Please HELP!-What to bring to the citizenship test interview to reduce RQ chance?

[ximmihelpx]

My timeline: Jan 2014 submitted citizenship app (with no problem satisfying the residency); Got US job offer and moved to US in August (I do plan to continue searching for jobs and move back to Canada if I get a job back there); Citizenship test in March 2015.

I understand that I probably should not have left Canada during the time.. But any success with similar cases? What should I bring to the interview (e.g. phone bills etc.) to reduce the chance of RQ?

Thank you so much! Please help!

 

[desigirltoronto84]

My timeline: Jan 2014 submitted citizenship app (with no problem satisfying the residency); Got US job offer and moved to US in August (I do plan to continue searching for jobs and move back to Canada if I get a job back there); Citizenship test in March 2015.

I understand that I probably should not have left Canada during the time.. But any success with similar cases? What should I bring to the interview (e.g. phone bills etc.) to reduce the chance of RQ?

Thank you so much! Please help!

You should take whatever is written in your test invite. Technically they shouldn't care what you are doing now. But they are introducing a intent to reside clause with the new bill - the new bill hasn't been implemented yet , but I can't say if your case officer will see that as a red flag and send you a RQ. If I were you I would do three things
1) take the originals of what's being asked in the test invite
2) if asked about current employment just say that you work for X in the US
3) If asked where do you live currently be honest and explain that you took this job because of (insert some inevitable reason) but you do plan to make Canada your home
4) make sure you can explain all the dates in your passport during the time of your application (4 years)
5) start doing your research for the documents required in a RQ- just to be proactive

P'S. Sorry I lied ... I meant I would do 5 things if I were you.

 

[ximmihelpx]

Thanks! I do have one stamp missing in my passport because as a PR I entered Vancouver through the express lane (machine read) and there is no stamp in this case. And one or two stamps that is hard to read the dates (because the quality of the stamp)----anything I can do there? Thanks again!

 

[desigirltoronto84]

Thanks! I do have one stamp missing in my passport because as a PR I entered Vancouver through the express lane (machine read) and there is no stamp in this case. And one or two stamps that is hard to read the dates (because the quality of the stamp)----anything I can do there? Thanks again!

You can tell them the reasons why the stamps are missing i.e., came through express lane. That's a perfectly valid reason.
If i were you, I would request a CBSA record for the relevant time period. If the officer wants to walk through all the dates in the residence calculator match it up with your passport, and the stamp in the passport is not clear - you can quickly refer him to the CBSA record. If the dates that are not clear are after 2013, you should have both exit as well as entry records on on your CBSA file.

 

[ximmihelpx]

Thanks!! Also, do you suggest me to bring the things that are not required in the test letter for the past 5 years e.g. phone bill, bank and credit card statement etc.

 

[era1521]

Thanks!! Also, do you suggest me to bring the things that are not required in the test letter for the past 5 years e.g. phone bill, bank and credit card statement etc.

CBSA report might help, but dont carry tons of documents. Most likely the officer interviewing, his role is only confirming your documents in the file and asses your language skills. Maybe he has a matrix and on certain assessment he will give on the spot the oath invitation.
I believe there is someone else that is deciding the grant, so if in your case they need additional documents the RQ is already issued; the interviewer will only hand it to you. If your passport stamps match the residency calculation sheet, i dont see any reason your case to raise additional concerns.

Good luck!

 

[desigirltoronto84]

Thanks!! Also, do you suggest me to bring the things that are not required in the test letter for the past 5 years e.g. phone bill, bank and credit card statement etc.

Nope I won't bother with them. From this forum and from my MANY MANY friends I understood that they focus on two things 1) can you hold a conversation in english and 2) your passport stamp - do they line up with your residency calculator.

But be sure to take the originals of the documents you presented in your checklist - it's mentioned in your test invite.

Good luck!

P.S. May I ask what is your timeline?

