If you get approved for PR, do you think you'll apply for citizenship?

[Love_Young]

I know I have not been approved yet but it is something that hubby and I have discussed before. At this moment we are still undecided as to what we will do. Keeping just PR status or applying for citizenship both have pros and cons. But how you decide which you would rather have when that time comes?

I am just curious to see what you all plan to do, what you think the pros/cons are for doing that, and what made you decide to go that route?
I am looking forward to all of your replies.

[eyeoftheocean]

I probably will go for Citizenship after 3 years of being a PR , Im trying to learn the Canadian National Anthem LOL but keep singing the Queens National Anthem half way through ..ooops heehhe

I will also have dual Citizenship cos I was born in England and am a English Citizen, so that will be cool to own 2 passports  

Oh and I have joined our local library and taken out books on French and CD'S too ..Oui Oui Madame Love_Young 

[Love_Young]

I think the Canadian National Anthem is beautiful. Puts me to tears sometimes. Lol.
I too, think it would be neat to be a dual citizen and hold two passports. I am American so if I applied I would also be a dual citizen.
I think that is definitely a pro. *thumbs up*

[eyeoftheocean]

I think the Canadian National Anthem is beautiful. Puts me to tears sometimes. Lol.
I too, think it would be neat to be a dual citizen and hold two passports. I am American so if I applied I would also be a dual citizen.
I think that is definitely a pro. *thumbs up*

Me too, I had to renew my English passport last year , I had a lovely thin figure then and lovely hair too ..since then have piled on the pounds and died my hair , so I better get my arse in shape for next pic for Canadian passport lol ..oui oui ? lol

[suenim]

I will. My country of birth allows dual and so does Canada so I have no problem doing it. One main reason would be less hassle so for example if hubby, baby and I decided to go to England (where his parents are), US etc, I will have to get a visitor's visa to enter those countries. I would also like to be able to vote in federal elections if I want to. After all... I am planning on spending the rest of my life with my family here. Also where it says: "You may be ineligible for certain jobs requiring high-level security clearances..." I want to have a chance at any job I would otherwise be qualified for. So I will apply as soon as my two years are up.

[Love_Young]

Me too, I had to renew my English passport last year , I had a lovely thin figure then and lovely hair too ..since then have piled on the pounds and died my hair , so I better get my arse in shape for next pic for Canadian passport lol ..oui oui ? lol

Oh my, looking at my old passport picture, I look so full of life, thin, with nice hair. Now I have bags under my eyes, bad hair, and gained at least 20 pounds, yuck. I too need to get into shape. Lol.

I will. My country of birth allows dual and so does Canada so I have no problem doing it. One main reason would be less hassle so for example if hubby, baby and I decided to go to England (where his parents are), US etc, I will have to get a visitor's visa to enter those countries. I would also like to be able to vote in federal elections if I want to. After all... I am planning on spending the rest of my life with my family here. Also where it says: "You may be ineligible for certain jobs requiring high-level security clearances..." I want to have a chance at any job I would otherwise be qualified for. So I will apply as soon as my two years are up.

suenim: That is a very good thorough answer and I appreciate it. I too have weighed the same factors. I don't think that it isn't that I don't want to its just more of a when. Like I could stay in Canada after getting PR and just wait 2 years to apply (since time in Canada counts as half days towards citizenship) but then what about home? I haven't seen it in 2 years and miss it. What is someone dies before I have the chance to say goodbye? But then on the other hand at least I don't have to wait 3 years to apply and what is another 2 years away. But then if I decide I can't wait to go home then I would need hubby to go with me for it to count towards applying for citizenship but what if he gets turned around or when I apply they don't believe he was with me on those days? Ugh...such a tough thing to think about. Hopefully your mind didn't just implode from trying to make sense of what I wrote. Lol. I am sorry.

[suenim]

Oh my, looking at my old passport picture, I look so full of life, thin, with nice hair. Now I have bags under my eyes, bad hair, and gained at least 20 pounds, yuck. I too need to get into shape. Lol.

suenim: That is a very good thorough answer and I appreciate it. I too have weighed the same factors. I don't think that it isn't that I don't want to its just more of a when. Like I could stay in Canada after getting PR and just wait 2 years to apply (since time in Canada counts as half days towards citizenship) but then what about home? I haven't seen it in 2 years and miss it. What is someone dies before I have the chance to say goodbye? But then on the other hand at least I don't have to wait 3 years to apply and what is another 2 years away. But then if I decide I can't wait to go home then I would need hubby to go with me for it to count towards applying for citizenship but what if he gets turned around or when I apply they don't believe he was with me on those days? Ugh...such a tough thing to think about. Hopefully your mind didn't just implode from trying to make sense of what I wrote. Lol. I am sorry.

