Canadian citizenship: 5 key ways the rules are changing
The Harper government is calling the proposed overhaul of the Citizenship Act the first comprehensive reform to it since 1977.
Here are five important proposed changes:
1) It will take longer. Under new legislation, permanent residents will have to have a “physical presence” in Canada for four years out of six years, compared to the current three out of four years.
2) Tougher language requirements. More applicants will have to meet language requirements and pass a test, with the government expanding its age range for those requirements to those aged 14-64, compared to the current range of 18-54.
3) Citizenship can be revoked. The government would have the power to strip citizenship from dual nationals who are members of an armed force or groups engaged in armed conflict with Canada, and from those convicted of terrorism, treason or spying.
4) Criminal charges abroad come into play. The new legislation would bar people with foreign criminal charges and convictions from getting citizenship. Current laws only bar citizenship for those with certain domestic criminal charges and convictions.
5) Fast-track for those who join the military. Permanent residents who are members of the Canadian Armed Forces will have a fast-track to citizenship.
Other changes include:
<bullet> Fees for applications for citizenship will go up from $100 to $300 so that an applicant for citizenship would pay a total of $400, including the fee for the right of citizenship for all successful applicants.
<bullet> Legislation is also being proposed to tighten regulations against fraud with a $100,000 fine or up to two years in prison for an unauthorized individual who knowingly represents or advises on a citizenship application or hearing for a fee.
<bullet> Any individual who commits citizenship fraud faces a fine of up to a $100,000 and or five years in prison. The penalty for a summary offence would include a fine of up to $50,000 and/or two years in prison.
<bullet> The minister of citizenship and immigration will be given the power to give citizenship to some individuals in extraordinary circumstances. And he will be given sole authority to revoke citizenship for those who obtained citizenship by fraud — either through residence fraud, concealing criminal inadmissibility or identity fraud.
•The creation of a body that supervises immigration consultants and holds them to a series of professional standards;
•The ability to deny citizenship to criminals charged with or convicted of serious crimes outside Canada as well as criminals serving a sentence outside Canada.
Applicants will have to have been physically present in Canada for four of the previous six years, instead of three out of four; will have to sign a declaration attesting that they plan to live here; will not be able to count time spent in the country before acquiring permanent resident status; and will have to file Canadian income taxes during the residence period. Fees for applicants will be tripled, though Canada still charges much less than Britain or the U.S.
The government is also extending language and knowledge requirements to everyone aged 14 to 65, in place of the present ages 18 to 54. That would mean both elderly relatives and younger family members have to bone up on either French or English and study Canadian customs and culture, to gain acceptance. Penalties for fraud will be sharply increased and permanent residents serving in the armed forces will get a break, qualifying a year faster than other applicants.
