When am I eligable to apply for citizenship?

[techy86]

Hello,

My wife moved to Canada from Bosnia just over 3 years ago. She has her permanent residency card. We have traveled out of country on one occasion for 3 weeks during this time.

When can she start her application for a Canadian citizenship? I skimmed over the government website and it is very confusing for us. Is she eligible to start her application now or must she wait until she is in Canada for 3 or 5 years?

The website says... Regardless of your age, you must have been physically present in Canada for at least 1095 days during the five years right before the date you sign your application.

So based on this, given she's been here just over 3 years we are good to go??

I read that in order to apply she must have language proof. She works and is able to verbally communicate and write in English pretty good. Looking over the government website, her options are to either take the test that is accepted by IRCC or attend any provincially-funded language program (we live in British Columbia). Is one preferred over the other, does it matter which route she for proving her English?

Lastly, how long does it usually take (if there is no paperwork issues) to obtain a citizenship? We want her to become a Canadian

Thanks

 

[PMM]

Hi

Hello,

My wife moved to Canada from Bosnia just over 3 years ago. She has her permanent residency card. We have traveled out of country on one occasion for 3 weeks during this time.

When can she start her application for a Canadian citizenship? I skimmed over the government website and it is very confusing for us. Is she eligible to start her application now or must she wait until she is in Canada for 3 or 5 years?

The website says... Regardless of your age, you must have been physically present in Canada for at least 1095 days during the five years right before the date you sign your application.

So based on this, given she's been here just over 3 years we are good to go??

I read that in order to apply she must have language proof. She works and is able to verbally communicate and write in English pretty good. Looking over the government website, her options are to either take the test that is accepted by IRCC or attend any provincially-funded language program (we live in British Columbia). Is one preferred over the other, does it matter which route she for proving her English?

Lastly, how long does it usually take (if there is no paperwork issues) to obtain a citizenship? We want her to become a Canadian

Thanks

1. If she has been in Canada for 1095 days since she "landed' she is eligible to apply.
2. She will need an English test either CELPIP or IETLS, just the listen and speaking portion, I would suggest she take some English lessions prior to the test.
3. Processing from application to citizenship is about a year. Don't forget that she will need a police certificate.

 

[techy86]

I saw that on celpiptest.ca website they have online programs (CELIP Accelerate - Listening and Speaking), I was going to get her enrolled into this and then take the practice tests. Then we would book her for the real exam and from what I understand she needs to score 4 or higher to be acceptable on the application.

Where does it say that only listening and speaking is required? If she takes the CELPIP test wouldn't the text be a mix of everything?

 

[techy86]

Hi



1. If she has been in Canada for 1095 days since she "landed' she is eligible to apply.
2. She will need an English test either CELPIP or IETLS, just the listen and speaking portion, I would suggest she take some English lessions prior to the test.
3. Processing from application to citizenship is about a year. Don't forget that she will need a police certificate.

For #3 - regarding the police certificate - this part is confusing because the application checklist says you need a police certificate for any place that you have lived over 183 days in the last 4 years of the application date.

When we applied for her PR she did get a record check in Bosnia and that was submitted before she was allowed into the country under PR. Should we just use this same certificate? It is translated and ready to go.

It also states that if you live in Canada you do not need to send one in, unless asked when the application is being processed. So it is safe to assume we don't need to get one from here unless asked for?

 

[Rigly68]

Where does it say that only listening and speaking is required? If she takes the CELPIP test wouldn't the text be a mix of everything?

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/guide-0002-application-canadian-citizenship-under-subsection-5-1-adults-18-years-older.html

"......... Examples of third-party tests include:

• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program General Test (CELPIP-G) or the CELPIP-General LS (listening and speaking).