Visiting home country after applying

[hardnut]

I am in Brampton, ON and I will be applying for citizenship next month. Going by the spreadsheets, AOR is taking about 2 months. Is it ok if I visit my home country after applying and return when I get my AOR?

 

[screech339]

I am in Brampton, ON and I will be applying for citizenship next month. Going by the spreadsheets, AOR is taking about 2 months. Is it ok if I visit my home country after applying and return when I get my AOR?

Yes you can.

 

[dpenabill]

I am in Brampton, ON and I will be applying for citizenship next month. Going by the spreadsheets, AOR is taking about 2 months. Is it ok if I visit my home country after applying and return when I get my AOR?

For the vast majority of citizenship applicants the answer to this question is easy, YES.

However, for some citizenship applicants the answer to this question may be an emphatic NO.

Thus, categorical declarations, such as "Yes you can," are NOT accurate and can be very, very bad advice for particular applicants.

In particular, citizenship applicants who became Permanent Residents of Canada as members of the refugee or protected person class may risk a cessation investigation or even actual cessation proceedings if they travel to the home country. This is because travel to the home country is presumed to constitute reavailment of home country protection, which is grounds for cessation of protected person status, and cessation of protected person status automatically terminates PR status, which renders the individual ineligible for citizenship. For those who came to Canada as a refugee once they become a citizen, that is AFTER they have taken the oath and delivered the certificate of citizenship, THEN it is OK to travel to the home country (so far as Canada is concerned; obviously travel to any other country also depends on the laws of that country as well).

There is no such risk for those who became a Permanent Resident as members of other immigration classes, such as family sponsorship or skilled worker or Express Entry.


Caution Re Extended Travel Abroad While Citizenship Application is Pending:

Another aspect to consider, of course, is the duration of the trip and logistics related to making sure you timely receive communications from IRCC, including arrangements for collecting your mail.

Brief travel abroad, such as for two or three weeks, is NO big deal. IRCC information advises applicants to notify IRCC if they are traveling abroad for more than two weeks, but early in the process there is minimal risk of missing a communication from IRCC and, in any event, until AOR there is no file number which would enable notifying IRCC of the travel.

There are, in contrast, logistical risks if the applicant goes abroad for an extended period of time. These are discussed in depth in topics specifically about leaving Canada after applying.

 

[screech339]

For the vast majority of citizenship applicants the answer to this question is easy, YES.

However, for some citizenship applicants the answer to this question may be an emphatic NO.

Thus, categorical declarations, such as "Yes you can," are NOT accurate and can be very, very bad advice for particular applicants.

In particular, citizenship applicants who became Permanent Residents of Canada as members of the refugee or protected person class may risk a cessation investigation or even actual cessation proceedings if they travel to the home country. This is because travel to the home country is presumed to constitute reavailment of home country protection, which is grounds for cessation of protected person status, and cessation of protected person status automatically terminates PR status, which renders the individual ineligible for citizenship. For those who came to Canada as a refugee once they become a citizen, that is AFTER they have taken the oath and delivered the certificate of citizenship, THEN it is OK to travel to the home country (so far as Canada is concerned; obviously travel to any other country also depends on the laws of that country as well).

There is no such risk for those who became a Permanent Resident as members of other immigration classes, such as family sponsorship or skilled worker or Express Entry.


Caution Re Extended Travel Abroad While Citizenship Application is Pending:

Another aspect to consider, of course, is the duration of the trip and logistics related to making sure you timely receive communications from IRCC, including arrangements for collecting your mail.

Brief travel abroad, such as for two or three weeks, is NO big deal. IRCC information advises applicants to notify IRCC if they are traveling abroad for more than two weeks, but early in the process there is minimal risk of missing a communication from IRCC and, in any event, until AOR there is no file number which would enable notifying IRCC of the travel.

There are, in contrast, logistical risks if the applicant goes abroad for an extended period of time. These are discussed in depth in topics specifically about leaving Canada after applying.

The OP gave a simple question, thus a simple answer. If the OP gave more detailed information, ie refugee status or how long he/she intends to leave Canada, and/or only come back for test and oath, then I would have given a more detailed answer.

 

[dpenabill]

The OP gave a simple question, thus a simple answer. If the OP gave more detailed information, ie refugee status or how long he/she intends to leave Canada, and/or only come back for test and oath, then I would have given a more detailed answer.

The correct answer to whether it is OK for a citizenship applicant to travel to his or her home country pending processing of the application DEPENDS on the prospective applicant's immigration class. There is NO correct definitive answer unless the applicant's immigration class is known.

This forum is rife with overly-broad generalizations which are typically true enough for most but which can be devastatingly WRONG for many others. This would be one thing if the exceptions were rare or otherwise highly unusual. Likelihood of harm done would be minimal. But there is a tendency among many to give a declarative answer based on either their own experience or on what applies for most, failing to so much as allude to any exceptions let alone acknowledging or cautioning that for many thousands or even tens of thousands of others the proffered answer could be wrong . . . and in more than a few instances, potentially devastatingly wrong.

Most years there are MANY THOUSANDS of refugee-PRs in the immigration stream in Canada. The percentage who will actually stay permanently in Canada (and thus become eligible for citizenship) is higher in this class than in the others. For these individuals travel to the home country can have devastating consequences. Even if travel to the home country does not result in cessation of status, leading to loss of PR status and potential deportation, the risk of it resulting in much longer processing times is substantial.

