Canadian citizenship: who and how to get it

The United States and Canada are two countries on the North American continent, where the level of the economy is quite high, the social protection of citizens is developed, and therefore these states are welcome for emigrants. However, the northern neighbor of the United States is still more preferable. Why? First, Canadian citizenship can be obtained three years after receiving permanent resident status, whereas in the United States this term takes five years. To obtain an immigrant visa to the United States, you need to have close relatives there or prove that Article 1 of the Refugee Convention applies to you. Canada also has a state plan, according to which the country annually receives about two hundred thousand immigrants.

But how to get Canadian citizenship and whether you need to lose your own, the former? The North American country is good at recognizing dual citizenship, that is, it is possible to be simultaneously a subject of Russia and Canada. As already mentioned, the first condition for entering into citizenship is a three-year residence in the territory of the state with the status of a permanent resident. During this time, you can not leave the country, except for short-term business trips (if you work in a state institution) or tourist trips accompanied by a husband / wife or parent / child who already have Canadian citizenship.

To successfully obtain Canadian citizenship, do not sit back and wait until three years have elapsed. After the expiry of the term you need to collect a package of documents confirming that you have already sufficiently assimilated into the society and the society of your future homeland. Together with a written application submitted to the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, it is necessary to submit a certificate from the permanent job site, as well as the test results for the knowledge of the 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 Canada's citizenship is already in your pocket. The applicant of Canadian citizenship is given a training manual "A Look at Canada", on which he is engaged, preparing for the exam. The applicant is asked twenty questions concerning 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, the age: from eighteen to 59 years. This does not mean that minors and old people are not given Canadian citizenship. For children, the motions of parents will be sufficient, and elderly people are simply exempt from the exam. Naturally, you need to pay a state fee, show a bank card, if available - a driver's license. It is necessary to fill out a questionnaire and attach to it two photos made no later than six months before the filing of documents. Photographs must meet certain requirements, on their back side should be stamped Photographer, and you - to sign.

In general, requests for acceptance into Canadian citizenship are resolved positively. Annually more than 170 thousand former immigrants receive a treasured crust. However, if you had a criminal record (especially during the last four years, already living on the territory of the country), were under investigation, you were given a deportation decision or were charged with particularly serious crimes (military and against humanity), you do not have No chance to become a citizen of this country.