Process question on applications and RQ

[on-hold]

I'm curious what people here think about two possible options for my citizenship application -- I landed in 2010 and lived in B.C. for one year, but couldn't find a professional job; then I moved to Montana and worked for 9 months, until I found a job in Edmonton (I'm a U.S. citizen). Now my wife and I are settled in Edmonton, and we'll be able to apply for citizenship next in December of 2014. Naturally, we'd like to get it as fast as possible, mostly for my wife who dislikes travelling on a Thai passport. These are our options:

1) just apply when we qualify, explain that we were in the U.S. because I couldn't find work in Victoria, and take our chances with getting an R.Q. I feel that the fact that I am an American might work in my favour here -- I'm not getting Canadian citizenship simply to transfer to the U.S., if I wanted to live there I would. Getting an RQ wouldn't be a disaster, it would mostly be annoying. On the other hand, I think this basic profile is one that would be considered appropriate for more investigation by CIC.

2) Wait one more year, until December of 2015, so that we have three straight years in Edmonton -- this would probably be faster than applying a year earlier and getting RQed. When you apply for citizenship, do they check your complete travel history, or just the period covering your residency?

Finally, the government is making noises about 44 million dollars to speed up the process. Any details on that, and whether it will kick in by December of 2014?

Any thoughts would be appreciated

 

[corazon3]

I'm curious what people here think about two possible options for my citizenship application -- I landed in 2010 and lived in B.C. for one year, but couldn't find a professional job; then I moved to Montana and worked for 9 months, until I found a job in Edmonton (I'm a U.S. citizen). Now my wife and I are settled in Edmonton, and we'll be able to apply for citizenship next in December of 2014. Naturally, we'd like to get it as fast as possible, mostly for my wife who dislikes travelling on a Thai passport. These are our options:

1) just apply when we qualify, explain that we were in the U.S. because I couldn't find work in Victoria, and take our chances with getting an R.Q. I feel that the fact that I am an American might work in my favour here -- I'm not getting Canadian citizenship simply to transfer to the U.S., if I wanted to live there I would. Getting an RQ wouldn't be a disaster, it would mostly be annoying. On the other hand, I think this basic profile is one that would be considered appropriate for more investigation by CIC.

2) Wait one more year, until December of 2015, so that we have three straight years in Edmonton -- this would probably be faster than applying a year earlier and getting RQed. When you apply for citizenship, do they check your complete travel history, or just the period covering your residency?

Finally, the government is making noises about 44 million dollars to speed up the process. Any details on that, and whether it will kick in by December of 2014?

Any thoughts would be appreciated

I'd recommend #2. Even with #2, if you don't have a stable employment history, there's a high chance you'll get RQ.

 

[mlea]

Ditto, #2

 

[on-hold]

I appreciate this feedback -- but I think that you're overestimating the chances of getting an RQ, as well as its triggers. Don't somewhere between 25 and 30% of total applications get RQed, and a large number of these would be people who are working as consultants, importers, maintaining a constant foothold in two countries, or have genuinely not been in Canada for much of the time. Most people when they come to Canada experience employment instability: at the best, a survival job, a minimal professional job, then a real professional job, which follows the stages of 'anything', 'anything respectable', and 'what I'm qualified to do'.

Because the criteria for getting citizenship, which RQ tests, is residing within Canada, it seems odd that they would waste a lot of resources RQing people who jump jobs a lot -- what would be the point? I could change jobs every month and still be eligible for citizenship, and I'd have a clear paper trail to prove it.

 

[mlea]

You must be physically IN CANADA for 1095 days in order to qualify for citizenship, each day you spend outside of Canada, be it in the U.S. or anywhere else in the world, the cumulative days that you are actually in Canada within the past Four Years BEFORE you apply count. If you wait an additional year or do it early is of little consequence with regard to the RQ form...When you apply for your citizenship make sure that you have all your documents and answer ALL the questions so there are no flags or contradictory information. Only if they feel that you have ulterior motives or do not plan to stay in Canada because you ties are not strong enough will they ask you for more information. In you initial application they ask much of the same questions as the RQ but the RQ obviously goes into more detail to establish ties to Canada so if you are renting a house or have a mortgage, car payments, maybe a bank letter saying how long you've had your account, jobs, study history, kids in school etc..again most of this is asked in the application. You might also write a letter stating your ties and you will have to write a letter if you have any missing documents, i lost my IMM1000 but just said that I couldn't find it, try keep all your documents together. I believe that the RQ is only requested if they have a "feeling" you may not stay in Canada or at random. Being self employed or submitting too soon is not a factor if you have all supporting documents. The reason I would wait until you are qualified with a few days to spare and be sure that you do qualify with your physical days in Canada is because if there is any reason why the dates do not add up or if there are any questions unanswered they will send your application back and it takes way too long to start processing your file to send forms to and fro. when you initially send your application in they only check that your paperwork is all there, then it takes about 8 or 9 months before they start processing it so if they have to send it back to you it puts you back. rather wait, get your days and see what happens, youll be waiting about 18 months from submission anyway. You are right about the RQ being a pain but by no means is it a bad thing in any way. make sure your dates match up with your passport and the days out of the country that they ask you in the application and you should be just fine.

 

[Msafiri]

Apply when you have 1095 days of physical presence in the relevant 4 year qualifying window - given that you can be RQd for either a triage reason (self employment with travel) or for quality control/ program integrity no use waiting for a solid 3 year block to apply.

