Now that Donald Trump is the President of the United States,its time to relocate to Canada.
Every year, almost 250,000 individuals try to become
permanent Canadian citizens. Becoming a Canadian citizen is not as easy as becoming
a citizen of other countries, but by following the laws that govern legal
citizenship, you can also call yourself a Canadian citizen.
Meeting the Requirements
Do you have a visa. In order to become a Canadian citizen, the obvious first step is to move to Canada. However, you can't just pack up your belongings, scale the Niagara, plop down, and start counting the days (unfortunately, the government frowns on that). After your tourist visa is up (6 months), you'll need to have some sort of work/school permit (or be married to a Canadian) to stay on that side of the Commonwealth. Apply for whatever you qualify for while you're still in your home country. Often the processing takes practically forever. The sooner you start, the better. You will receive 1/2 credit for every day you live in Canada prior to becoming a permanent resident, for the record.
Move to Canada. After all the paperwork is completed, move
to Canada! If all your ducks are in a row, this won't be an issue. You can now
worry about the finer things, like getting a moving van and signing a lease. Be
prepared to show all types of ID and proof of your current legal residency
status -- otherwise everything you're doing is illegal.
Get your "Maple Leaf Card." That's what the
Permanent Resident Card is informally known as. If you're on a student visa or
a working visa or some other type that allows you in Canada for a specific
amount of time, you'll need to upgrade. Your Maple Leaf Card will let you stay
in Canada for an indefinite amount of time.
There's obviously
necessary paperwork to fill out, fees to pay, and time to wait when it comes to
this. It's also a mandatory step -- you cannot go from staying in Canada on a
temporary visa to becoming a citizen. Visit Canada's citizenship and
immigration website for official information.
Stay put for 1,095 days. Once you're a permanent resident,
you need to be able to prove that you've been in Canada for 1,095 days out of
the past 4 years (there's 1460 days in 4 years, so that's 3 years). It does not
have to be 1,095 consecutive days. So long as you're there for 3 out of the
past 4 years, you're good to go. And yes, they will look at your passport,
deciphering it until the moose come home.
As stated
previously, you'll receive 1/2 a day's credit for every day spent in Canada
prior to becoming a permanent resident. All the more reason to get on
establishing your residency!
This 3 year rule
does not apply to those under the age of 18.
Speak French or English well enough to communicate
effectively. This is a requirement to becoming a Canadian citizen, as most of
the residents in Canada speak at least one these languages fluently. When the
time for the citizenship test rolls around, you will be given an oral exam. If
you don't pass, you won't become a citizen. Don't worry about specific
knowledge -- they're mainly concerned with everyday conversations and the
abliity to express yourself.
If English or French
isn't your native tongue (or close to it), Canada's immigration website has a
list of documents it will accept as proof that you meet the language
requirement.These will be required as part of your citizenship application.
Download the Canadian citizen application from the
Citizenship and Immigration Canada website. As soon as the application is
downloaded, begin filling it out. Make sure you read the instructions that come
with the application so you are sure you fill it out correctly the first time.
Included in the
application packet is a document checklist. Be sure you have everything you
need and in the right format. Fair warning: it's an extensive checklist. If you
do not fill out everything correctly and include everything you need, it will
get sent back to you.You will get very frustrated if this happens and it's
very easy to avoid -- so read everything thoroughly.
Make photocopies of virtually everything. In general, the
citizenship office is not looking for originals. If you send originals, you
will not have them when you need them for the actual interview.[8] Grab that
document checklist and make sure you have everything. And in case something
goes wrong, make photocopies of your photocopies.
You'll need
photocopies of transcripts, school records, travel records, your Maple Leaf
Card, your ID card, and proof of language evidence, in case you were curious.
Pay the necessary fees for the application. These
fees will be listed in the instruction manual. The application fees are
non-refundable and the fees have to be paid each time you apply for
Canadian citizenship at the same time you send in your application. As
of 2013, the total fees for one adult were $200 CAD -- and it must be
paid in Canadian currency.
- It is preferred that you complete this online (with your application). However, you can also pay the fees at a financial institution in Canada. If you choose the in-person method, you will need to fill out a payment receipt form (IMM 5401). The cashier will handle the brunt of this. The half you receive back should be filled out and attached to your application.
. Complete the
application with all necessary attachments and submit it. Do one more
once-over; do you have everything you need? If so, you can mail it to the
address given in the application instruction manual. The address is:
Case Processing
Centre – Sydney
Grant Adults
P.O. Box 7000
SYDNEY, NS
B1P 6V6
If you're mailing
it by courier, the address is:
Case Processing Centre, Sydney
Grant Adults
49 Dorchester
Street
Sydney, Nova
Scotia
B1P 5Z2
Study the booklet
entitled "Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of
Citizenship." This booklet will be sent to you once your application is
received by the proper authorities. However, there's also a PDF online and an
audio version as read by famous Canadians.They've thought of everything.
On the citizenship
test, there will be questions about Canada's political system, geography and
history, and you will have to pass this test in order to be a Canadian citizen.
This booklet covers all of that.
The audio
version comes in English and French, and, unfortunately, isn't read by Howie
Mandel, Leonhard Cohen, or Avril Lavigne
Wait for the decision-making process to complete. As with most
things, this takes time. The CPC sends your application to the CIC nearest you
to ensure the speediest delivery. You may be asked to come into the office to
review your documents -- this is entirely routine. Bring your original
documents with you.
From the point they receive your
application and you become a citizen, it currently is estimated to take 25
months. If your application is incomplete or there are other problems, it is estimated
to take 35 months.If you don't receive word back automatically, don't fret.
Good things come to those who wait.
Receive notice of your interview and citizenship test. After your
application begins processing, you'll receive a "Notice to Appear"
for your interview. Appear at the appropriate time and place that your Notice
to Appear states, take your citizenship test and complete your citizenship
interview. Your interview will basically be the same as the test questions,
just asked orally.
If you don't speak English or French as
your native tongue, this will also serve as your language assessment. A judge
will determine whether or not your skills are up to par.
Appear for your Citizenship Oath. This, too, will be notified to
you by mail. It will also state where and when to be at the designated place
(the location is determined by your place of residence). Receiving this notice
means you have passed your written citizenship test and interview.
You will receive your Certificate of
Canadian Citizenship at the ceremony. So don't miss it! After all the hoops
you've jumped through, this is it! All you have to do is appear, take your
oath, and you're in for good. Time to eat some poutine!
Know your situation. You either now have dual citizenship or are
looking to renounce your original citizenship. If you're American transitioning
to certifiable Canadian, that fee is $450, amongst other things like piles of
paperwork.Along with fees, there are other things to consider:
If you do have dual citizenship, there are
benefits and disadvantages. Make sure you're up to snuff on the legal
requirements -- you don't want to viewed as a tax or military draft evader. The
requirements vary by country, so do your research.
If you do renounce your original
citizenship, it's not something you can get back easily. This is not something
to jump to -- make sure your 110% positive this is the track you want to take.
Why dont you visit www.canadavisa.com and start from there.
Written by David
Cohen
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