Canadian Citizenship

Eligibility for Canadian Citizenship

There are six (6) criteria that an applicant must meet to be eligible for Canadian Citizenship.

1. 1.       Age

An applicant must be at least 18 years old to apply for Canadian citizenship. If the applicant is under 18, a parent/ legal guardian can apply on their behalf, provided the child is a permanent resident and at least one of the parents is a Canadian citizen or is applying for citizenship at the same time.

1. 2.       Permanent Resident Status

The applicant must be a permanent resident in Canada and must not be under review for immigration issues or under a removal order.

1. 3.       Time you have lived in Canada

An applicant for Canadian citizenship must have resided in Canada for a total of three (3) years in the last four (4) years. This that a person applying to become a citizen of Canada must have lived in Canada for a minimum of 1095 days in the last four years.

1. 4.       Language Skills

As Canada has two (2) official languages, an applicant must show they know at least one (1) of the languages in adequate ability and provide documentation to prove this. In addition, an immigration officer will be testing the applicant’s ability to speak either English or French during the interview.

1. 5.       Criminal History

Should an applicant have any indictable criminal history in the last three (3) years, be under review for immigration fraud, under a removal order, being investigated, or has had citizenship revoked, then they are not eligible to apply for Canadian citizen.

1. 6.       Canadian Citizenship Test

An applicant between the ages of 18-54 must show their knowledge of Canada and the privileges and responsibilities of acquiring Citizenship. This is displayed through a written test on citizenship. Citizenship and Immigration Canada will provide you with a study guide which can also be assessed on line by clicking on Discover Canada.  

Processing Time for Canadian Citizenship Applications

The current processing time for complete citizenship applications is 24 months. This time can increase if your application raises any questions or concerns that Citizenship and Immigration requires clarification on.

Documentation

In addition to the Canadian Citizenship Application form and payment of for processing fees. See below for supporting documentation required for your application package.

-          Copy of your Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688)

-          Copy of Permanent Resident Card (PRC), if you have one

-          Original results of an official language test taken (keep in mind that CIC will only accept results of certain third-party institutions that offer these tests. For example, Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program General Test)

-          Proof of completion of either French or English secondary and post-secondary education (in Canada or abroad). This can be either a diploma, degree, transcript.

-          Copy of passport

-          Official Education records if you attended school within the last four years of applying

-          Two (2) pieces of personal identification (For example, drivers licence, Canadian health card, copy of passport etc.)

-          Two (2) identical citizenship photographs, see specifications on CIC website

-          Any and all documents or proof that display you have settled in Canada and have established ties to the country. (For example, copy of gym membership, copy of employment contract, any membership cards, property ownership etc.)

The information provided above can seem overwhelming. You may not think you are even eligible because you have been working outside of the country or you travel a lot. It is easy to make a mistake and delay or bar yourself from applying for citizenship but many people who believe they are not eligible, in fact, are!

Let us help you! At A. Princewill Law Firm, we know how important it is to get your Canadian citizenship and that it sometimes can be a frustrating process. We know the ins and outs of the application process and can help you monitor your application once you submit it as well. We will assist you in obtaining documentation that will strengthen your application for you and your family. 

Express Entry to Canada

Express Entry

With the Express Entry program set to launch in January 2015, many people ask us how it differs from the current Canada Immigration programs currently in place. Below is a list of the main differences.

Express Entry will cover the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program and the Canadian Experience Class.

Differences:

1)      Profile Required

Candidates who meet the eligibility criteria will need to create a profile to become part of the pool from which Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Canadian Provinces, and Employers will select candidates for immigration to Canada.


2)      Applications will be electronic

Profiles and the application for permanent residence will be completed electronically.


3)      Invitation to Apply for Permanent Residence required

Candidates from the pool of applicants will need to be invited to submit applications for permanent residence. Candidates will have only 60 days to submit an electronic application for permanent residence once invited.


4)      There will be no list of eligible occupations

This removes the restrictions that some may have faced in qualifying to immigrate to Canada. All candidates are welcome to submit their profile and they will be selected based on their profile without being disqualified merely because do not belong to an occupation on the list of eligible occupation.


5)      Selection is based on how much points you score using the human capital model that assesses a candidate’s chances for success in Canada.

Selection will depend on how much a person scores overall on the following factors: age, English or French language proficiency, education, work experience, prior work or education in Canada, family in Canada, etc.


6)      Employers will be able to select candidates from the pool of prospects to fill their labour shortage needs.

The new system will proactively try to match candidates’ skills with advertised job openings in Canada, thereby assisting employers in finding the perfect candidates they seek.


