PR in Canada, denied entry to USA, wanting to apply for Citizenship

[zarkol]

Hello everyone,

I have been granted PR in Canada in the beginning of 2016, and was denied entry to the US in December of the same year. In addition, the US border officers issued a five year travel ban since I worked without a work visa before I even came to Canada. To clarify the timeline, I spent several months in the US in 2011, before coming to Canada to my masters studies in 2012. My study permit evolved into a PGWP, and PR later on.

No one seemed to care about this back on the Canadian border. My life continued as per usual. In the meantime I opened up my private company, and bought an apartment. I traveled from Canada to other countries back and fort seamlessly. Kept filing my taxes, sending invitation letters to friends etc.

Several months ago I fulfilled residential requirements to apply for citizenship. Naturally, the five year ban is of concern to me, and not sure how will it affect my potential application. I tried to find a similar example on the forum, without luck.

Also, I could not really identify would this fall under any of the questions within Section 16 of the citizenship application (Prohibitions).

Can anyone please help with this issue?

Would love to know if I can hope to become a citizen, or if I am already a write off (just no one told me yet).

Thank you very much.

 

[screech339]

Your US 5 year ban has no effect on your citizenship qualification. However the US ban still applies when you obtain Canadian citizenship.

 

[amitdi]

US denial will have zero effect.

 

[Joshua1]

Based on what I understand, your application for Canadian citizenship depends solely on meeting the requirement set by IRCC. I don't think US travel ban is part of it. However, even though the US travel ban was in 2011 (before the eligibility period), you should expect your background and security checks to be prolonged because Canada and the US share security information. The latter is just a speculation.

 

[screech339]

Based on what I understand, your application for Canadian citizenship depends solely on meeting the requirement set by IRCC. I don't think US travel ban is part of it. However, even though the US travel ban was in 2011 (before the eligibility period), you should expect your background and security checks to be prolonged because Canada and the US share security information. The latter is just a speculation.

The travel ban was set a few months (Dec 2016) after the OP got PR. So the OP is banned to US until Dec 2021.

 

[Joshua1]

The travel ban was set a few months (Dec 2016) after the OP got PR. So the OP is banned to US until Dec 2021.

Maybe I miss something here... but I think the OP is referring to a different travel ban

"In addition, the US border officers issued a five year travel ban since I worked without a work visa before I even came to Canada"

 

[EstherBarros]

Hello everyone,

I have been granted PR in Canada in the beginning of 2016, and was denied entry to the US in December of the same year. In addition, the US border officers issued a five year travel ban since I worked without a work visa before I even came to Canada.

He was denied entry at the end of 2016 @Joshua1

 

[zarkol]

Thanks guys for sharing your opinion.

That is right @screech339, the travel ban is until Dec 2021, since it was initiated in Dec 2016.

I visited the US for several months in 2011, and worked while being there to cover some costs. The US border officials did not like that, and issued a ban when I was visiting in Dec 2016.

I even visited the US a month before the ban, but there were no comments regarding the visit in 2011. I was given I-94 for 6 months (which was cancelled in Dec 2016).

Hopefully this adds more clarity.

Thank you.

 

[Joshua1]

He was denied entry at the end of 2016 @Joshua1

I see...

 

[amitdi]

Maybe I miss something here... but I think the OP is referring to a different travel ban

"In addition, the US border officers issued a five year travel ban since I worked without a work visa before I even came to Canada"

As rightly pointed by you, you are definitely missing something. The offence was in 2011, but the ban for that offence was handed in 2016. It wasnt backdated ban, but starting from 2016.

 

[EstherBarros]

I do not see anything specific on the forms regarding being denied entry to another Country (they specifically mention Canada).

In this case, I would call IRCC (early in the morning as soon as they open is the best time to reach them, but still prepare for a long hold) and ASK specifically if there is anywhere in which to disclose this. I would even ask if it would be appropriate to write a letter disclosing this upfront so as to show good faith.

As others said above, it does not interfere with ELIGIBILITY to apply for citizenship, but it could trigger more scrutiny (and such is the way of life, not much to do about that!)

Cheers,

 

[tanush14]

The travel ban was set a few months (Dec 2016) after the OP got PR. So the OP is banned to US until Dec 2021.

Pardon my ignorance but please can you share what does OP means here?

 

[Seym]

Pardon my ignorance but please can you share what does OP means here?

Original Poster, the creator of this thread

 

[tanush14]

Original Poster, the creator of this thread

Thank you.

 

[Joshua1]

As rightly pointed by you, you are definitely missing something. The offence was in 2011, but the ban for that offence was handed in 2016. It wasnt backdated ban, but starting from 2016.

Did you see my response to EstherBarros?