PR for 20 years

[PR42LONG]

Hello and best wishes to all!

I moved to Canada at the age of 14 years old and have lived in Toronto, Canada for 20 years. I migrated from an English only speaking country, I do not have excessive days out of Canada. I graduated from a Canadian High School and U of T.
Recently, I decided to get my citizenship, since I plan to travel a lot.

I will submit my application via express courier on Wednesday.

I am still in shock that I need to prove that I speak English. I will print my Diploma and Degree as proof. I hope they will suffice. I am still scared that they will need more proof (the whole process is weird).

 

[CanuckForEver]

As per my understanding your diploma or better yet your degree certificates are proof good enough on your English proficiency provided the course work was all in English. I guess you wouldn't have much problems there.

 

[PR42LONG]

As per my understanding your diploma or better yet your degree certificates are proof good enough on your English proficiency provided the course work was all in English. I guess you wouldn't have much problems there.

Thank you. The course work is in English - I am yet to find an all non-English High School or University in Toronto...maybe there are a few out there, I do not know.

I still cannot believe I have to prove I speak English, when it is the only language I know.

Well... the wait times are worst - 23 months YIKES!!!

I hope I am as lucky as the few applicants who experienced under a year time-lines.

 

[mikeathome]

Thank you. The course work is in English - I am yet to find an all non-English High School or University in Toronto...maybe there are a few out there, I do not know.

I still cannot believe I have to prove I speak English, when it is the only language I know.

Well... the wait times are worst - 23 months YIKES!!!

I hope I am as lucky as the few applicants who experienced under a year time-lines.

I have a colleague, born and citizen of the UK (white male, NO offense!), had to take language test for PR.

For your language proof, correct me if I am wrong, I think you need to obtain your diploma proof in a sealed envelope from the institution and send this unopened to CIC. This at least was the procedure my wife had to follow with her CELPIP General-LS. Again I might be mistaken and mix this with the PEO (Professional Engineers of Ontario) requirement.

mike

 

[CanuckForEver]

Thank you. The course work is in English - I am yet to find an all non-English High School or University in Toronto...maybe there are a few out there, I do not know.

I still cannot believe I have to prove I speak English, when it is the only language I know.

Well... the wait times are worst - 23 months YIKES!!!

I hope I am as lucky as the few applicants who experienced under a year time-lines.

For 20 years on PR, man!!!! if I were a CIC officer I would categorize you as a risk free profile (at least from the residency requirements front). That being said I met a man in his 50s who procrastinated his citizenship application for 20+ years and got it around 2006ish in like 10+ months. The reason he did it - he did not want to go through the language requirement hassles and waited it out till he turned 55 at which point you're free from that requirement! He never received RQs either. You know hope is a great booster, keeps you going!

 

[Leon]

For 20 years on PR, man!!!! if I were a CIC officer I would categorize you as a risk free profile (at least from the residency requirements front). That being said I met a man in his 50s who procrastinated his citizenship application for 20+ years and got it around 2006ish in like 10+ months. The reason he did it - he did not want to go through the language requirement hassles and waited it out till he turned 55 at which point you're free from that requirement! He never received RQs either. You know hope is a great booster, keeps you going!

If you are 55, you also get to skip the test.

 

[PMM]

Hi

I have a colleague, born and citizen of the UK (white male, NO offense!), had to take language test for PR.

For your language proof, correct me if I am wrong, I think you need to obtain your diploma proof in a sealed envelope from the institution and send this unopened to CIC. This at least was the procedure my wife had to follow with her CELPIP General-LS. Again I might be mistaken and mix this with the PEO (Professional Engineers of Ontario) requirement.

mike

The OP is applying for citizenship not as an immigrant. S/he is required to submit one of the following:

If you are an adult (between ages 18-54) applying for citizenship, you will need to provide documents proving your ability to speak and listen in English or French. These documents may be:

the results of a CIC-approved third-party test; or
evidence of completion of secondary or post-secondary education in English or French, in Canada or abroad; or
evidence of achieving CLB/NCLC 4 or higher in certain government-funded language training programs.

You can also consult the Do you have acceptable documents for the citizenship language requirement? flowchart.

 

[PR42LONG]

I have a colleague, born and citizen of the UK (white male, NO offense!), had to take language test for PR.

For your language proof, correct me if I am wrong, I think you need to obtain your diploma proof in a sealed envelope from the institution and send this unopened to CIC. This at least was the procedure my wife had to follow with her CELPIP General-LS. Again I might be mistaken and mix this with the PEO (Professional Engineers of Ontario) requirement.

mike

I think this rule will change one day, in regards to making English speakers walk into an English testing, speaking English to take a knowledge of English test.

On the gathering of documents it states: Format: Clear and legible photocopy. Must be in English or French. No translations accepted.

On the check list it states : Photocopy of language evidence. See section "Step 1. Gather Documents " in the instruction guide

I have the original copies, so I made photocopies and sent them off. I also photocopied my old University Student card, in case it will assist.

My Record of Landing also listed English - when I entered Canada as a child.

 

[PR42LONG]

For 20 years on PR, man!!!! if I were a CIC officer I would categorize you as a risk free profile (at least from the residency requirements front). That being said I met a man in his 50s who procrastinated his citizenship application for 20+ years and got it around 2006ish in like 10+ months. The reason he did it - he did not want to go through the language requirement hassles and waited it out till he turned 55 at which point you're free from that requirement! He never received RQs either. You know hope is a great booster, keeps you going!

;D I am totally risk free - I filed taxes every year since I was a teenager with a job and lived here for the full 20 years. Canada is my home for most of my life. It is about time I made it official.
Whenever I would travel to the US for a couple of days on business trips, the border guards kept telling me I should get my citizenship - they couldn't believe I am still a PR .
Now I am caught in this language matrix of confusion lol. I do not want to wait until I am 55 - I bet by then the fee will be $1000

 

[Suin]

There are so many contradictions! Hope they will not ask us to proof being humans soon.

 

[docrui]

Well guys I came to Canada when I was 2 been a PR for 39 years lived in the same city since we came to Canada and they still sent me a RQ after I wrote my test

 

[mikeathome]

Well guys I came to Canada when I was 2 been a PR for 39 years lived in the same city since we came to Canada and they still sent me a RQ after I wrote my test

Within 39 years in Canada you most likely recognized that the Canadian government isn't treating their citizen much better than immigrants in certain aspects. Do you agree? So there's a smooth transition from one state to the other...

mike