Urgent help needed for citizenship application, CIT0002E

[Alex_78]

Dear All

I first came in Canada in January 9'2003 as an international student and I left in January '2007 after completing my studies. I came back again and landed as immigrant on May 14'2008. Now I am confused with following question in both residence calculator and form CIT0002E

"A *Enter the date when you first came to Canada to live (YYYY-MM-DD)."

Now I am confused whether I should put January 9'2003 (date I came to Canada as international student) or May 14'2008 (date of landing) as answer. My analogy says i should put date of landing. I will highly appreciate some advise on this one.

 

[BLT]

2003

 

[Alex_78]

Hello BLT

Thank you for your answer. I have another question though for my application. Last year, 2013 I renewed my PR Card through urgent travel itinerary which I could not ultimately due to change in circumstances and I traveled four months later. Should I proactively give a declaration stating this fact that due to change of circumstances I had to travel 4 months later?

It may be noted that in last 3years, I used my vacation days for overseas travel only i.e. not for spending vacation inside Canada and I got a statement from my current employer saying how many days I was off in those months which exactly matches with my travel days. Now my question is should I proactively give this vacation statement? I was hoping that if I could give a vacation statement that will support my position for the point stated above.

And is there any chance that giving these documents proactively could complicate the file?

Regards.

 

[AcerAcer]

Dear All

I first came in Canada in January 9'2003 as an international student and I left in January '2007 after completing my studies. I came back again and landed as immigrant on May 14'2008. Now I am confused with following question in both residence calculator and form CIT0002E

"A *Enter the date when you first came to Canada to live (YYYY-MM-DD)."

Now I am confused whether I should put January 9'2003 (date I came to Canada as international student) or May 14'2008 (date of landing) as answer. My analogy says i should put date of landing. I will highly appreciate some advise on this one.

the date you will put is May 14, 2008 <--- this is when you came to live

before in 2003 you came to study not to live.

 

[Alex_78]

the date you will put is May 14, 2008 <--- this is when you came to live

before in 2003 you came to study not to live.

Hello Acer

Based on BLT's suggestion I put 2003 and already mailed the package yesterday. Is there any thing I can do to correct it? It might still be with post office, should I go back to ask them so that they allow me a correction?

 

[OrangeCup]

Hello Acer

Based on BLT's suggestion I put 2003 and already mailed the package yesterday. Is there any thing I can do to correct it? It might still be with post office, should I go back to ask them so that they allow me a correction?

Alex, I have not submitted my application yet, so I am not an expert, but in my opinion 2003 is the correct date for you to enter, so you did everything right. You came to canada to live in 2003, you then applied for PR and traveled for a few months, then came back and lived here is a PR starting 2008

 

[alphazip]

Since an applicant can currently count days spent legally (as a student, worker, etc.) in Canada before becoming a PR as 1/2 days, the purpose of question 6B is to determine when you first came to Canada, if different from the date you "landed". In your case, the two dates are indeed different. You first came to Canada in 2003, but became a PR in 2008. So, in my opinion, you answered the question correctly (though you can't count the days you were in Canada as a student, because it's not within the last four years).

 

[NSBoy902]

Dear All

I first came in Canada in January 9'2003 as an international student and I left in January '2007 after completing my studies. I came back again and landed as immigrant on May 14'2008. Now I am confused with following question in both residence calculator and form CIT0002E

"A *Enter the date when you first came to Canada to live (YYYY-MM-DD)."

Now I am confused whether I should put January 9'2003 (date I came to Canada as international student) or May 14'2008 (date of landing) as answer. My analogy says i should put date of landing. I will highly appreciate some advise on this one.

2003.

Lets say if you come to canada as a tourist in 2000. You cant mention 2000. You came here to study which is equal to live

 

[NSBoy902]

Since an applicant can currently count days spent legally (as a student, worker, etc.) in Canada before becoming a PR as 1/2 days,

This should be up to 1 year. Let's say those who came to Canada way before they get their PR, they do not have to wait 3 years but ONLY 2.

Correct me if I am wrong please

 

[Alex_78]

Guys

Thank you a lot. Worrying today I called CIC call center today as first thing in morning. The agent told me that I should put 2003 as first arrival date to Canada as according to her I lived here even though I was a student. This even makes sense as student I stayed in Canada on Temporary Resident visa, paid tax, submitted tax return and even got tax refund. N

But thank you every one for your help. Even I would like to thank AcerAcer cause he advised for my betterment.

 

[alphazip]

2003.

Lets say if you come to canada as a tourist in 2000. You cant mention 2000. You came here to study which is equal to live

I'm not so sure about that. I know someone (U.S. citizen) who was living in Canada (with her Canadian husband) while she was waiting for her PR to be approved. (She applied from outside, through Buffalo.) She basically had no status in Canada, other than tourist. However, a tourist can legally stay in Canada up to 6 months. So, the question is, can she count her days of residence in Canada before getting PR (as 1/2 days) toward citizenship? If so, would it be only 6 months of residence? The application instructions don't provide any guidance. They don't even say that the residence has to be legal residence.

 

[SenoritaBella]

US citizens are allowed to visit Canada for up to 6 months at a time. If they wish to stay longer, they need to apply for renewal at least 30 days before the end of the 6-month period. Or they can leave Canada and re-enter a few days later to reset the 6-months.

If she followed this, then she had visitor status which is a legal status. If her days of residence in Canada before getting PR fall in the 4 yr period before she applies, yes, she will get 1/2 day-credit up to a maximum of 1 yr toward citizenship.

I'm not so sure about that. I know someone (U.S. citizen) who was living in Canada (with her Canadian husband) while she was waiting for her PR to be approved. (She applied from outside, through Buffalo.) She basically had no status in Canada, other than tourist. However, a tourist can legally stay in Canada up to 6 months. So, the question is, can she count her days of residence in Canada before getting PR (as 1/2 days) toward citizenship? If so, would it be only 6 months of residence? The application instructions don't provide any guidance. They don't even say that the residence has to be legal residence.

 

[alphazip]

US citizens are allowed to visit Canada for up to 6 months at a time. If they wish to stay longer, they need to apply for renewal at least 30 days before the end of the 6-month period. Or they can leave Canada and re-enter a few days later to reset the 6-months.

If she followed this, then she had visitor status which is a legal status. If her days of residence in Canada before getting PR fall in the 4 yr period before she applies, yes, she will get 1/2 day-credit up to a maximum of 1 yr toward citizenship.

Thanks. Actually, I've seen conflicting information on the 6-month issue. Some sources say, as you do, that the 6-month limit resets each time you exit and re-enter, and others say the 6-month limit is per 365-day period.