How to Report U.S. F-1 / OPT Dates on Canadian Citizenship Application?

[apex123]

Hi all, I’m filling out my Canadian citizenship application. I held a U.S. F-1 student visa stamped valid from June 2018 to June 2023 and entered the U.S. in July 2018. I was issued post-completion OPT/STEM OPT, valid until February 2023. I moved to Canada as a Student in September 2021, but continued working remotely for my U.S. employer until August 2022 (ICE allowed under COVID rules). Since Sept 2022, I have traveled to the USA on a B2 status for visiting purposes.

The form asks: ‘Do you currently, or have you ever held immigration (including work/study/visitor in dropdown) or citizenship status in a country or territory other than Canada?’

1. Which start and end dates should I report for my U.S. status as a student?

2. I also have a B1/B2 visa, which I also used for a visit in recent times. Should I also include this in this section?

 

[ccaallvviinn]

It is important to differentiate status from visa stamp. In my opinion, your F-1 status started from June 2018 (the issuance date) to August 2022 (or Sept. 2022, depending on the specific date), when you switched your status from F1 / F1-OPT to B2. And, yes, I think you should include B2 status in this section, as mentioned in here "(including work/study/visitor in dropdown)".

 

[apex123]

It is important to differentiate status from visa stamp. In my opinion, your F-1 status started from June 2018 (the issuance date) to August 2022 (or Sept. 2022, depending on the specific date), when you switched your status from F1 / F1-OPT to B2. And, yes, I think you should include B2 status in this section, as mentioned in here "(including work/study/visitor in dropdown)".

Thanks for the reply, so I have traveled to the US multiple times using a B2 visa since Sept 2022 till Present, should I include every trip? I have already mentioned in travel history. Also, My Us visa was issued to me in 2016, valid up until 2026

 

[ccaallvviinn]

Thanks for the reply, so I have traveled to the US multiple times using a B2 visa since Sept 2022 till Present, should I include every trip? I have already mentioned in travel history. Also, My Us visa was issued to me in 2016, valid up until 2026

I am not an expert, so purely as FYI. My understanding is that you may have B2 and F1 visa stamps in your passport at the same time, but you cannot have two different statuses while physically in the US, i.e., either F1 or B2, depending on what you declare the intent of the visit at port of entry. The duration of that status is indicated in the I-94 you receive for that trip as maximum and your actual leaving date. You cannot switch from a status to another, without leaving the US and re-entering or filing status change / extension with USCIS while in the US. In your case, I think you can either list the whole 10 years as B2 status or list every trip to the US - for either case, you may want to submit a letter of explanation to explain the rationale, in order to make sure you're covered.

 

[sodapop123]

@ccaallvviinn & @apex123

I have the same/similar situation so following this thread.

It's been a while and i can't remember so asking :

• For the time on while employed on OPT before a work visa actually gets granted/kicks in - Is it considered part of one's F1(Student visa) from an 'immigration status' perspective ?
• If so, then in the citizenship online application form, one should just club the time spent working on OPT with the student status entry, as a single entry - from yyyy/mm/dd to yyyy/mm/dd status in USA and select student in the dropdown (despite already graduating and being employed) - agreed/correct ?

 

[sodapop123]

It is important to differentiate status from visa stamp. In my opinion, your F-1 status started from June 2018 (the issuance date) to August 2022 (or Sept. 2022, depending on the specific date), when you switched your status from F1 / F1-OPT to B2. And, yes, I think you should include B2 status in this section, as mentioned in here "(including work/study/visitor in dropdown)".

This is where it isn't completely clear on how to make the entries in the application online.

I think it's way easier for me make entries with actual 'Stay/residence' dates, rather than 'visa issuance/stamp on passport' dates.

For example, during my stay in the USA, I went from :
An F1 (Student) visa >> an OPT (1 year employment card, post graduation) >> working on 1st H1B for 'x' years >> getting an extension on that H1B for 'y' years >> to a third extension for 'z' year.

If i went strictly by actual visa issuance dates stamped on my passport, i would have to list each of the above as a separate entry since they are stamped as separate entities on different pages of my passport. Additonally, the problem is the visa issuance and end dates (on the passport stamps) either :

• Overlap each other with one ending after another already started, which could be confusing to someone reviewing the citizenship application ... OR ....
• They have a gap in between when they kick in and one was waiting for an extension approval (so kind of implied continuation status untill a decision is made).This gap isn't accounted for in passport stamps.

It's way easier for me to just add two simple entries as below :

1. Student status in USA from : 'F1 start date' to 'Date first H1b kicked in' *(includes time on OPT)
2. Worker status in USA from : 'Date first H1b kicked in' to 'Date i left the USA'

Hoping that keeping it simple and clear, with the two entries strategy, is an acceptable way to go.

 

[ccaallvviinn]

This is where it isn't completely clear on how to make the entries in the application online.

I think it's way easier for me make entries with actual 'Stay/residence' dates, rather than 'visa issuance/stamp on passport' dates.

For example, during my stay in the USA, I went from :
An F1 (Student) visa >> an OPT (1 year employment card, post graduation) >> working on 1st H1B for 'x' years >> getting an extension on that H1B for 'y' years >> to a third extension for 'z' year.

