Residency Obligations (Absence From Canada).

[fkhan123]

Hi Guys,

Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) has implemented a New Digital Border Process in place instead of previous paper based Declaration Card which used to track the "Date Left Canada" in order determine that for how long a person was absent from Canada.

The new digital process does not capture this information. If someone lost or misplaces his paper records for his travel i.e. tickets, boarding passes etc. how would he be able to retrieve that information to be used in the application for PRC or Citizenship to avoid any possible discrepancies?

Thanks

 

[vitoriaboy]

Hi Guys,

Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) has implemented a New Digital Border Process in place instead of previous paper based Declaration Card which used to track the "Date Left Canada" in order determine that for how long a person was absent from Canada.

The new digital process does not capture this information. If someone lost or misplaces his paper records for his travel i.e. tickets, boarding passes etc. how would he be able to retrieve that information to be used in the application for PRC or Citizenship to avoid any possible discrepancies?

Thanks

Good question. on a related note, is it possible to get a copy of previous customs cards through a ATIP request, so as to see and confirm travel dates?

 

[steaky]

Guys, why don't you call them to find out?

 

[spousalsponsee]

Hi Guys,

Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) has implemented a New Digital Border Process in place instead of previous paper based Declaration Card which used to track the "Date Left Canada" in order determine that for how long a person was absent from Canada.

The new digital process does not capture this information. If someone lost or misplaces his paper records for his travel i.e. tickets, boarding passes etc. how would he be able to retrieve that information to be used in the application for PRC or Citizenship to avoid any possible discrepancies?

Thanks

I don't understand your concern. The old system, CBSA had a record of when you arrived, and you didn't, unless you made one yourself. The new system, CBSA have a record of when you arrive, and you don't unless you make one yourself.

If you mean that the new electronic booths merely ask if you've been gone 24/48/more hours, where the old one used to request a specific date - that's just a customs question to assess how much you can bring back without paying taxes. The number you wrote on the card wasn't what they used to calculate your days in Canada for citizenship (if there weren't exit records, they'd want a lot more proof than a number you scrawled down once).

 

[fkhan123]

Good question. on a related note, is it possible to get a copy of previous customs cards through a ATIP request, so as to see and confirm travel dates?

Hi...what is ATIP?

 

[fkhan123]

Guys, why don't you call them to find out?

Hi Steakly, Call whom...?

 

[fkhan123]

I don't understand your concern. The old system, CBSA had a record of when you arrived, and you didn't, unless you made one yourself. The new system, CBSA have a record of when you arrive, and you don't unless you make one yourself.

If you mean that the new electronic booths merely ask if you've been gone 24/48/more hours, where the old one used to request a specific date - that's just a customs question to assess how much you can bring back without paying taxes. The number you wrote on the card wasn't what they used to calculate your days in Canada for citizenship (if there weren't exit records, they'd want a lot more proof than a number you scrawled down once).

Hi spousalsponsee,
My concern is yes they only ask in their new system how long did stay out of Canada and the maximum option is more than 7 days....it does not ask for or capture a specific date when you actually quit. My concern is if some one lost that record personally and would want to request form CBSA, how would CBSA provide that information if it did not capture it whereas in the old Kisoke at least the date was mentioned in the custom form which was being scanned.

 

[spousalsponsee]

Hi spousalsponsee,
My concern is yes they only ask in their new system how long did stay out of Canada and the maximum option is more than 7 days....it does not ask for or capture a specific date when you actually quit. My concern is if some one lost that record personally and would want to request form CBSA, how would CBSA provide that information if it did not capture it whereas in the old Kisoke at least the date was mentioned in the custom form which was being scanned.

They wouldn't.

CBSA have records of people leaving Canada by land (in the form of US entry records supplied to Canada), but not by air.

 

[steaky]

Hi Steakly, Call whom...?

CBSA

 

[fkhan123]

They wouldn't.

CBSA have records of people leaving Canada by land (in the form of US entry records supplied to Canada), but not by air.

There is something called Boarding Pass Security System (BPSS) in place or quite sometime by CATSA, does this information on travelers leaving Canada is shared with CBSA and any interested individual or IRCC can have access to it for travel history verification purposes.

 

[spousalsponsee]

There is something called Boarding Pass Security System (BPSS) in place or quite sometime by CATSA, does this information on travelers leaving Canada is shared with CBSA and any interested individual or IRCC can have access to it for travel history verification purposes.

I'm not clear what point you're trying to make, but that isn't deployed at (anywhere near) all airports, and in any case, the data is permanently erased after 30 days (http://www.catsa.gc.ca/bpss)

To back to the original point: You should be keeping track of your time spent in and out of Canada, and be able to prove it if IRCC question your meeting the Residency Obligation.

 

[fkhan123]

I'm not clear what point you're trying to make, but that isn't deployed at (anywhere near) all airports, and in any case, the data is permanently erased after 30 days (http://www.catsa.gc.ca/bpss)

To back to the original point: You should be keeping track of your time spent in and out of Canada, and be able to prove it if IRCC question your meeting the Residency Obligation.

Hi spousalsponsee,
Just being a human being if somehow your personal record is lost or misplaced as a second option or backup from where to get this traveler's exit information reliably. At least before, CBSA's E311 Custom Declaration Form used to capture "Date Left Canada" and now with the implementation of Automated Custom Declaration booth it is not possible now.

 

[spousalsponsee]

We're all human beings. It's your responsibility to be able to confirm how long you've been in Canada should your citizenship, or PR card renewal require it. The customs card was never a proof of that (you could write any date on it), so you should always have had your own records for you, and would always need more proof for CBSA/IRCC.

 

[Rob_TO]

At least before, CBSA's E311 Custom Declaration Form used to capture "Date Left Canada" and now with the implementation of Automated Custom Declaration booth it is not possible now.

As mentioned, this has NEVER been a valid piece of evidence to prove your PR residency obligation. It's just a date you used to write on the customs card, it was never verified by CBSA in most cases (perhaps only if you went to secondary inspection it was actually confirmed).