 

[mumbai1985]

During the interview, officer asked me purpose of 50+ visits to USA and couple of other countries. Mine were all for tourism. Had it been work related, I guess I would have gotten RQ. Even though intent to reside is no longer applicable, officers usually trigger RQ if they feel applicant traveled too many times.

 

[screech339]

Again, it goes back to my point. If anyone doesn't want to put in a lot of effort into the post, explaining all the details, don't expect others to give a detailed answer (unless someone has too much time on their hand) to a simple vague general question.

 

[hardnut]

Again, it goes back to my point. If anyone doesn't want to put in a lot of effort into the post, explaining all the details, don't expect others to give a detailed answer (unless someone has too much time on their hand) to a simple vague general question.

Thanks everyone for their replies,
Sorry, I did not give all the details in my original post.
I was not a refugee. My PR was from the fed. skilled worker program.

During the interview, officer asked me purpose of 50+ visits to USA and couple of other countries. Mine were all for tourism. Had it been work related, I guess I would have gotten RQ. Even though intent to reside is no longer applicable, officers usually trigger RQ if they feel applicant traveled too many times.

During my last 3 years in Canada , I have travelled abroad only ONCE(a 3 month visit to my home country in 2017).
If I go after applying , it will be my second. this visit is important but If there is even the slightest chance the length of my visit will
trigger an RQ, I will shorten it to a few weeks.

thanks again

 

[screech339]

Thanks everyone for their replies,
Sorry, I did not give all the details in my original post.
I was not a refugee. My PR was from the fed. skilled worker program.

During my last 3 years in Canada , I have travelled only ONCE abroad (a 3 month visit to my home country in 2017).
If I go after applying , it will be my second. this visit is important but If there is even the slightest chance the length of my visit will
trigger an RQ, I will shorten it to a few weeks.

thanks again

You are pretty safe that the impact of your citizenship application will be minimized, However, that said, the longer the absence of you being in Canada after submitting the application, the higher the risk of getting an RQ. This may take place anytime during the process, including right up to the test / interview whereby the agent takes a look at your passport while you are doing your test. One of the common questions asked at the test/interview is "how many times have you left Canada and how long?". This is where you have to tell the agent that you have been out of Canada since application and how long if asked. The agent will likely see that you have had a long absence after you submitted the application. The agent could then decide whether or not to issue a RQ. Completely up to the agent. Thus a risk. How you want to take that risk is completely up to you. It won't stop you from getting citizenship but it could delay the process.

 

[hardnut]

You are pretty safe that the impact of your citizenship application will be minimized, However, that said, the longer the absence of you being in Canada after submitting the application, the higher the risk of getting an RQ. This may take place anytime during the process, including right up to the test / interview whereby the agent takes a look at your passport while you are doing your test. One of the common questions asked at the test/interview is "how many times have you left Canada and how long?". This is where you have to tell the agent that you have been out of Canada since application and how long if asked. The agent will likely see that you have had a long absence after you submitted the application. The agent could then decide whether or not to issue a RQ. Completely up to the agent. Thus a risk. How you want to take that risk is completely up to you. It won't stop you from getting citizenship but it could delay the process.

Thanks. I have some really important work in my home country which can be accomplished in 3 weeks. is 3 weeks ok?
Could leaving right after applying also be an issue?

 

[Goku]

Thanks. I have some really important work in my home country which can be accomplished in 3 weeks. is 3 weeks ok?
Could leaving right after applying also be an issue?

You should be fine. I had 3 months outside of Canada (in one trip) and few other short trips, then after applying I was out of Canada for another 2 months straight. My application went through pretty smoothly. In interview officer didnt even look at stamps that were outside eligibility period.
Regarding RQ, if officer want more info regarding your application then they will trigger RQ. I know someone really close who has extensive travel history never received RQ, and I came across few case who received RQ despite having not travelled outside Canada during there eligibility period.
In short, you are overthinking from my point of view. Just go back home, get your work done, have fun and come back.

 

[screech339]

Thanks. I have some really important work in my home country which can be accomplished in 3 weeks. is 3 weeks ok?
Could leaving right after applying also be an issue?

As Goku had said, you should be fine. Go have a nice vacation and finish up what you need to do. 3 weeks outside Canada is nothing to worry about. It's those who wants to stay outside Canada for 2 months or longer that could get dinged.

 

[hardnut]

You should be fine. I had 3 months outside of Canada (in one trip) and few other short trips, then after applying I was out of Canada for another 2 months straight. My application went through pretty smoothly. In interview officer didnt even look at stamps that were outside eligibility period.
Regarding RQ, if officer want more info regarding your application then they will trigger RQ. I know someone really close who has extensive travel history never received RQ, and I came across few case who received RQ despite having not travelled outside Canada during there eligibility period.
In short, you are overthinking from my point of view. Just go back home, get your work done, have fun and come back.

Thanks Goku.
1.Can you also tell me how many days of physical presence did you apply with. Mine will be just 10 days over the required 1095. Maybe if one applies with a large no of buffer days, RQ would be less likely.
2. Also, is AOR always sent over email or can it be sent by snail mail as well?

 

[canvis2006]

if u gave an email address it would be by email.

 

[Goku]

Thanks Goku.
1.Can you also tell me how many days of physical presence did you apply with. Mine will be just 10 days over the required 1095. Maybe if one applies with a large no of buffer days, RQ would be less likely.
2. Also, is AOR always sent over email or can it be sent by snail mail as well?

1. I had around 1250 days. So I would suggest add some more buffer days before applying.
2. if you provide email, it would come by email else snail mail. But also keep checking if you can access you ECAS using your UCI#. So that in case if they send it through mail then you would know.