Tories toughen rules for those looking to become Canadian
Feb 6th 2014, 6:39 pm
#1
Concierge
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: Oakville, ON, CA
Posts: 8,320
Tories toughen rules for those looking to become Canadian
From this article: http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/02...r-citizenship/
The key changes (taken from the article):
The key changes:
Fees for citizenship applications will increase to $300 from $100. By comparison, fees are $670 in the United States and $1,600 in the United Kingdom.
Only immigrants who have been physically present in Canada four of the past six years would quality for citizenship. Time spent in Canada without permanent resident status would no longer count towards citizenship.
Those applying for citizenship must file Canadian income taxes, which is not currently a requirement.
Applicants 14-65 must pass the language and knowledge test, which will be administered in English or French. Currently only applicants 18-54 must do so, and they may take the knowledge test with an interpreter.
Penalties for fraud will increase to a maximum of $100,000 and five years in prison (from $1,000 and one year).
Permanent residents serving in the Canadian Armed Forces would qualify for citizenship one year sooner than other applicants.
Discuss.
The key changes (taken from the article):
The key changes:
Fees for citizenship applications will increase to $300 from $100. By comparison, fees are $670 in the United States and $1,600 in the United Kingdom.
Only immigrants who have been physically present in Canada four of the past six years would quality for citizenship. Time spent in Canada without permanent resident status would no longer count towards citizenship.
Those applying for citizenship must file Canadian income taxes, which is not currently a requirement.
Applicants 14-65 must pass the language and knowledge test, which will be administered in English or French. Currently only applicants 18-54 must do so, and they may take the knowledge test with an interpreter.
Penalties for fraud will increase to a maximum of $100,000 and five years in prison (from $1,000 and one year).
Permanent residents serving in the Canadian Armed Forces would qualify for citizenship one year sooner than other applicants.
Discuss.
Feb 6th 2014, 6:49 pm
#2
Seasoned Maritimer
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Fredericton, New Brunswick CA
Posts: 8,309
Re: Tories toughen rules for those looking to become Canadian
Seems perfectly reasonable to me.
Feb 6th 2014, 6:53 pm
#3
Concierge
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Joined: Jun 2011
Location: Oakville, ON, CA
Posts: 8,320
Re: Tories toughen rules for those looking to become Canadian
Actually I agree - the reforms all make sense and seem reasonable, not ridiculous.
A little part of me is a teeny bit grumpy, because it now means Husband will have to wait another year before he qualifies for citizenship, but it all makes sense in the end.
I do wonder, does this now give them a bit of a reprise with the number of citizenship applications they're processing, and hopefully it means the ridiculous 2-year queue will reduce? Otherwise it means Husband waiting about 4.5 years to apply, then 2 years of waiting... ick.
(I applied for my British citizenship last October... I had it exactly 2 months later. Just for comparison. But that was also off of 5 years qualification.)
A little part of me is a teeny bit grumpy, because it now means Husband will have to wait another year before he qualifies for citizenship, but it all makes sense in the end.
I do wonder, does this now give them a bit of a reprise with the number of citizenship applications they're processing, and hopefully it means the ridiculous 2-year queue will reduce? Otherwise it means Husband waiting about 4.5 years to apply, then 2 years of waiting... ick.
(I applied for my British citizenship last October... I had it exactly 2 months later. Just for comparison. But that was also off of 5 years qualification.)
Feb 6th 2014, 7:15 pm
#4
Banned
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 19,879
Re: Tories toughen rules for those looking to become Canadian
Oh well - I think I will wait until I am 65 then, lol, I'm not sure I would be able to prove my level of English.
Feb 6th 2014, 7:19 pm
#5
Concierge
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Location: Oakville, ON, CA
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Feb 6th 2014, 7:49 pm
#6
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Joined: May 2007
Location: MB rural.
Posts: 1,001
Re: Tories toughen rules for those looking to become Canadian
well i was going to wait 10 months then would not have needed English tests etc over 54yrs So i noticed MB has a free language course /speaking .reading etc (instead of paying $175 for CELPIP L/S) scots and their money
I phoned the local office up and the answer i received was no,i speak perfect english and come from the uk
I only wish the big wigs in CIC thought this way.
and once again my O level results (original) and a letter from my old old school saying i was there from 65-76 means nothing.
so may as well get on with it .
jimmy
Feb 6th 2014, 8:57 pm
#7
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Re: Tories toughen rules for those looking to become Canadian
Does anyone know when these (proposed) new rules will come into effect?
