Out of the Canada for 3 and a half years.Would it affect my eligibility for Grant for Citizenship

[theafranco]

Hello everyone! I just received my notice to take the citizenship on Feb 20,2015.

I applied for the citizenship in 2011, meeting all the residency requirements for citizenship.
Then, got engaged to my US Citizen husband and essentially lived with him in the US after my application.

I applied to renew my PR card in 2013, but I received nothing, although I still would've met the residency requirements at that time. I have proof of the copies I sent and the a copy of the payment for renewal.

Although I have not read anything of the sort, as I thought that the important timeline is the physical presence in the years prior to when I signed the application for citizenship, would being out of the country for 3.5 years deny me of the citizenship even if I am scheduled to take the test already?

I am so nervous with the interview part. If anyone knows the answer, please help!!! Thank you very much!!!

 

[shahmad]

Re: Out of the Canada for 3 and a half years.Would it affect my eligibility for Grant for Citizenshi

Hello everyone! I just received my notice to take the citizenship on Feb 20,2015.

I applied for the citizenship in 2011, meeting all the residency requirements for citizenship.
Then, got engaged to my US Citizen husband and essentially lived with him in the US after my application.

I applied to renew my PR card in 2013, but I received nothing, although I still would've met the residency requirements at that time. I have proof of the copies I sent and the a copy of the payment for renewal.

Although I have not read anything of the sort, as I thought that the important timeline is the physical presence in the years prior to when I signed the application for citizenship, would being out of the country for 3.5 years deny me of the citizenship even if I am scheduled to take the test already?

I am so nervous with the interview part. If anyone knows the answer, please help!!! Thank you very much!!!

Its a bit confusing .... you applied for citizenship in 2011 .. then what ? before leaving for USA.....did you receive any test date or any confirmation from CIC ? ...... then you applied for PR renewal in 2013 and didnt hear anything from CIC ..again the question remains what happened to your previous citizenship application ? ...... then all of a sudden you got a test date .....did you apply again or you got the test date based on your previous application in 2011?

 

[theafranco]

Re: Out of the Canada for 3 and a half years.Would it affect my eligibility for Grant for Citizenshi

I only submitted an application once. The test is based on my first only application. I did miss the first testing date because i received the notice a little too late. They sent me an RQ, then took a while again until this final notice for the test.

I applied for a renewal of my PR in 2013 because the citizenship was taking a while, but did not receive anything. I tried to follow up, but I was told to wait for a notice for that. I just figured it was because I had a citizenship application in process or maybe...they lost it?

I have been coming back to Canada since my mom and sister are citizens residing in Canada, but I'm worried that when they interview me next week, they will consider the last 5 years also from today, which would show that I have been mostly in the U.S. for 3.5 years. I didn't think of this before, since I thought what matters is the years prior to the application date.

 

[mimi23]

Re: Out of the Canada for 3 and a half years.Would it affect my eligibility for Grant for Citizenshi

Stay calm and one day at a time, don't worry , give and answer the questions only asked don't tell them if not asked and smile life is too short to worry of the things you can't control and all the best honey

I only submitted an application once. The test is based on my first only application. I did miss the first testing date because i received the notice a little too late. They sent me an RQ, then took a while again until this final notice for the test.

I applied for a renewal of my PR in 2013 because the citizenship was taking a while, but did not receive anything. I tried to follow up, but I was told to wait for a notice for that. I just figured it was because I had a citizenship application in process or maybe...they lost it?

I have been coming back to Canada since my mom and sister are citizens residing in Canada, but I'm worried that when they interview me next week, they will consider the last 5 years also from today, which would show that I have been mostly in the U.S. for 3.5 years. I didn't think of this before, since I thought what matters is the years prior to the application date.

 

[scylla]

Re: Out of the Canada for 3 and a half years.Would it affect my eligibility for Grant for Citizenshi

Your main issue is that it sounds like you no longer meet the residency requirement to keep your PR status (which is living in Canada for 2 out of the last 5 years). Even once you apply for citizenship, you must still meet the residency oblgiation for keeping your PR status.

If CIC determines you don't meet the PR residency requirement then you no longer qualify for citizenship.

All you can do is answer the questions asked truthfully and hope for the best.

 

[Zumba369]

Re: Out of the Canada for 3 and a half years.Would it affect my eligibility for Grant for Citizenshi

Hello everyone! I just received my notice to take the citizenship on Feb 20,2015.

I applied for the citizenship in 2011, meeting all the residency requirements for citizenship.
Then, got engaged to my US Citizen husband and essentially lived with him in the US after my application.

I applied to renew my PR card in 2013, but I received nothing, although I still would've met the residency requirements at that time. I have proof of the copies I sent and the a copy of the payment for renewal.

Although I have not read anything of the sort, as I thought that the important timeline is the physical presence in the years prior to when I signed the application for citizenship, would being out of the country for 3.5 years deny me of the citizenship even if I am scheduled to take the test already?

I am so nervous with the interview part. If anyone knows the answer, please help!!! Thank you very much!!!

Hi,

Your partner is an American and Canadian citizen? If he is only American, I think you have lost your PR status so you don't qualify for citizenship.

Just my 2 cents.