When did you first come to live in Canada - question

[BrandonP]

On the citizenship application form, it asks when did I come to Canada to live.

My story:

I did an 8 month student exchange in Canada back in 2003-2004.

I came to Canada on a one year working holiday visa in September 2009.

At the end of the working holiday visa, I stayed in Canada on a travel visa (not working or studying) for eight months, but just travelling and spending time with friends who I had met. Basically living in Canada for most of the time, but not actually working or studying.

In May 2011 I went to school in Canada and had a study visa. This study visa was valid until March 2013.

In January 2013 I became a permanent resident.

My question is what date do I put as when I came to Canada to live? Because I was thinking it should be September 2009 when my working holiday visa started. However, between the holiday working visa, and study visa, there was an eight month gap where I was spending a lot of time in Canada (basically living here most of the time), but I was on a holiday visa.

So do I put the start of my working holiday visa (September 2009), or start of my study visa (May 2011) as the date when I came to 'live' in Canada.

Thank you.

 

[alphazip]

On the citizenship application form, it asks when did I come to Canada to live.

My story:

I did an 8 month student exchange in Canada back in 2003-2004.

I came to Canada on a one year working holiday visa in September 2009.

At the end of the working holiday visa, I stayed in Canada on a travel visa (not working or studying) for eight months, but just travelling and spending time with friends who I had met. Basically living in Canada for most of the time, but not actually working or studying.

In May 2011 I went to school in Canada and had a study visa. This study visa was valid until March 2013.

In January 2013 I became a permanent resident.

My question is what date do I put as when I came to Canada to live? Because I was thinking it should be September 2009 when my working holiday visa started. However, between the holiday working visa, and study visa, there was an eight month gap where I was spending a lot of time in Canada (basically living here most of the time), but I was on a holiday visa.

So do I put the start of my working holiday visa (September 2009), or start of my study visa (May 2011) as the date when I came to 'live' in Canada.

Thank you.

The reason that question is being asked is so that you can receive half-day credit for the time you lived in Canada before becoming a permanent resident. The only important time period is the last four years, so if you use 2003, 2009, or May 2011 (taking into account that today is May 11, 2015), you'll still get credit for the same number of half days. My thought is that you were first "living" in Canada in 2003, so I'd be inclined to use that.

 

[cprak0]

I second alphazip. 2003. And only the last 4 yrs are relevant.

 

[BrandonP]

Thanks for your responses. I can't recall the day I came to Canada back in 2003 though!

 

[alphazip]

Thanks for your responses. I can't recall the day I came to Canada back in 2003 though!

While I would normally suggest that you request a report of your entries from CBSA, that would take about 40 days to receive. If you have no records that indicate the date (no old e-mails...nothing), you would need to choose an approximate date and include a note explaining that although you know you arrived for a student exchange in (say) March 2003, you don't remember the exact date.

The exact date in 2003 isn't really of great importance, since it's only the last four years that are taken into consideration for citizenship.

 

[BrandonP]

Many thanks for your response alphazip