(If ever?)
(If ever?)
Feb 6th 2014, 9:25 pm
#8
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Feb 6th 2014, 10:05 pm
#9
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: Tories toughen rules for those looking to become Canadian
Actually I agree - the reforms all make sense and seem reasonable, not ridiculous.
A little part of me is a teeny bit grumpy, because it now means Husband will have to wait another year before he qualifies for citizenship, but it all makes sense in the end.
I do wonder, does this now give them a bit of a reprise with the number of citizenship applications they're processing, and hopefully it means the ridiculous 2-year queue will reduce? Otherwise it means Husband waiting about 4.5 years to apply, then 2 years of waiting... ick.
(I applied for my British citizenship last October... I had it exactly 2 months later. Just for comparison. But that was also off of 5 years qualification.)
A little part of me is a teeny bit grumpy, because it now means Husband will have to wait another year before he qualifies for citizenship, but it all makes sense in the end.
I do wonder, does this now give them a bit of a reprise with the number of citizenship applications they're processing, and hopefully it means the ridiculous 2-year queue will reduce? Otherwise it means Husband waiting about 4.5 years to apply, then 2 years of waiting... ick.
(I applied for my British citizenship last October... I had it exactly 2 months later. Just for comparison. But that was also off of 5 years qualification.)
Other articles have mentioned that in additional to being in Canada 4 of the last 6 years, one must also spend at-least 183 days of each of those 4 years to qualify.
Feb 6th 2014, 10:20 pm
#10
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Joined: Apr 2006
Location: Georgetown, Ontario
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Re: Tories toughen rules for those looking to become Canadian
So basically as it stands I'm no better off for applying now.
Wait 3 years before you can apply for Cizenship, then another 2 years+ of waiting = 5 years (possibly longer!)
The new process means waiting 4 years before apply, then waiting another year for processing = 5 years
The only benefit I have is not paying as much.....which incidently I thought was $200 to apply, not $100....I'm sure I paid $200.....maybe I was diddled!
I do however think the new rules are reasonable and acceptable, especially having to stay for a minimun of 6 months per year for the 4 years to qualify.
Wait 3 years before you can apply for Cizenship, then another 2 years+ of waiting = 5 years (possibly longer!)
The new process means waiting 4 years before apply, then waiting another year for processing = 5 years
The only benefit I have is not paying as much.....which incidently I thought was $200 to apply, not $100....I'm sure I paid $200.....maybe I was diddled!
I do however think the new rules are reasonable and acceptable, especially having to stay for a minimun of 6 months per year for the 4 years to qualify.
If the new rules go into affect, they are hoping by 2015-2016 the processing time will reduce to under 1 year in total according to other articles.
Other articles have mentioned that in additional to being in Canada 4 of the last 6 years, one must also spend at-least 183 days of each of those 4 years to qualify.
Other articles have mentioned that in additional to being in Canada 4 of the last 6 years, one must also spend at-least 183 days of each of those 4 years to qualify.
Feb 6th 2014, 11:23 pm
#11
Dive Bar Drunk
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 8,649
Re: Tories toughen rules for those looking to become Canadian
So basically as it stands I'm no better off for applying now.
Wait 3 years before you can apply for Cizenship, then another 2 years+ of waiting = 5 years (possibly longer!)
The new process means waiting 4 years before apply, then waiting another year for processing = 5 years
The only benefit I have is not paying as much.....which incidently I thought was $200 to apply, not $100....I'm sure I paid $200.....maybe I was diddled!
I do however think the new rules are reasonable and acceptable, especially having to stay for a minimun of 6 months per year for the 4 years to qualify.
Wait 3 years before you can apply for Cizenship, then another 2 years+ of waiting = 5 years (possibly longer!)
The new process means waiting 4 years before apply, then waiting another year for processing = 5 years
The only benefit I have is not paying as much.....which incidently I thought was $200 to apply, not $100....I'm sure I paid $200.....maybe I was diddled!
I do however think the new rules are reasonable and acceptable, especially having to stay for a minimun of 6 months per year for the 4 years to qualify.
In my years of watching CIC waiting times changes have only ever bought misery and longer lines in the longer term.
Feb 6th 2014, 11:31 pm
#12
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Re: Tories toughen rules for those looking to become Canadian
I have heard from a few sources that the new rules will apply only to the new applications and those who come as PR once the law is passed.