Vancouver Mandarin Chinese Citizenship Lawyer

Becoming a Canadian citizen may require you to be proficient in English, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get help in your first language if you want it. Our team of skilled immigration lawyers speaks fluent Mandarin, and we’re ready to help you.

There are many benefits to becoming a Canadian citizen! This is one of the safest places to live, and there are plenty of opportunities for citizens. 

But the process is not easy. When you work with our law office, you give yourself the best chance of success, and the peace of mind that comes with knowing you have an advisor to turn to when you have questions, problems, or concerns. Your citizenship application will be done right the first time.

We will help you navigate the entire process with Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). 

Things You Need to Become a Canadian Citizen

In order to be a Canadian citizen you must first be a permanent resident. If you are not yet a permanent resident of Canada, see Vancouver Permanent Residence Lawyer for the process. 

You must also live in Canada for at least three years within the past five years. These do not have to be three continuous years, but you must have spent at least three years of time (1095 days) physically present in Canada. Time spent prior to becoming a permanent resident does count at a rate of ½ day per day. You may use up to 365 days to count towards the requirement. You will need to submit a printout of an Online Physical Presence Calculation Form (form CIT 0407). 

If you are required to file taxes, as many of our Chinese clients are, then you must be up to date and current on your tax obligations. 

Finally, you must pass the citizenship test. This test examines your knowledge on your rights and responsibilities as a Canadian citizen, your knowledge of how the Canadian government works, Canadian history, and proficiency with either English, French, or both.

What Should I Expect from the Canadian Citizenship Test?

The test has twenty questions. It is a multiple choice test that covers the following topics.

• Your knowledge of Canadian history.
• Your knowledge of Canadian values.
• Your knowledge of the Canadian political system.
• Your knowledge of Canadian geography.
• Your knowledge of Canadian national symbols.
• Your knowledge of the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship.

The Department of Immigration provides a free study guide called Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship, which can be accessed in a number of ways. You can order a physical copy, study it online, listen to the podcast, or download it as a printable PDF. Everything that could possibly show up on the Citizenship test, other than the language portion of the test, is present in the guide. We recommend that all of our clients study it closely. 

You will need to score 75% on the test, which means you must get 15 out o the 20 questions correct. 

What Could Cause My Canadian Citizenship Application to Be Denied?

Criminal offenses, deportment orders, or having a citizenship application denied for misrepresentation within the past 5 years. Serving as a member of an armed force of a country, terrorist, or organized armed group that is engaged in armed conflict with Canada is another issue that could prevent you from being approved. 

Your application may be returned as incomplete or delayed if you have failed to provide adequate evidence that you have met all of the requirements for citizenship. 

What Can I Do If My Canadian Citizenship Application is Denied?

It is possible to appeal a citizenship decision. Here is the process:

• Your lawyer files a request for an administrative review. This must be done within 30 days of the original denial.
• You and your lawyer must submit the Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings.
• You will need to pay a filing fee.
• You will need to file supplementary documentation that helps support your eligibility.
• USCIS will schedule a hearing. 

If the administrative review is unsuccessful, we can apply to have the Federal District Court review your case. This must be done within 120 days of the administrative denial. A new hearing will be scheduled within 180 days of your request. 

We will file either a Motion to Reopen or a Motion to Reconsider, depending on your circumstances. A motion to reopen is used if new evidence has come to light that would have a large impact on your case. A Motion to Reconsider is the motion we file when we have a case for stating that the evaluation officer made an error when denying your citizenship. In this case, we must be able to show that the evaluating officer made a mistake in the way they applied the law to your specific case. 

FAQ

Is it possible to have dual Chinese and Canadian citizenship?

While Canada recognizes dual citizenship, China does not. China will require you to give up your Chinese citizenship if you become a Canadian citizenship. 

For most of our clients, it is more advantageous to simply plan on transitioning to single citizenship: Canadian citizenship, as soon as your citizenship application is granted. 

Does my credit score impact my Canadian citizenship application? 

Neither your Chinese social score nor your Canadian credit score will impact your immigration application in every way. Credit scores do play a role in your financial success here in Vancouver. 

What is a travel journal? 

To become a citizen you need to prove that you spent enough time in Canada. A travel journal allows you to keep a record of your trips outside of Canada. This should include day trips to the United States of America. 

The journal should include the date you left and the date you come back to Canada, even if it happens on the same day, which countries you visited, and why you left. 

You can download a copy of the travel journal here. It is optional, but it is good evidence to create, and can help smooth the process of applying for citizenship.

What happens if you fail the citizenship test?

Your application becomes a non-routine application. If you met all of the other criteria for citizenship a new test will be scheduled. This will usually happen four to eight weeks after your first test. 

If you fail the second test you will be required to attend a hearing with a citizenship officer. You can bring your lawyer to this meeting. The officer will ask you questions in person to test your knowledge of Canada, and will assess your language skills. The officer will also ask questions about your residency in Canada. 

Does a child need to meet the three-year minimum residency requirement?

No, children under the age of 18 do not have to meet the residency requirement. 

Is it okay to wait on applying for citizenship?

You do not have to apply for citizenship the moment you become eligible. You may apply at any point so long as you meet all the eligibility requirements. If you are a permanent resident you can remain in Canada as long as you wish.

Yet there are benefits to becoming a citizen. You’ll be able to vote in our elections. You’ll no longer have to meet permanent residency requirements, which means you’ll be able ot travel in and out of the country freely. 

You’ll also retain all the rights and responsibilities that you attained when you became a permanent resident. You’ll be able to get a Canadian passport. You can even run your own political campaign. And you’ll be able to travel to over 170 other countries without any visa at all. Finally, it will be much easier for you to get higher-paying jobs, as you’ll be able to take jobs that require a security clearance, and your employers will no longer have to worry about your immigration status. 

Once you have your citizenship status, you cannot lose it. It is well worth pursuing. 

How long will the citizenship application take?

The citizenship application will take roughly 12 months to process. 

Get Help From a Local Immigration Lawyer Today

We look forward to the day that you receive your citizenship certificate! 

Remember, citizenship applications are legal cases. You don’t want to do this alone. Give yourself your best chance of receiving citizenship by reaching out to our law office.

Not sure if you qualify for citizenship? Reach out to us and we’ll evaluate your case. With help, your chances of succeeding are quite good. Canada has an exceptionally high citizen rate, which means most immigrants who come to Canada both choose to become citizens, and are granted citizenship. 

We have helped hundreds of Chinese immigrants become citizens of Canada. Contact us to get help today. 

Chinese Lawyer Vancouver serves clients in Vancouver, Abbotsford, Langley, Surrey, and White Rock. Call to set up an appointment today.