We had interview with citizenship judge today, the outcome was unpleasant and got severe blow to our understanding that citizenship department is fair and compassionate.

I am landed immigrant since 1997 and began to live permanently in Canada since 2001.

During November 2002 I lost my passport in T.O. which I reported to police immediately and received replacement from my consulate.

In 2005 after making sure that I have completed required residency days, I applied for my citizenship.

In 2006 I was asked to provide documents with RQ, I attached every document from 2001-to date of Income tax returns , T4s, Salary Stubs, ROE, bank plus credit card statements, Utility bills, Lease contracts, house ownership, my son school report cards to doctor visit records from ministry of Health, Ontario from 2001 including Police report of lost passport.

Waiting for the interview……….
We felt the judge had already made his decision even before meeting us. We had 8.30 appointments and he did not see us till about 9.30. As soon as he appeared in waiting room he handed us a form each to declare our absences from 1997 to date. Here we struggling and going back 11 years and to detail each trip with exact date was difficult task especially without old passports. However we noticed the judge was getting impatient and kept asking us twice if we have finished in span of 15 minutes. Finally he made us sign that form incomplete and asked us to read aloud the bottom declaration of true information.

At the interview………..
The judge claimed that we were lying about loss of passports and our absences, although I was issued new passport in Jan 2003 and I had proof of documents showing I was living in Canada over 1095 days in four years before my application.

He pressured my wife and me to accept his refusal decision and did not allow us to present our case or original document that we took with us. He insisted that he wants to see only passports and rest of our documents are not credible information although those where 6 years of Tax returns, T4's, and other government and official documents.

He also suggested I should not border to appeal as I would not win.

He was intimidating, and very rude to extend he made my wife cry and stressed her who is 8 week pregnant.

During this time he made us sign a declaration claiming we have no issues with immigration or the police. Being very concerned about my wife’s health I signed without reading.

My Question to all the experts:

1- Would this decision effects my future application
2- What are my chances of re-applying now? Considering that I can show my passport more then 5 years old
3- Are there any remote chances the declaration I signed would be different then what judge said
4- I have my PR renewal coming up in few months, how would that effect my application.
5- In your opinion should I retain a lawyer for future application
6- How would you stop such judges to treat people like that or would it go to deaf ears?

Friends, I like to mention that today I felt like a scapegoat for all those who have got away…….

Sorry to hear your ordeal.

Why were you required to meet with the Judge in the first place? In other words, isn't it only cases that are not routine/normal sent to the Judge?

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Dimple2001

Sorry to hear your unpleasant discussion with the Citizenship Judge. Canada has been doing this Immigration business successfully for a long time and definitely would have seen variety's of application and applicants and their true and fabricated stories.
My intention is not to put a salt on your wounds at the same I do not want to wash your wounds with hydrogen peroxide to pacify you ; If you are strongly believe that your citizenship application is genuine and there is no doubt in any of the instance or the documents, please proceed to appeal with or without immigration lawyers and then prepared to accept the outcome. In my unbiased opinion, their process, either immigration or granting citizenship are slow but fair for other nationals. From 1997 to 2008, it is eleven (11) years, they are genuinely expecting only four uninterrupted calender years to become a Citizen of Canada. Take care and be prepared for the situation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
I am new

I would suggest you consult a Professional/Lawyer.
Please understand that no two cases are similar.
Hope this helps

-----------------------------------------------------------------
TS

**I am landed immigrant since 1997 and began to live permanently in Canada since 2001.

During November 2002 I lost my passport in T.O. which I reported to police immediately and received replacement from my consulate.**

I am only pulling one such point from your statement. The lawyer will see more merits in your case and will see it in your favour and will take the case and it will end in your favour, regardless how bad it seems.

The reason being, the people who landed in Canada and obtained 'Landing Papers' and had them attached to their Passports are are a different kettle of fish, or fall under a different catagory and do not come under the two out of five year catagory, from those who obtain a PR CARD. That is my observation.
How the rolling five year peiod for the requirement for qualification could only be analysed by your lawyer after obtaining the facts from you.

Now my question to you is: When you obtained a replacement Passport from Indian Consulate ?, did you also report and obtain a "DUPLICATE COPY OF THE LANDING PAPERS" for your files. If so, do you have that on you? That is the most important paper that will bail you out of this situation. You have to provide them with the proof of your efforts to them, if you did not get one.

The lawyer will be the one to help you and your family and I am sure that he will see it to completion and in your favour.

My sincere good wishes go to you and your family.

Freddie.

Was your son born in Canada?

Now take good care of your wife and wait for the next NEW arrival. That will be the one who will get all of you a Canadian Citizenship and a Passport, in due course.

They cannot separate The Parents from a Canadian born Citizen!!!

Welcome to Canada.

Freddie.

(If you can wait for the next seven months to get over, you will not need a lawyer also.) On second thoughts, see one for good measure.

The one little thing that bothered me in your post is the assumption that you are being scapegoated for all those that got away! Who got away with what? In spite of all your problems, it is probably not worth taking that tangent. That aside, I hope you will have your problems sorted out. I wonder if it creates a distasteful disposition among the judges toward an applicant once they learn that the guy landed and left and returned! It kind of makes one feel like the system was being used in one's favor. Don't you wish you had at least the photocopies of all pages of the lost passports? That would have helped a bunch. I have scanned all pages of all of my passports so if bad things ever happen to the current passport, I still have prints and scans of pages from it. Anyways, good luck.