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.