Test

[ldn_mtl]

Test

 

[Cassiano]

Hey all,

I have received a notice to appear from the IRCC. This is for me to attend a virtual ceremony and for me to take my Oath of Citizenship. It is stipulated in the notice that I must physically be in Canada, even though the call itself will take place over Zoom.

I am a British citizen but also a PR with the intention of returning to Montreal. However, due to complications from COVID here in the UK, I have not been in Canada for the RO, breaching it by approx 60 days. I would hope I'd be allowed lawful entry into Canada as a PR and that this would be overlooked on compassionate grounds. However, I am concerned that I will arrive at the border only to be issues with a removal order and will therefore not be able to attend the ceremony. What can or should I do in this situation?

Thanks in advance

* If you cannot take the oath at this date and time, send a message to this e-mail address: CIC-CITOY-CONVO@cic.gc.ca as soon as you receive this invitation in order that we reschedule your ceremony.
* You must be physically present in Canada when taking the Oath of Citizenship by video. If you are outside of Canada, please contact us by email at CIC-CITOY-CONVO@cic.gc.ca to let us know your expected return date, in order to reschedule your ceremony.

 

[dpenabill]

Hey all,

I have received a notice to appear from the IRCC. This is for me to attend a virtual ceremony and for me to take my Oath of Citizenship. It is stipulated in the notice that I must physically be in Canada, even though the call itself will take place over Zoom.

I am a British citizen but also a PR with the intention of returning to Montreal. However, due to complications from COVID here in the UK, I have not been in Canada for the RO, breaching it by approx 60 days. I would hope I'd be allowed lawful entry into Canada as a PR and that this would be overlooked on compassionate grounds. However, I am concerned that I will arrive at the border only to be issues with a removal order and will therefore not be able to attend the ceremony. What can or should I do in this situation?

Thanks in advance

There is indeed a risk that border officials could conduct a formal Residency Obligation compliance examination, upon your arrival, which could result in the issuance of a Removal Order, which would make you ineligible for citizenship, so no oath.

There are many indications of greater leniency in RO enforcement by border officials these days. But that has been generally. Very little reporting from those who are in a situation similar to yours with a citizenship application in process.

The odds seem particularly good for most if their PR card is still valid (if your PR card is not still valid, you would need to travel via the U.S., unless you applied for a PR Travel Document, which probably would not be a good idea). But again, that is largely based on anecdotal reporting from PRs generally, most of whom tend to be soft-landed PRs late getting to Canada to settle, and for whom Covid had a large impact on how soon they made the trip here.

Generally the sooner the PR gets to the Canada, the better their odds they will be either waived through without a formal RO compliance examination or, even if subject to RO compliance questioning, still allowed to proceed without a 44(1) Report being prepared and no Removal or Departure Order issued.

The sticky part for you is that your GCMS may have a flag because of the citizenship application. We don't know to what extent CBSA/IRCC are screening PRs in your circumstances. You likely need to make the trip and see how it goes. And if you do, please come back here and report how it went, either way.

Cannot offer much about how to go about this, other than the sooner you come the better, and when you come be prepared to honestly explain your situation and why you were not able to return to Canada sooner. Again, if you do this, please come back here and tell the forum how it went.

Also note: Trying to reschedule the oath would probably increase the negative risks.

 

[canuck78]

You also must be in compliance with your PR RO to qualify for citizenship so your case could be flagged for that reason.