If i went strictly by actual visa issuance dates stamped on my passport, i would have to list each of the above as a separate entry since they are stamped as separate entities on different pages of my passport. Additonally, the problem is the visa issuance and end dates (on the passport stamps) either :

• Overlap each other with one ending after another already started, which could be confusing to someone reviewing the citizenship application ... OR ....
• They have a gap in between when they kick in and one was waiting for an extension approval (so kind of implied continuation status untill a decision is made).This gap isn't accounted for in passport stamps.

It's way easier for me to just add two simple entries as below :

1. Student status in USA from : 'F1 start date' to 'Date first H1b kicked in' *(includes time on OPT)
2. Worker status in USA from : 'Date first H1b kicked in' to 'Date i left the USA'

Hoping that keeping it simple and clear, with the two entries strategy, is an acceptable way to go.

First, OPT is an extension of F-1 and considered F-1 status. Second, like mentioned in previous post, status and visa stamps are different things. In short, from what you described, I would agree that the two simple entries you shared are the correct way to go.

 

[canuk1234]

I'm in a similar situation. F-1 visa through OPT, and STEM OPT. I left the US during my 60 days grace period.
Should I just report this period from F-1 visa first date of entry, till the last day in the US (even though my status had expired by then, and I was on the grade period? - even though it's completely legal to depart in the grace period, but it exceeds my visa issuance dates)

 

[ccaallvviinn]

I'm in a similar situation. F-1 visa through OPT, and STEM OPT. I left the US during my 60 days grace period.
Should I just report this period from F-1 visa first date of entry, till the last day in the US (even though my status had expired by then, and I was on the grade period? - even though it's completely legal to depart in the grace period, but it exceeds my visa issuance dates)

I would agree with you. What does your I-94 show? D/S for your F-1 status? If the case, then more confirmed.

 

[canuk1234]

I would agree with you. What does your I-94 show? D/S for your F-1 status? If the case, then more confirmed.

Great catch. Both the passport stamp, and I-94 showed D/S. I guess is there any issue to report dates that exceed the visa expiry dates? (knowing that it's highly likely they have access to that information - again, nothing is wrong, just trying to submit clear and accurate information).

Q2: How about OPT/STEM OPT? Given that they require an employment authorization document, how can I indicate that status was student, but authorized for OPT/STEM?

Q3: Is the 60 days inclusive of the 60th day?

 

[sodapop123]

I'm in a similar situation. F-1 visa through OPT, and STEM OPT. I left the US during my 60 days grace period.
Should I just report this period from F-1 visa first date of entry, till the last day in the US (even though my status had expired by then, and I was on the grade period? - even though it's completely legal to depart in the grace period, but it exceeds my visa issuance dates)

So I went ahead and submitted my application a week ago. Can't guarantee this is the right way to go about it, but I'll share what i did.

Since the whole question is a bit confusing, i just decided to keep it simple and go with dates i actually lived in a particular country on a certain 'immigration status'. That helped me keep all my entries simple, rather than dealing with things like overlapping visa stamp validity dates in passports/approval notices or things like grace period/gaps or implied statuses in between visas etc.

It's up to each individual to see what's the simplest & truthful way to answer this particular question based on their situation.


Now, specific to your questions :

• I used the date i landed in/entered the USA as the 'start date' for my 'Student/F1 status' (NOT the issue date listed on the actual visa stamp in the passport)
• In my (not at all professional) opinion, the grace period is still part of the same status that you were on before it kicked in (so either student/worker). So i would have used the date you actually exited the country as the 'end date', since your 'status' was still legal/valid until then. That is, assuming you didn't overstay past the 60 days
• I moved out of the country a week before my visa validity expired. So i didn't have to deal with the grace period situation
• Since the dropdown menu says either 'student' or 'worker' to define the status, i just went with 'student' and included any time spent on OPT as part of that same entry (despite already graduating). The way the question is worded, i assumed IRCC is asking for your 'actual immigration status on paper' (OPT/EAD card is still technically part of the F1 status).

Hope this helps you out.
I guess we'll find out in a year if my approach was correct or not lol.

 

[canuk1234]

That is, assuming you didn't overstay past the 60 days

what happens if I had overstayed the 60-days period?

 

[sodapop123]

what happens if I had overstayed the 60-days period?

I honestly don't know. I just remember back in the day, we were always told that post-60 days one goes 'out of status'. I've never known anyone who actually overstayed that.
And for what that would mean/how to deal with it, in the context of the 'citizenship application', i have no idea !

I believe you said you left on/before the 60th day ? - If so, I wouldn't be worried about this at all.

If you look at the application form online when actually filling it out, it doesn't ask for all that detail/explanation. Just the below 4 things :

1. Date obtained/effective
2. End Date
3. Country/territory
4. Type of Status (in a dropdown)

My (not professional / untested) opinion (going by what i did) is :

• The answer to the question for you should be along the lines of : 'You held 'Student' Status in ______ Country from _____ to _____'
• Your 'end date' should be the date your flight took off/you crossed the international border by road, to leave the country and hence, officially ending your 'student/F1' status.