".
Since I did travel to Canada during eligibility period as a visitor, but this was before coming here on work permit, do I have to specify those travels?

Thanks in advance for the info!

 

[sistemc]

Regarding 1. search other threads. This was discussed in details there.

Regarding 2. thankfully to the Canadian government also pre PR tourist visits falling into the eligibility period count toward the physical presence. So it makes sense to list them.

 

[shinyone]

1.) I would specify no. The 5-year period is more of a limit, so that you can't qualify based on time spent in Canada earlier than 5 years ago. Why complicate things by trying to justify your absence from Canada from before you were actually living there? I would include only those dates when you were living in Canada as a skilled worker, even before you were a PR.

I would advise from personal experience to make sure you have enough of a buffer around your residency requirement *as a PR* that you're not just squeaking by. If it requires delaying your citizenship application by another 6 months to get well over the threshold for 1095 days then it's better to wait. The officer we got at the interview took the residency requirement *very* seriously.

This page seems to suggest that pre-PR days in Canada will only be counted as half days:
https://eservices.cic.gc.ca/rescalc/redir.do?redir=faq

I would call the CIC help line to confirm, but I suspect your pre-PR days working in Canada (as well as tourism) will only count as half days, not full days toward the physical presence requirement.

I suspect that it will be better if you have at least 1095 qualifying days as a full PR, preferably more, rather than trying to qualify using previous trips as a tourist, though if you're on the edge then it would make sense to include them. Also, keep very detailed records to substantiate the residency days you will be calculating as part of your application - return-trip flight itineraries, hotel bookings car rental bookings abroad etc., evidence of ties to Canada like employment or school or volunteer work.

Bring it to your interview, in chronological order. Immigration officials have access to a record from CBSA of every time you returned to Canada from abroad. I believe you can also request this record from CBSA for yourself, but it's not necessary to have it. We almost got a denial at the interview even though we had waaay more than the 1095 days required (like 4+ years). They gave us a couple hours to go and compile the documentation and then resumed the interview at the end of the day. They really want you to prove it and it's best not to leave any doubt in their minds that you meet the requirement.

 

[Resolver]

Thank you so much for the reply!