However you need to have your travel history declared to absolute accuracy....stamping of travel documents between Canada and US has not always been historically adhered to on each occasion. I suggest getting your US exit/entry records (CBP) and Canadian entry records (CBSA) prior to citizenship application to make sure these match up to the travel dates you have on record.

 

[corazon3]

I appreciate this feedback -- but I think that you're overestimating the chances of getting an RQ, as well as its triggers. Don't somewhere between 25 and 30% of total applications get RQed, and a large number of these would be people who are working as consultants, importers, maintaining a constant foothold in two countries, or have genuinely not been in Canada for much of the time. Most people when they come to Canada experience employment instability: at the best, a survival job, a minimal professional job, then a real professional job, which follows the stages of 'anything', 'anything respectable', and 'what I'm qualified to do'.

Because the criteria for getting citizenship, which RQ tests, is residing within Canada, it seems odd that they would waste a lot of resources RQing people who jump jobs a lot -- what would be the point? I could change jobs every month and still be eligible for citizenship, and I'd have a clear paper trail to prove it.

You still don't get it, dude. What makes you unique from the rest of applicants is that you a US citizen moved back to the US and sought employment there after you got your CA PR. This is a red flag. I'm certain you'll get RQ if you take #1. And also it seems your wife is from Thailand. It's well-documented that interracial or multicultural (which way you want to call it) couples are under scrutiny. In addition to these, if you don't seem to have a stable employment history. This may be OK for people who haven't moved around and lived in the same city or the same address for the entire 4 yrs, but in your case, you moved back and forth between the US and Canada and also within Canada. Thus your employment history is given more significance. That's why I recommend option #2.

 

[Msafiri]

....It's well-documented that interracial or multicultural (which way you want to call it) couples are under scrutiny....

Do you have a link to this at all?

 

[corazon3]

Do you have a link to this at all?

All over the Canadian immigration forums. Ha ha ha. Get real, dude!

 

[Msafiri]

All over the Canadian immigration forums. Ha ha ha. Get real, dude!

Surely you can do better than that.....dude!!! Cultural background/ethnicity may be among the factors considered in assessing if a spousal sponsorship is genuine but in what way does it relate to Citizenship? Its the proven residence days that count (subject to meeting the other criteria)...now that's a no brainer!!

 

[mlea]

Having a legitimate marriage is something of concern to Immigration, if they suspect that you and your spouse only got married to keep her in the country, however, if you have proof of a legitimate marriage, living together, any "love" letters between the two of you, any correspondence from before you got married, phone bills etc will prove that it is legit. BTW, it doesnt matter what nationality your wife is or what job/history you have, you can be a waiter or barman and still sponsor a spouse as long as you are able to "financially" take care of her until she is a citizen.

I know this because i am of such a marriage, i lived in a foreign country and met my husband when i was oh holiday here visiting my sister, i had been in contact with him for 6 months before actually meeting him (they asked for that correspondence but i could block "personal stuff") when i had actually met him on my 3 week holiday we enjoyed a holiday here for 2.5 weeks and were married in canada 2 days before i went back to my country, i settled my affairs in my country and waited for paperwork and it took about 8 months before i was back with my husband. so any documents proving your marriage is legitimate will help.

If you have any doubts just wait for your time and apply for your citizenship, i seriously doubt there will be a problem and if there is just deal with it then and if you get an RQ then its not a big deal, just take your time to fill it in and do it right and see what happens, dont stress for a year before you apply about whats going to happen, it might be smooth going.

 

[on-hold]

Thanks, mlea and msfari -- I agree with both of you that physical presence is the main issue, and that it's probably pointless to try and game things out beyond that. I appreciate the caution on getting travel dates right, and I think I will order that record that you suggest. Neither do I believe inter-ethnic couples are RQed at higher rates, since that has nothing to do with residence in Canada. If CIC wanted to inspect our marriage, they had plenty of opportunity to do it when we were both applying under the FSW program (neither of us are Canadian citizens, and neither came here under a matrimonial route).

As for working in the States, that may be a red flag and it may not. It's not an ongoing thing that I've maintained; it wasn't self-employment so I can't go back to it; and I left it to settle in Alberta as soon as I could. Honestly, as an American, I can't help but have strong ties close by that are easy to go back to. However, here in Edmonton I'm working in a sector that is much more developed than in the States, and pays better too, there is no reason for me to go back to my home country with Canadian citizenship. Frankly, I was working in the States because I made the terrible mistake of originally settling in Victoria, which I'm not ashamed to explain on my application . . . Good old Victoria! Awful poverty made it hard to enjoy the wonderful climate . . . :'(

 

[mlea]

I dont think you have anything to worry about as far as work history is concerned, ties to canada can be anything from having a bank account to having a rental agreement or a letter of appointment from your employer. One thing i have learned is that talking to a million people about a concern always gets a million different responses and you make things a lot worse in your mind than what a situation is. I have an uncle who is from South Africa, lives in Canada and drives to the states for work every week and is back home in canada on week ends, he is now a canadian citizen... it doesnt matter why you worked in the states only that you now live in canada and have ties here and intend to stay here...good luck and stop worrying. as far as your marriage, that shouldnt be a problem either, you should be just fine, it sounds like youve done everything the right way so now just relax and wait.