Working abroad while citizenship application is ongoing

[rampager]

Hi everyone,

I have been in Canada since 2001, first as a student and then as a PR (become one in 2007). I finished my residency requirements (and surpassed them considerably) in November 2011 and applied for citizenship in the same month and am now waiting for the test. I happened to finish my masters from one of the top schools in Canada in May 2010 but was unemployed since then until I finally got a job abroad in one of the Big 4 auditing companies, even though I tried very hard with the same companies here, and have been working there since January 2012.

My question is rather simple...will my working abroad negatively impact my citizenship application, given the fact that I left Canada primarily because I could not find work and went nearly bankrupt? I know I can leave Canada after applying for citizenship and that CIC officers are only supposed to care about the previous 4 years, but I keep reading about people complaining about non-cancelled visas causing problems in their application (and now I have an active work visa for a decent job) and RQ's for people living outside of Canada. Also, what I am supposed to say on the day of the test when they ask me where I work and live, since that apartment that I rented is now gone and the mailing address belongs to my former roommate (who is still in touch.).

Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[Yo]

Hi everyone,

I have been in Canada since 2001, first as a student and then as a PR (become one in 2007). I finished my residency requirements (and surpassed them considerably) in November 2011 and applied for citizenship in the same month and am now waiting for the test. I happened to finish my masters from one of the top schools in Canada in May 2010 but was unemployed since then until I finally got a job abroad in one of the Big 4 auditing companies, even though I tried very hard with the same companies here, and have been working there since January 2012.

My question is rather simple...will my working abroad negatively impact my citizenship application, given the fact that I left Canada primarily because I could not find work and went nearly bankrupt? I know I can leave Canada after applying for citizenship and that CIC officers are only supposed to care about the previous 4 years, but I keep reading about people complaining about non-cancelled visas causing problems in their application (and now I have an active work visa for a decent job) and RQ's for people living outside of Canada. Also, what I am supposed to say on the day of the test when they ask me where I work and live, since that apartment that I rented is now gone and the mailing address belongs to my former roommate (who is still in touch.).

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Wondering how it went , i'm in a similar situation, your help will help me decide if I should take an overseas job or not.
Thanks mate.

 

[keesio]

Wondering how it went , i'm in a similar situation, your help will help me decide if I should take an overseas job or not.
Thanks mate.

The rules have changed since he applied. There is now the "intent to reside" clause which the OP didn't have to deal with.

 

[Yo]

The rules have changed since he applied. There is now the "intent to reside" clause which the OP didn't have to deal with.

Thanks for your response, I'm waiting for September to hopefully the law will change and that requirement too.

do you think if my wife and kids stay in Canada (she has a job) I still can get the citizenship or maybe just them?

 

[screech339]

Thanks for your response, I'm waiting for September to hopefully the law will change and that requirement too.

do you think if my wife and kids stay in Canada (she has a job) I still can get the citizenship or maybe just them?

They would qualify for citizenship based on their physical days stayed in Canada. You, on the other hand, won't qualify for citizenship until you meet the physical day requirements while you are working abroad. You cannot qualify for citizenship through your wife and kids' qualifications. You have to qualify on your own.

 

[keesio]

Thanks for your response, I'm waiting for September to hopefully the law will change and that requirement too.

September is pretty optimistic. End of the year is more likely. But it isn't just the law that you need changed. You need IRCC to actually implement the new changes. That will take some time also - well into 2017.