Canadian Citizenship and Citizenship Act Changes

The Changes to Citizenship Act:

As of June 11, 2015 there were new changes and forms added to the Canadian Citizenship application. This was passed because of Bill C-24 Strengthening the Citizenship Act. If applications were submitted before this date, then the applications will be processed without requiring the changes and forms. However if the application was submitted after June 11^th, then the new changes and forms will be required. The changes are as follows:

1. Increasing time to get citizenship

• Before:You must have resided in Canada 3 years (1095 days) out of the past 4 years

• Now:You must have resided in Canada for 4 out of the past six years. In each of the four years you must have resided at least more than half the year (183 days)

2. Increasing the number of those in testing and to a wider range of ages

• Before: Ages were for those between 16-54 years of age

• Now: Now includes youth from 14-17 years of age and from 55-64 years of age

3. Proof of Income Tax Returns

• Before: Not required

• Now:Required

4. Applicant must have knowledge of Canada and one of its official languages

• English or French

5. Revoking citizenship for those dual citizens who have engaged in actions contrary to Canadian interests

6. Faster processing times for those who have served in the CAF (Canadian Armed Forces)

7. If convicted of specific crimes, then there will be an increase in bar from applying for Canadian citizenship

8. Allowing the minister discretionary power in certain citizenship cases

Benefits of becoming a Canadian citizen:

• The right to vote (exercise suffrage)

• More protection of your status (not being able to be deported back to your home country unless the UN or Canada`s special guidelines authorizes for this)

• Children you have outside of Canada after attaining citizenship status will be considered Canadian citizens

Processing time for Canadian citizenship application:

The application for Canadian citizenship takes a very long to process. It can even take several years or a decade in some cases till the official swear-in ceremony. Once your application has been processed and approved by the CIC, they will invite you to take a test in of their test centres. Or you can choose to have an oral exam by the officer.

• Proficiency in one of Canada`s official languages (either English or French)
• How much you know about Canada

As of June 11^th, 2015 there were added age groups to those who do the test. Youth from ages 14-17 and seniors from ages 55-64 are now supposed to write the test. So this makes ages 14-64 required to write and the pass the examination.

Once you have passed the test, you will be invited by the CIC to attend an official oath for your Canadian citizenship. Once the ceremony has been completed, you will now be considered a Canadian citizen.

Canadian citizenship requirements for adults:

• Attending a ceremony and taking an oath of citizenship
• Have adequate knowledge in either English or French
• Have been under permanent residency
• Not be under a removal order
• Not be inadmissible (criminally, medically, etc.)
• Not being a security risk to Canada

Residential Requirements:

• Having lived in Canada for 4 out of the last 6 years at the time of application
• In each of those four years you must have resided for more than half the year (at least 183 days)

The time you spent on completing your sentence does not count towards the days of Canadian citizenship.

Canadian citizenship requirements for a child:

• Be a permanent resident of Canada
• Have at least one parent who is Canadian Citizen or will turn into a Canadian citizen at the same time as the child

On what reasons can I be denied to obtain my Canadian citizenship?

Whether it is inside or outside of Canada if you have a criminal record, you are in prison, parole or probation your application can be refused. When you are serving your time those days spent in prison, probation or parole are not counted towards your time in Canada.

What do I do once I submit my citizenship application?

If you have submitted your citizenship application the next step would be to wait until you get a response from Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Once you get the confirmation that your application has been received by immigration Canada the next invitation will be an interview. If you are requested to come from an interview make sure to bring all the supporting documents requested by the immigration officer.

Can I get the Canadian citizenship by marrying a Canadian?

If you want to obtain your Canadian citizenship you have to go through same process as everyone else applying for Canadian citizenship. This means you have to meet the residency requirements to apply for Canadian citizenship. Therefore, marrying a Canadian will NOT give you citizenship.

Will I lose my citizenship if I become citizen of Canada?

In Canada you can have dual citizenship, therefore, you will not lose your rights but some countries do not accept dual citizenship. So if you decide to become a Canadian citizen and worried you might lose citizenship of another country it is recommend to check with their laws prior to submitting a Canadian citizenship application.

Can I leave Canada if I have submitted my citizenship application?

Yes, you can exit Canada as long it does not affect your residency requirements you need to meet for citizenship and not miss scheduled appointments with the immigration office unless you provide valid reason in advance.

I have an emergency can my citizenship application be processed faster?

Yes, your application can be processed faster if you have legitimate case to present to the immigration office such as not being able to work, visit a family that is sick abroad or study in a Canada. Therefore, for you application to be considered a special case you have to meet the requirements and once approved by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) they will try to complete the application as soon as possible.

Should I Hire an Immigration Lawyer to help me with my citizenship application?

It is highly advisable to seek the help of a legal professional to aid you throughout this process. Any mistake you make on your citizenship application can delay the rather long times for the application to process. They can also help you to prepare the required and any other supporting documentation to further strengthen your application. Thus, it will further increase your chances of becoming a Canadian citizen.

Contact Akrami & Associates:

Want to submit a successful application and obtain your Canadian citizenship? If so, call our immigration office and one of our immigration experts will be glad to assist you with your matter. If you got questions or require assistance in completing your application please call us at 416-477-2545 or call our toll free number at 1-877-820-7121 and we will be glad to assist you with your immigration matter.

If you decide on filing your own application, we recommend you look into our “Do it Yourself Immigration Kit”. This Do It Yourself Immigration Kit is a detailed informative kit you can purchase to submit your own application like a pro!! It provides you step by step guidance on how to fill out the application and what supporting documents you need to include to submit a successful application. Our Elite Kit offers a one-time consultation and a final review of your application. So if you like to save money but still submit your application like a Pro then do check out our kits!!

With Akrami & Associates there is always a way!!