Re: No Physical presence proof in new applications
Wrong:
septimius said:
I've been going through cic pages for citizenship. No where do I find any request for proof of physical presence! There isn't even a request for Tax returns! Apparently, they check about your returns with CRC directly. The old pages would ask for tax returns, studies, employment or any document to support physical presence but it's not there anymore. Even the passport, they only ask for the biographical page! Before, they would say all pages of the passport and translation of any non English stamps.
What's going on?! My guess is that they no longer trust documents from applicants but are tax returns alone enough to prove presence? What about people who didn't file taxes. I'm confused, we've heard so many stories where they ask for the smallest details about physical presence but now, it's not in the checklist. Wouldn't that just prolong processing when/if they later ask for supporting documents?
This post erroneously describes previous application forms. It also erroneously misstates what current applicant's need to have (main example of this is that yes, current applicants do need to present
all pages of all relevant passports, with translations for any information which is not in one of the official languages. The full passport, as has been the case for at least the decade I have followed these matters,
must be presented attendant the documents check interview.
It appears you are not familiar with even the basic instructions in the Instruction Guide, not familiar with past application forms, not familiar with the procedures involved in processing citizenship applications, and otherwise fail to recognize the import of the applicant's affirmation of key information constituting evidence of physical presence (address history, work history, and travel history), subject to severe penalties for any misrepresentation (including criminal prosecution).
The current application form requires more documentation than previous versions, going back at least a decade (and I presume much longer), and more detailed information.
Perhaps you have confused what is required in the application itself versus subsequent processing steps, particularly the interview, and potential requests for additional documents and evidence in the event IRCC identifies a reason to question the applicant's physical presence.
Or, perhaps you are operating off what a consultant instructed prospective applicants regarding what they needed to make a citizenship application.
In any event, previous citizenship applications did
NOT require, with the application itself, submission of tax forms. Did
NOT require including documents supporting employment history. And only required copy of bio pages in relevant passports.
While the CIT 0520 request for additional documents has only been in use for a few years, the CIT 0171 RQ has been in use for at least a decade and prior to 2012 local offices could make requests for additional documents on their own local forms or simply by letter. For a time beginning in 2012, and up to when CIC began using the CIT 0520 form a couple years ago or so (I do not recall when precisely CIC began using CIT 0520 forms), if someone at CIC decided additional documents were needed to assess the applicant's residency or presence, the policy was to issue the full blown RQ CIT 0171 (which had the predictable impact of bogging down, literally, tens of thousands of applications, resulting in the horrendous processing timelines during that period of time).
In any event, make no mistake: The information the applicant provides in the application form itself is extensive, full address and work history covering every month during the entire relevant time period, and a complete accounting of all international travel including day trips to the U.S. IRCC has various tools for screening and verifying this information, including requiring the applicant to bring and present, during the documents check interview,
the original passport, all in any way relevant passports, with properly authenticated translations if applicable. And, if IRCC has questions, the applicant can be required to submit a great deal of additional documentation and evidence, ranging from proof of employment to documents verifying rental or ownership of a dwelling, from bank records to tax records to business records, even any and all documents showing any interest in properties or businesses outside Canada (and a failure to submit these, if requested, which they are in the CIT 0171 form for those issued RQ, would constitute a material misrepresentation by omission).
There is no hint that IRCC is in any way relaxing the amount of information and documentation requested with the application form itself, nor in the broad and sweeping scope of what can be required in the event the applicant is subject to RQ processing.
