The USA and Canada are two countries on the North American continent where the level of economy is quite high, social protection of citizens is developed, and therefore these states are desirable for emigrants. However, the northern neighbor of the United States is still preferable. Why? Firstly, Canadian citizenship can be obtained three years after obtaining permanent resident status, while in the United States this term takes five years. To obtain an immigrant visa to the United States, you must have close relatives there or prove that Article 1 of the Refugee Convention applies to you. Canada has a state plan, according to which each year the country receives about two hundred thousand immigrants.
But how to obtain Canadian citizenship and is it necessary to lose their former? The North American country is good in that it recognizes dual citizenship, that is, you can be simultaneously a subject of Russia and Canada. As already mentioned, the first condition for entering into citizenship is a three-year residence on the territory of a power with the status of a permanent resident. During this time, you can’t leave the country, except for short trips (if you work in a government agency) or tourist trips accompanied by a husband / wife or parent / child who already have Canadian citizenship.
To successfully obtain Canadian citizenship, you don’t have to sit back and wait for three years to expire. After all, after the expiration of the term, you need to collect a package of documents confirming that you have already assimilated sufficiently into the society and society of your future homeland. Together with a written application submitted to the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, it is necessary to provide a certificate from the place of permanent work, as well as the results of tests for knowledge of two state languages of the country: English and French (IELTS or DALF, TCF, TEFAQ, TEF).
But after passing the tests and passing all the necessary documents, do not think that Canadian citizenship is already in your pocket. An applicant for Canadian citizenship is given a study guide, “A Look at Canada,” which he does in preparation for the exam. On it, the applicant is asked twenty questions regarding the history,
geography, political system and state structure of the country. In order to be admitted to the exam, you must meet certain parameters.
First, age: from eighteen to 59 years old. This does not mean that minors and old people are not given Canadian citizenship. For the children, the petitions of the parents will be enough, and the elderly are simply exempted from the exam. Naturally, you need to pay the state fee, present a bank card, if available - a driver’s license. It is necessary to fill out a questionnaire and attach to it two photographs taken no later than six months before the filing of documents. Photos must meet certain requirements, they must be stamped on the back.
photographer, and you - to sign.
Basically, requests for Canadian citizenship are resolved positively. Every year, over 170 thousand former immigrants receive the coveted crust. However, if you had a criminal record (especially over the past four years, already residing in the country), were under investigation, you were given a decision to deport or charged with particularly serious crimes (military and against humanity), no chance of becoming a citizen of this country.