Physical Presence in question because of website calculator

[frono]

Hello Everyone,

I applied for Canadian Citizenship back in 2020. I completed test successfully and had the interview. However, because of a discrepancy on the number of days in physical presence calculator the agent said I do not meet the requirement. This error was made unintentionally. All the information I entered was based on the questions asked on the physical presence calculator on the website. Based on the agents calculation I was missing 8 days. However, they are letting me send a letter in response to the information above, which I did.

Has anyone run into this issue in their application process?
- I sent the letter of response on May 16, 2022
- My online application was updated on the physical presence to In Progress on June 13, 2022

I am still waiting to see what they determine.

Any thoughts?

Jairo Meza

 

[scylla]

Hello Everyone,

I applied for Canadian Citizenship back in 2020. I completed test successfully and had the interview. However, because of a discrepancy on the number of days in physical presence calculator the agent said I do not meet the requirement. This error was made unintentionally. All the information I entered was based on the questions asked on the physical presence calculator on the website. Based on the agents calculation I was missing 8 days. However, they are letting me send a letter in response to the information above, which I did.

Has anyone run into this issue in their application process?
- I sent the letter of response on May 16, 2022
- My online application was updated on the physical presence to In Progress on June 13, 2022

I am still waiting to see what they determine.

Any thoughts?

Jairo Meza

So you are short 8 days and didn't meet the residency requirement at the time you applied?

If so, then IMO you should withdraw the application and reapply.

 

[dpenabill]

Hello Everyone,

I applied for Canadian Citizenship back in 2020. I completed test successfully and had the interview. However, because of a discrepancy on the number of days in physical presence calculator the agent said I do not meet the requirement. This error was made unintentionally. All the information I entered was based on the questions asked on the physical presence calculator on the website. Based on the agents calculation I was missing 8 days. However, they are letting me send a letter in response to the information above, which I did.

Has anyone run into this issue in their application process?
- I sent the letter of response on May 16, 2022
- My online application was updated on the physical presence to In Progress on June 13, 2022

I am still waiting to see what they determine.

Any thoughts?

Jairo Meza

Yes, quite a few apply too soon, and for this or that reason it turns out they are not credited with all the days they reported in their physical presence calculator. Even one day short means the application will be denied. Must be denied. Regardless how or why the error was made. This is why IRCC cautions applicants to wait to apply at least a little longer, to give them some margin over the minimum requirement.

So, as @scylla commented, if you are short of meeting the physical presence requirement, the only sensible recourse is to withdraw and re-apply.

You will (ordinarily) be given a chance to respond and provide information to show you actually met the requirements, if you believe you did and your information supports that. However, odds are high the agent got it right and you are indeed short. (Perhaps the error has to do with how you entered information related to days in Canada prior to becoming a PR, or your status during that period of time.) And that can be a very lengthy, inconvenient process, and it could mean having to wait for a hearing with a Citizenship Judge, which can take over a year to get scheduled. So best to withdraw and reapply unless you are no longer eligible (if for example you have been outside Canada the last two years) and you are more or less absolutely certain your calculation is correct and you met the requirements, and you have the evidence to prove it.