Passport stamps at the interview

[Tamara_]

Dear all,

Do I have to write down and memorize each stamp in my passport for the interview? Does he/she care about the stamps and visas before landing? Does the officer go and check each single stamp? Some stamps dates are not clear. Few of them don't say which year. How does this work?

Tamara

 

[thecoolguysam]

Dear all,

Do I have to write down and memorize each stamp in my passport for the interview? Does he/she care about the stamps and visas before landing? Does the officer go and check each single stamp? Some stamps dates are not clear. Few of them don't say which year. How does this work?

Tamara

Yes, memorize them and compare it with your online residence calculator. Usually the officer is not concerned about the stamps outside 4 years. However, the officer will check your stamps within 4 years and will compare with your online residence calculator.
For non-english stamps, get them translated.
Also, if the stamps are non readable then there could be a possibility that the officer can issue you a RQ (CIT 0171) or mini RQ (CIT 0520). Basically try to make sure that the officer does not have any doubts about your residency calculations.

 

[Tamara_]

Yes, memorize them and compare it with your online residence calculator. Usually the officer is not concerned about the stamps outside 4 years. However, the officer will check your stamps within 4 years and will compare with your online residence calculator.
For non-english stamps, get them translated.
Also, if the stamps are non readable then there could be a possibility that the officer can issue you a RQ (CIT 0171) or mini RQ (CIT 0520). Basically try to make sure that the officer does not have any doubts about your residency calculations.

Thanks thecoolguysam, One more question. Is it allowed that I speak with the officer while he/she is checking my passport. I mean telling him/her about the pages, stamps, the entry dates, the exit dates and my travel and stay in Canada?

 

[thecoolguysam]

Thanks thecoolguysam, One more question. Is it allowed that I speak with the officer while he/she is checking my passport. I mean telling him/her about the pages, stamps, the entry dates, the exit dates and my travel and stay in Canada?

Yes, you can. Be polite and patient and talk in professional manner with respect. Do not interrupt the officer while he/she is talking.
Don't overreact and don't pro-actively say anything unless he/she asks you specifically.

 

[CanV]

Dear all,

Do I have to write down and memorize each stamp in my passport for the interview? Does he/she care about the stamps and visas before landing? Does the officer go and check each single stamp? Some stamps dates are not clear. Few of them don't say which year. How does this work?

Tamara

You should get all non-english non-french stamps translated by a certified translator. All stamps including the ones outside the 4 year period should be translated if they are placed in passports of which validity falls in the 4 year period. The logic is that officers have no way to know a stamp falls outside of the relevant period if the stamp is not translated.

 

[ERJOPA]

So...what if you have no stamps in your passport they look at, you have declared a trip to the US that would have stamps if they did stamp it (and they didn't), and that trip was verified through CBSA records? There are no stamps from the US either for that trip (Both were "wave through" at land crossings.

Would the oversight by the CBSA and US stampers long ago give the CO a fit?

 

[thecoolguysam]

So...what if you have no stamps in your passport they look at, you have declared a trip to the US that would have stamps if they did stamp it (and they didn't), and that trip was verified through CBSA records? There are no stamps from the US either for that trip (Both were "wave through" at land crossings.

Would the oversight by the CBSA and US stampers long ago give the CO a fit?

I have been to usa many times mostly day trips. Once i94 is issued then they stamp The passport. Then every time i used to enter usa they scanned the visa and when we returned to canada they used to scan pr card. I got my cbsa records and cbp foia records and all entries show up. There have not been a single instance where the officers on either sides have waved the hand to pass wothout scanning the documents.

 

[mevisbleek]

Yes, memorize them and compare it with your online residence calculator. Usually the officer is not concerned about the stamps outside 4 years. However, the officer will check your stamps within 4 years and will compare with your online residence calculator.
For non-english stamps, get them translated.
Also, if the stamps are non readable then there could be a possibility that the officer can issue you a RQ (CIT 0171) or mini RQ (CIT 0520). Basically try to make sure that the officer does not have any doubts about your residency calculations.

