Citizenship Application - Eligiblity and Recommendation for an Agent

[limits]

Hello everyone,

I will become eligible for citizenship at the end of this month.

While going through the citizenship eligibility test online, it asks me:

In the past 5 years, have you been required to file your personal income taxes under the Income Tax Act of Canada? (required)

I am not sure what the answer to this question is. I have filed my taxes since becoming a tax resident of Canada for the past 3 years. Can someone please help me understand if I should answer yes or no to this question?

I plan on reading this FAQ before I complete my application: https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-i...plications-frequently-asked-questions.522548/

Anything else I should keep in mind? Common errors?

I know they reject applications for the stupidest of mistakes sometimes so I want someone to proof read my application before submission. So, does anyone know a good agent (and reasonable) who will proof read my citizenship application and make sure everything is in order before I submit my application?

Questions have been highlighted in bold

Thank you for the help!

 

[dpenabill]

Hello everyone,

I will become eligible for citizenship at the end of this month.

While going through the citizenship eligibility test online, it asks me:


I am not sure what the answer to this question is. I have filed my taxes since becoming a tax resident of Canada for the past 3 years. Can someone please help me understand if I should answer yes or no to this question?

I plan on reading this FAQ before I complete my application: https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-i...plications-frequently-asked-questions.522548/

Anything else I should keep in mind? Common errors?

I know they reject applications for the stupidest of mistakes sometimes so I want someone to proof read my application before submission. So, does anyone know a good agent (and reasonable) who will proof read my citizenship application and make sure everything is in order before I submit my application?

Questions have been highlighted in bold

Thank you for the help!

"I have filed my taxes since becoming a tax resident of Canada for the past 3 years."​

Easy, for these three years check Yes required to file; Yes filed.

" I know they reject applications for the stupidest of mistakes sometimes . . . "​

IRCC does NOT engage in GOTCHA games processing citizenship applications. (Despite some local whining otherwise.) So minor errors will rarely derail the application.

Of course not all mistakes are created equal. An error in the date in the signature box would, indeed, be a "stupid" mistake, and sure more than a few have done this, which can indeed result in the application being rejected.

But very few citizenship applicants need an "agent" to review the application. The applicant's highest level of carefulness in READING the instructions and FOLLOWING the instructions will almost always bode well, paying very close attention to getting details correct. No one else really knows the individual applicant's details, anyway, so this information is dependent on how careful the applicant provides it regardless.

If not entirely comfortable with English or French, just having a family member or friend who is fully fluent go over the application WITH YOU should be sufficient.

Generally it should NOT be difficult to make a near-error free application. Really should be no reason to worry.

But, for some insurance, and better than relying on an "agent" who will likely rush through things and not cross-check information anyway, DO MULTIPLE DRAFTS. BUT do not mechanically copy information from a draft into the final, to be submitted form, but pay attention to each detail and enter every response thoughtfully. (We live in times when everything tends to get done in a rush; this is important enough to take more time and be more deliberative.)

Other than the higher fees now (which recent reports suggest has discouraged thousands to put off or not even apply for citizenship), IRCC has made a concerted effort to make this process as easy as practically possible. The main thing is to go slow, READ and FOLLOW the instructions, carefully read the questions, and carefully, completely, and accurately provide the information requested. Not a form to rush through. Definitely NOT a form to rely on anyone else to complete for you.

 

[limits]

"I have filed my taxes since becoming a tax resident of Canada for the past 3 years."​

Easy, for these three years check Yes required to file; Yes filed.

" I know they reject applications for the stupidest of mistakes sometimes . . . "​

IRCC does NOT engage in GOTCHA games processing citizenship applications. (Despite some local whining otherwise.) So minor errors will rarely derail the application.

Of course not all mistakes are created equal. An error in the date in the signature box would, indeed, be a "stupid" mistake, and sure more than a few have done this, which can indeed result in the application being rejected.

But very few citizenship applicants need an "agent" to review the application. The applicant's highest level of carefulness in READING the instructions and FOLLOWING the instructions will almost always bode well, paying very close attention to getting details correct. No one else really knows the individual applicant's details, anyway, so this information is dependent on how careful the applicant provides it regardless.

If not entirely comfortable with English or French, just having a family member or friend who is fully fluent go over the application WITH YOU should be sufficient.

Generally it should NOT be difficult to make a near-error free application. Really should be no reason to worry.

But, for some insurance, and better than relying on an "agent" who will likely rush through things and not cross-check information anyway, DO MULTIPLE DRAFTS. BUT do not mechanically copy information from a draft into the final, to be submitted form, but pay attention to each detail and enter every response thoughtfully. (We live in times when everything tends to get done in a rush; this is important enough to take more time and be more deliberative.)

Other than the higher fees now (which recent reports suggest has discouraged thousands to put off or not even apply for citizenship), IRCC has made a concerted effort to make this process as easy as practically possible. The main thing is to go slow, READ and FOLLOW the instructions, carefully read the questions, and carefully, completely, and accurately provide the information requested. Not a form to rush through. Definitely NOT a form to rely on anyone else to complete for you.

Thank you! Appreciate the response.

Happy that I will save some money for an agent in that case haha. Maybe I will get a family member to proof read it instead (like my dad).

I am fluent in English so that's not a problem.

@dpenabill Are most of communications from immigration done by e-mail now or do they still send letters in the mail?

 

[Seym]

Foe the last question : most of it is done by email if you provide one.
They will only use snail mail for stuff like FP requests or RQ.

 

[limits]

Foe the last question : most of it is done by email if you provide one.
They will only use snail mail for stuff like FP requests or RQ.

Thank you!

Do they notify you online though that they have sent it via snail mail so that I can expect it?

 

[sydcarton]

Thank you!

Do they notify you online though that they have sent it via snail mail so that I can expect it?

Yes, your ECAS is updated for both email and snail mail mentioning they have sent you a correspondence. Good luck!