Verifying your number of days in Canada

[krandria]

Hello,

I am going to apply for my citizenship. I wanted to know how the government is to check the number of days spent out if the country. I have been travelling outside many times and don't keep track of it myself.
Anyone having an experience of applying with less number of days?

Cheers,
~K

[Leon]

The government has some records of you having entered Canada because they tend to scan passports and PR cards.  They may not know when you left but they work with some other countries like the US and so if you entered the US, they might know when.

Any PR should keep track of travel dates because they will ask for it when you apply to renew your PR card and when you apply for citizenship.  If your records don't match theirs, they will figure you are trying to cheat on the days and will call you in for an interview and ask you detailed questions about the things that don't match.  It will easily delay your citizenship application by a year.  Same if you apply with less days than you should.  Then you must convince them why they should give you citizenship with less than the required number of days.

[links18]

I would hate to think the U.S. government has a hand in my Canadian citizenship application. 

[Baloo]

I would hate to think the U.S. government has a hand in my Canadian citizenship application. 

Sadly it is true.

[Leon]

Then make sure you don't travel through the US.  There is no law against border services of different countries exchanging information.  Canada may work with some other countries as well but I would not know which ones.  However, if you stay within your residency requirements and don't lie about your travel dates, you also shouldn't have any problems because they will not find anything that goes against what you said if you have told the truth.

[Baloo]

The key point is, tell the truth.

[links18]

"Q10: I travel often to the United States and don't remember the exact dates. What do I do?

A10: To use the residence calculator, you must enter exact dates. If you do not know the exact number of days you were absent, try to calculate an estimated number and after you have printed your absence sheet, attach a hand written note to it indicating that the dates are approximate."

This is from the CIC's website. Does this mean that if you mention your dates of travel are approximate they will check with the Americans?

[links18]

Then make sure you don't travel through the US.  There is no law against border services of different countries exchanging information.  Canada may work with some other countries as well but I would not know which ones.  However, if you stay within your residency requirements and don't lie about your travel dates, you also shouldn't have any problems because they will not find anything that goes against what you said if you have told the truth.

Its kind of hard to avoid travelling through the U.S. The shortest route between Toronto and Winnipeg goes through the U.S., unless you want to drive the single lane Trans-Canada across the top of Lake Superior in the winter (no thanks!)

[Baloo]

"Q10: I travel often to the United States and don't remember the exact dates. What do I do?

A10: To use the residence calculator, you must enter exact dates. If you do not know the exact number of days you were absent, try to calculate an estimated number and after you have printed your absence sheet, attach a hand written note to it indicating that the dates are approximate."

This is from the CIC's website. Does this mean that if you mention your dates of travel are approximate they will check with the Americans?

They can check, the point is, if they do not believe you I doubt you will convince them without evidence.

[links18]

Don't we have a right to know what they will use? You know open-government and all that? If they are using records from a foreign government, it would be useful for the public to know that, because there may be some sovereignty issues at stake there..........

[Baloo]

Don't we have a right to know what they will use? You know open-government and all that? If they are using records from a foreign government, it would be useful for the public to know that, because there may be some sovereignty issues at stake there..........

It would be nice, but I doubt that all the links they use would be disclosed anyway. Maybe I am just cynical
The best that we can do is keep a log of the days.

[Alabaman]

They can check, the point is, if they do not believe you I doubt you will convince them without evidence.

Yeah...right! You think immigration has the time to check exact dates you were in the US? The system is not that efficient.

[Baloo]

Yeah...right! You think immigration has the time to check exact dates you were in the US? The system is not that efficient.

I know how busy they are, but the point is, if they doubt you, then you need to provide proof.

[Leon]

That is true.  They don't need to check your days.  If something makes them suspicious and they ask you for a residence questionnaire it is on you to prove that you were in Canada and not on them to prove that you weren't.

[Alabaman]

I know how busy they are, but the point is, if they doubt you, then you need to provide proof.

True... sorry I misinterpreted your comment.