Quick question. I previously had a passport which expired in 2013 (that passport had some stamps) when it expired I made a new one but unfortunately I misplaced the previous passport. Now, I requested the information from CIC to ascertain all departure and arrival date since I entered in 2009 (this document has been received). The bug question is what do I say at the interview when the officer demands to see a copy of the expired passport? Do I just show her the doc I received from CIC. Please guys I need your help

 

[thecoolguysam]

Quick question. I previously had a passport which expired in 2013 (that passport had some stamps) when it expired I made a new one but unfortunately I misplaced the previous passport. Now, I requested the information from CIC to ascertain all departure and arrival date since I entered in 2009 (this document has been received). The bug question is what do I say at the interview when the officer demands to see a copy of the expired passport? Do I just show her the doc I received from CIC. Please guys I need your help

I suppose the misplaced passport falls under the last 4 years of relevant period?

My question is that did you apply for citizenship yet or not? If you already applied for citizenship then did you send the photocopy of lost passport? If not, did you explain that you have lost the passport? If the passport was lost after applying for citizenship then during interview, you might get RQ.

 

[mevisbleek]

I suppose the misplaced passport falls under the last 4 years of relevant period?

My question is that did you apply for citizenship yet or not? If you already applied for citizenship then did you send the photocopy of lost passport? If not, did you explain that you have lost the passport? If the passport was lost after applying for citizenship then during interview, you might get RQ.

Yes it falls under the 4 years. I have not applied for Citizenship yet. I am qualified to apply in May 25, 2015. What can I do to avoid RQ. Do I just put bank statements and all upfront?

 

[thecoolguysam]

Yes it falls under the 4 years. I have not applied for Citizenship yet. I am qualified to apply in May 25, 2015. What can I do to avoid RQ. Do I just put bank statements and all upfront?

unfortunately you can't avoid RQ else you might be the lucky one who has lost the passport and cic did not issue a RQ.

As the part of citizenship application, it is required to send the biographical pages of the passports held in past 4 years.
As your passport is lost/misplaced, try to find it and send the photocopy of the biographical pages of it.
If you can't find it then i suppose you might have applied for the police report etc right? If yes, you need to attach it and explain the situation that you have lost the passport.
Passport is a important evidence to show where you have been to in past 4 years. Without it CIC can't determine your residency days.

 

[mevisbleek]

unfortunately you can't avoid RQ else you might be the lucky one who has lost the passport and cic did not issue a RQ.

As the part of citizenship application, it is required to send the biographical pages of the passports held in past 4 years.
As your passport is lost/misplaced, try to find it and send the photocopy of the biographical pages of it.
If you can't find it then i suppose you might have applied for the police report etc right? If yes, you need to attach it and explain the situation that you have lost the passport.
Passport is a important evidence to show where you have been to in past 4 years. Without it CIC can't determine your residency days.

I have the copy of the previous passport. My only question is what I will do on the day of the citizenship test when the officer asks to see the hard copy.

 

[thecoolguysam]

I have the copy of the previous passport. My only question is what I will do on the day of the citizenship test when the officer asks to see the hard copy.

You should focus on submitting the application right now. Send the photocopy of the biographical pages of the misplaced/lost passport and other passports held in past 4 years (past relevant 4 years).
Also did you get a police report for the lost passport? If yes, then you should attach it with the application and you need to explain that your passport has been lost.
CIC may most probably send you a RQ. Once you clear the RQ hurdle, you will be invited to the test/interview and during the interview you need to explain the situation about the lost passport and then the cic officer will decide what to do.

Right now its the time for you to clear the first few steps of citizenship application process........... test/interview is almost the last phase.

Good luck!

 

[mevisbleek]

You should focus on submitting the application right now. Send the photocopy of the biographical pages of the misplaced/lost passport and other passports held in past 4 years (past relevant 4 years).
Also did you get a police report for the lost passport? If yes, then you should attach it with the application and you need to explain that your passport has been lost.
CIC may most probably send you a RQ. Once you clear the RQ hurdle, you will be invited to the test/interview and during the interview you need to explain the situation about the lost passport and then the cic officer will decide what to do.

Right now its the time for you to clear the first few steps of citizenship application process........... test/interview is almost the last phase.

Good luck!

Thanks

 

[thecoolguysam]

Thanks

I am sorry if I have scared you. However, I am sharing the experience of the people in this forum(I have read their posts) who had the same situation like you who ended up getting RQ and rest you can search in this forum to find more information regarding their experience.

Good luck!