Calling upon all you knowledgeable Expats who have already gone through this route and are now Canadian Citizens......

Next summer, we will be eligible to apply for citizenship, and I've read on the CIC website regarding the application and what it entails. I understand that once you've submitted your application, you are sent the booklet to study and given a date for the test. However, my one question that doesn't seem to be answered in the FAQ's section on the site is on the day of test, would me and my OH have our own separate tests to fill out or is the test done as a joint venture? I ask this because I wanted to know: if it is expected to be done separately, and if I pass and my OH fails (or the other way round ) does that mean that only one of us will be granted Citizenship until the other eventually passes? Please tell me that the test is done as a "family unit".........looking forward to getting the clarification I need. Thnx in advance

You get your own test - and they will be different.
If you pass, you are a Citizen, if your hubby doesn't, he isn't! It's that simple

But don't worry too much - if you really read and test each other on that booklet, you should sail through it!

If you understand English and have a pulse you should pass that test!!!

Thank you Calgal.....at least I know now
OH CR4P! I'm going to have to give my fella a good old kick then when it comes to the studying - I'm the only one who bothers to research and read anything - he just sits back and lets it fall into his lap! Well this one, he's going to have to muck in on then. Ok, one more Q.....how important (here in Alberta) for the test is the speaking and understanding French part? I passed my French 'O' level back in 1984 and can still read and speak "enough to get understood", but the fella - not a chance!

Hi

parents/adults write the test children don't your application is as a family unit however you each write your own test which is multiple choice 20 question.

my test was in English no French at all.

You are sent a booklet on Canada and Canadian History if you study and memorize the book you will pass no problem as the test is based on the booklet.

When I took mine this past Nov I showed up with about 75 other people to write the test it takes longer to register that to write you are given one of 4 different test papers and sit in rows with a chair separating you from the next person. you are given an hour to answer all the questions I finished my test in 5 minutes handed it in and left. we were told we would be sent a letter to appear to take our oath of citizenship if we passed if we didn't we would have an interview with a citizenship judge.

The test is really very simple and if you study the booklet you will have no problems at all the hardest part is waiting once you send in the application form I think my wait was over 14 months from application to test.

Island Girl

So you're saying the test is a piece of p*ss to pass? And I should stop having an anxiety attack for the next 12 months?

LOL Iain - I know, I was being polite

Errrrm French?? Wassat??

(seriously - not an issue)

14 MONTHS :scared:

If we apply July 2007, we qualify for the 3 yrs in the 4 yr period, but our PR cards will expire in August 2008.....what would we do if we are still waiting for the test date to come through and our cards expire? Would we have to renew our residency? Because if that's the case, our UK passports also run out then.....that's gonna be such a messy time again (more horrible paperwork)

In a nutshell. The only thing you might trip over if you are having an ultra blonde day is you have to get the one question on voting right (IIRC), and 2 out of 3 on your rights and responsibilities or something, its not rocket science.

Thats not what you are doing, you are renewing your residency CARD!!

...which you only need if you intend to travel, and even then you can probably get away without it if you have a british passport, which might be more cost effective at (£51) over ten years, compared to $87 for a new canadian one that lasts only 5 years.

It is risibly easy. You will receive the book soon after you send in your application. Put it in a drawer until you receive your test date (perhaps a year later).

Ah ok, we weren't aware that once the date of expiry arrives, it's a simple case of just renewing the card All these things get answered when you have to ask these "dumb" questions!! So I can assume then that if we renew the card, it will be valid for another 5 years?

You don't have to wait until your UK passport runs out before you renew it. I renewed mine about six months before it expired because I knew I wasn't going to be needing it for a while.

By the way, when you go for the citizenship ceremony they will take the PR card away from you. It becomes completely redundant once you've sworn at the judge because you won't be a PR any more.

Also by the way, the easiest way to screw up the test is to not take all the necessary paperwork with you. If you don't have everything they have told you to bring, they will simply turn you away at the door (I saw it happen).

Yes, in the long term citizenship works out cheeper as its doesnt have to be renewed, over and over.

Only problem with keeping a UK passport and traveling with your citizenship card as proof of canadian citizenship is Im not sure how the US will view that once the canadian passport requirement come into effect...you might end up having to get the temp green card when you want to go south?