 

[rayman_m]

Interview is all about verifying the information filled in application. Officer mostly looks at IDs and passports, stamps that must be consistent with residence calculator. Officer will check passport starting from the day of landing until the date of applying very carefully and all stamps must be visible, readable and if all these are OK no RQ issue will come into officer mind..

 

[ximmihelpx]

Thank you guys! That is really helpful! I was somehow thinking that working in US will for sure generating a RQ (because it happened after I apply and it is not noted in my file).

For the ones who are interested in my timeline: Edmonton office, late Jan 2014 submitted, early March started to process, never heard anything until receiving the letter for citizenship test in March.

 

[ximmihelpx]

I am so sorry! I have one more question! I just noticed that I had a 4 day short-trip to the US that I put on the travel calculation sheet. However, when I was just then double checking my passport--I noticed that there is no stamp at all (enter US or enter Canada) for this trip on my passport. Do you guys know what probably happened? Will I be in trouble?

How long does it take if I request the CBSA report?

 

[samreentariq]

I am so sorry! I have one more question! I just noticed that I had a 4 day short-trip to the US that I put on the travel calculation sheet. However, when I was just then double checking my passport--I noticed that there is no stamp at all (enter US or enter Canada) for this trip on my passport. Do you guys know what probably happened? Will I be in trouble?

How long does it take if I request the CBSA report?

It takes about 30 days for the CBSA report.

 

[desigirltoronto84]

I am so sorry! I have one more question! I just noticed that I had a 4 day short-trip to the US that I put on the travel calculation sheet. However, when I was just then double checking my passport--I noticed that there is no stamp at all (enter US or enter Canada) for this trip on my passport. Do you guys know what probably happened? Will I be in trouble?

How long does it take if I request the CBSA report?

I didn't have case like that - but I had one or two cases where the entry stamp to Canada was missing. I provided a print out of my flight itinerary and/or boarding passes where applicable - just to set the record straight.

Are you absolutely sure that they did not stamp your passport going out of Canada ? Coming in you may have gone through express lane - but going out you should have a stamp.

Anyway, I would do the following :
1. In your cover letter mention clearly that you took a 4 day trip to the U.S. and your passport doesn't have the stamp for those events. If you have air tickets include those - this will show that you are being honest.
2. Request the CBSA to double check the dates - but don't include it in your application.

I recommend that you make your cover letter very clear and highlight things in your application that you want the officer to note specifically. I did the same.

 

[era1521]

I didn't have case like that - but I had one or two cases where the entry stamp to Canada was missing. I provided a print out of my flight itinerary and/or boarding passes where applicable - just to set the record straight.

Are you absolutely sure that they did not stamp your passport going out of Canada ? Coming in you may have gone through express lane - but going out you should have a stamp.

Anyway, I would do the following :
1. In your cover letter mention clearly that you took a 4 day trip to the U.S. and your passport doesn't have the stamp for those events. If you have air tickets include those - this will show that you are being honest.
2. Request the CBSA to double check the dates - but don't include it in your application.

I recommend that you make your cover letter very clear and highlight things in your application that you want the officer to note specifically. I did the same.

Cover letter.... hmm.
Do you think CIC are retarded?
They do this for living.

 

[ximmihelpx]

I think this is what happened --I went to US on Oct 2010 for a 4 day trip for the first time; and on my way exiting US, they did not take my I-94 by accident. Thus, when I enter US on Jan 2011, the US custom did not stamp me because they still saw my previous I-94 and they did not stamp on my passport. I am not sure why when I re-enter Canada they did not stamp me as well (probably they forgot??) And this entire trip becomes a "ghost trip".

I do have my flight itineraries and probably credit card bills that I can print to prove this trip. But I am not sure whether it will convince them. Is it a big issue? --I am adding more days onto my own calculations comparing to my passport so should it be NOT a problem?

 

[raymasa]

Cover letter.... hmm.
Do you think CIC are retarded?
They do this for living.

I think cover letter is a good idea. No harm is explaining something in the cover letter.

Ray