I understand you  . Oh yeah. I didn't think about that. So does that mean if I travel back home for one or two weeks without hubby the "clock" starts over from when I re-enter? I guess if that happens I will just have to wait then    Or does it mean I would just have to wait 2 more weeks (or however long I am away) to qualify for the 1,095 days?

[CharlieD10]

Yes, we have discussed it and decided that I will apply for citizenship.  I want to have the right to participate fully in all aspects of Canadian life, including being able to vote, hold government jobs etc.

Another reason: traveling is something my husband and I both love to do, and it will be far easier for me holding a Canadian passport.  Right now I am restricted to the US (have a visa), the Caribbean and certain South American countries; everywhere else I need a visa for, and he doesn't.  We have friends in Europe we would love to visit without the hassle and uncertainty of me needing a visa, so we can save for visits with them while I fulfill my citizenship requirements, knowing we can go when it's done.    

[bonbon9]

It would be my third citizenship... so sure! Why not!

[Love_Young]

I understand you  . Oh yeah. I didn't think about that. So does that mean if I travel back home for one or two weeks without hubby the "clock" starts over from when I re-enter? I guess if that happens I will just have to wait then    Or does it mean I would just have to wait 2 more weeks (or however long I am away) to qualify for the 1,095 days?

I am not quite sure suenim. Hmm...
Well as long as you can prove the your husband traveled with you then it should still count towards your 1,095 days.
Now if they don't allow him him or you travel without him, I thought it started the count all over again. I hope someone can inform us how it actually is so when can decide the right choice because I mean like you, I have been away from home for a long time and would hate to go so long without seeing it, you know? It isn't just the people I miss but the sites, sounds, and smells of home.

[Love_Young]

Yes, we have discussed it and decided that I will apply for citizenship.  I want to have the right to participate fully in all aspects of Canadian life, including being able to vote, hold government jobs etc.

Another reason: traveling is something my husband and I both love to do, and it will be far easier for me holding a Canadian passport.  Right now I am restricted to the US (have a visa), the Caribbean and certain South American countries; everywhere else I need a visa for, and he doesn't.  We have friends in Europe we would love to visit without the hassle and uncertainty of me needing a visa, so we can save for visits with them while I fulfill my citizenship requirements, knowing we can go when it's done.    

CharlieD10: Citiznenship definitely will help you out for sure then. I too would like to have the right to those aspects of Canadian life. Would hate to have that last bit of restrictions I can't do.

It would be my third citizenship... so sure! Why not!

That is so interesting how with some countries you can hold 3 citizenships. But that is very interesting. What other countries do you hold citizenship with? Hope you don't mind me asking.


Also, I just thought of another thing. At least with citizenship once you obtain it, no more having to deal with immigration. Wouldn't that be a nice thought. And the only thing you have to renew is your passport if you like.

[emmagail]

I'm definatly going to go for the citizenship.  Being Irish, we too can have dual, so going home, I will use Irl/EU and returning here, the Canadain. 

Being the only non-Canadian in the house, i feel left out!

[Love_Young]

Being the only non-Canadian in the house, i feel left out!

Yeah I know what you mean emmagail. Plus it gets really awkward when my friends call me Canadian because I am living here and they think still that as soon as you are married you get citizenship. Or that I am applying to be a citizen. Yeah I would like to say I am but not until I obtain citizenship would I truly be Canadian. Even after getting PR, I wouldn't the belonging I know I would get with citizenship, if that makes sense...

[bonbon9]

CharlieD10: Citiznenship definitely will help you out for sure then. I too would like to have the right to those aspects of Canadian life. Would hate to have that last bit of restrictions I can't do.

That is so interesting how with some countries you can hold 3 citizenships. But that is very interesting. What other countries do you hold citizenship with? Hope you don't mind me asking.


Also, I just thought of another thing. At least with citizenship once you obtain it, no more having to deal with immigration. Wouldn't that be a nice thought. And the only thing you have to renew is your passport if you like.

I was born in Argentina and naturalized Mexican. I thought (and hoped) that dual-citizenship was more like multi-citizenship but hmm, now that you mention it, that might not be the case. I guess I'll do some research about it now that I have time, because I doubt I will after I land!

I think getting Canadian citizenship would simplify things a lot more. At least I'd only have to renew my passport, not passport + PR Card. It would also allow me to visit countries i.e. US without a visa (both Argentinian + Mexicans require visas to visit the USA). I hold a US visa now but if I can save the hassle of renewing that in the future, then yay.

[QCSunshine]

So if you leave the country for a vacation, you have to start over on the count of days in Canada towards the citizenship requirements? Does it have to be three years of consecutive days?