7)      Increased chance that applicants will be arriving in Canada with a job waiting

The new job matching tool means that many candidates will have a job waiting for them on arrival.

8)      Faster processing time of 6 months or less.

Citizenship and immigration Canada is promising that applications selected from the pool will be completed within 6 months. This is great for the prospective employer as the labor shortage is filled quickly and it is great for candidates as well as they no longer need to wait for years before they can immigrate.



Would you like to apply to immigrate to Canada under the Express Entry program?

Want to find out how good your changes are for successfully immigrating to Canada under the Express Entry program?

Y Canada Services, the immigration Law Section of A. Princewill Law Firm can help you. Complete a free online assessment and we will advise you of your chances of success and the next steps towards obtaining permanent residence in Canada.

Spotlight on Canadian Provinces & Territories | British Columbia

British Columbia is on the west coast of Canada. Sitting atop Washington State in the United States, British Columbia directly faces the Pacific Ocean as Canada. With a population hovering around 4.6 million, British Columbia slightly edges out Alberta as the 3^rd largestprovince in Canada. For those of us seeking to escape the harshest winters, British Colombia’s climate provides some of the most temperate and mild weather in all of Canada. Snowfall is general infrequent and in substantial, while spring’s and falls are quite warm and pleasant. It is common to see people in dresses and t-shirts well into the fall, an alien concept for many on the eastern coasts of Canada.

5 Reasons to Immigrate to British Columbia

Lifestyle and Culture:British Colombia is dense with opportunities for active , recreational lifestyles and bastions of cultural spaces. From the towering redwood trees to the Rocky Mountains, British Columbia is a prime location for those seeking to absorb points of interest for natural beauty. Cycling, canoeing, hiking, camping, among several other activities provide a wide selection of options for those who enjoy the outdoors, or are in love with the outdoors. Your mileage may vary. Those seeking to absorb the rich culture of British Colombia also have something to look forward to with the equally vast amount of options to experience. The deeply aboriginal roots of British Colombia run through the cultural blood of the province’s historic sites, art galleries, museums and festivals. All of this in addition to featuring world-class dining options in world cities such as Vancouver and Victoria, British Colombia is flowing with a staggering array of things to see, do and experience.

Education:British Columbia, almost expectedly, features a robust education system grounded on the importance of education as a facilitation tool. British Colombia’s approach to education from K-12 seeks to establish knowledge in students as a structural foundation from which they can build their own understandings and futures in larger society. On that note, British Colombia also offers First Nations Studies to that effect. As the bedrock of British Columbia’s rich cultural history, recognition of the complex and essential nature of the Aboriginal peoples in the British Colombian educational system is an extension of the philosophy behind connected education to larger society. The Post-Secondary arm of the British Columbian education system is also substantial. Featuring 1,900 programs at 25 public post-secondary institutions, British Colombia offers a wealth of options to people continuing their educational path after secondary school.

Work Opportunities:With a positive looking job outlook  expecting to add roughly 1 million new jobs by 2020, prospects for work in British Columbia is very good.  British Columbia’s standard of living in relation to employment wages, social facilities, and worker rights are a sparkling example of a modern system that values the worker. With openings expected in Business, Trades, Health and Science related occupations, British Colombia is expanding at a strong rate, especially significant considering it’s turn out of 2008's international economic meltdown.

Health Services:
British Colombia features an incredibly robust amount of options within the provincial health system. Accessibility to these options is intuitive due to the nature of information origination and integration with technology.  The ability to check symptoms online through the province’s HealthLinkBC program, the ability to locate exact places of health services and their immunization schedules, elaborate mental health facilities and programs for abuse victims (including children) all exist in addition to the staples you would expect from a substantial, modern health system.

 

Fun facts about British Columbia

British Columbia has the longest frost-free periods in all of Canada due to its mild climate. Flowers bloom as early as February!
Nearly two-thirds of British Columbia’s 60 million acres has received almost no human influence or contact.
British Colombia is 4 times the entirety of Great Britain. It is larger than 50 of the US states (the exception being Alaska).
Vancouver is a relatively young city. The city shares an anniversary with Coca-Cola and Mercedes-Benz.
British Colombia has 10 mountain ranges:  Rocky Mountains (partly shared with Alberta boundary), Purcell Mountains, Selkirk Mountains, Monashee Mountains, Cariboo Mountains, Coast Mountains (home to the Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains), Cassiar Mountains, Vancouver Island Ranges, Queen Charlotte Mountains, and St Elias Mountains (shared with the Alaska, USA border).
British Colombia alone is home to half of Canada’s entire wildlife population. It is far and away the most-biologically diverse area in Canada.