dextroyer

I have been studying in Canada continuosly for the past 4.5 years. (I arrived in September of 2000). I just became a permanent resident 1 week ago. I have heard a lot of different things about how "student" years are counted for citizenship.

How long do I have to wait or when can I apply for citizenship??

Thank you!

amancharan

I duno if u can actually do that.... u were on a temporary permit; right? I wouldnt imagine if that is possible, but obviously I would love u hear expert answers...
hope to have answers from andrew or jim..

iaink

Non PR years count as "half time", but only up to a total of one years credit, so you still have two years as a PR to wait before you are elligiable.

Insomniac

Great, I found a totally relevant old thread. I want to eventually apply for citizenship, having been here almost 2 yrs as a non PR (i.e. this already counts as a year, yay!). My question is, does time spent on vacation here also count?

I don't mean the odd week here and there, I spent the full 3 months here allowed without a visitor's visa before I moved here permanently and have the plane tickets to prove it. Okay, so it only adds an extra 1.5 months to the time I've spent that will count to citizenship, but the sooner, the better...

JAJ

Technically it *might* count, as visitors are still termed 'temporary residents'. It depends on the exact wording of the Citizenship Act and the IRPA.

However I wouldn't try it as it's unusual and may confuse CIC, even if it's legally ok. And if it's not legally ok, then you'd have to go before a citizenship judge.

Either scenario could add a lot more than 1.5 months to the processing time.

Jeremy

PMM

HI

Unlikely unless it was documented on a visitor record (IMM1097/14442).

PMM

JAJ

Wouldn't passport stamps and other evidence of having been in Canada for the period be enough to document things?

I'm not saying that someone *should* try this (always best to keep things simple), but I don't see a legal reason why it couldn't work.

Jeremy

PMM

Hi

Nope, as Canada has no exit controls, s/he could have arrived in Canada, then left again, no record.

PMM

Insomniac

Doesn't the same thing apply to anyone getting Citizenship? You have to prove when you left and when you reentered. They've only got your word for the latter, which is why I mentioned that I have a plane ticket as proof of when I left (as a visitor, but the same goes for people with PR).

JAJ

If the person used a credit or debit card to pay for things in Canada, then a bank or credit card statement would show presence in Canada.

Another piece of evidence would be retention of boarding passes and plane tickets.

Jeremy