10 PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY May 1 - 20 , 2017
The Notary Corner
By Editha Corrales Nelson Immigration Consultant , Notary Public , Mediation / Arbitrator
To be eligible to become a Canadian citizen , you must meet the conditions in all these areas :
Age You must be at least 18 years old to apply .
To apply for citizenship for a child under 18 : you must be the child ’ s parent , adoptive parent or legal guardian , the child must be a permanent resident , and one parent must be a Canadian citizen or apply to become a citizen at the same time ( this also applies to adoptive parents ).
Permanent resident status You must have permanent resident ( PR ) status in Canada , have no unfulfilled conditions related to that status , and your PR status must not be in question . This means you must not : be under review for immigration or fraud reasons , or be under a removal order ( an order from Canadian officials to leave Canada ), or have certain unfulfilled conditions related to your PR status .
You do not need to have a PR card to apply for citizenship . If you have a PR card , but it is expired , you can still apply for citizenship .
Time you have lived
MYLENE LIM , AMP Licensed Mortgage Specialist
Most of us shop around in order to save a few bucks on shoes , TVs , airline tickets , vacation packages , appliances , etc ., but what about when we are buying a home and getting a mortgage ? This is after all , one of the biggest investments we have in our lifetime . Majority of us rely on banks and accept whatever it is they offer us , simply because we do not know that there are other mortgage products out there that may be better for us .
For example , do you know that there are more than 100 mortgage lenders in Canada ? Yes , there are so many lenders - from banks , credit unions , trust companies and private lenders , most of which you would not have direct access to as a borrower . This where it most beneficial for you to seek the help of a mortgage broker who can
in Canada You must have been physically present in Canada as a permanent resident for at least 1,460 days during the six years immediately before the date of your application . You must also be physically present for at least 183 days during each of four calendar years that are fully or partially within the six years immediately before the date of application . These requirements do not apply to children under 18 .
Exceptions to these requirements apply for certain Crown servants and certain family members of Crown servants .
When calculating time you have lived in Canada , you can only count time spent after you became a permanent resident of Canada .
Use our online tool to find out if you have lived in Canada long enough to apply to become a citizen . Income tax filing You must have met your personal income tax filing obligations in four taxation years that are fully or partially within the six years immediately before the date you apply .
Intent to reside You
Determine your Eligibility – Citizenship
must declare your intent to reside during the citizenship application process . To become a citizen , you must indicate your intention to : live in Canada , work outside Canada as a Crown servant , or live abroad with certain family members who are Crown servants .
Once you become a Canadian citizen , you have the right to enter , remain in , or leave Canada , one of the basic rights of citizenship . Language abilities Canada has two official languages — English and French . To become a citizen , you must show that you have adequate knowledge of one of these languages . In general , this means you can : take part in short , everyday conversations about common topics ; understand simple instructions , questions and directions ; use basic grammar , including simple structures and tenses ; and show that you know enough common words and phrases to answer questions and express yourself .
If you are 14 to 64 years of age , you must send documents with your citizenship application that
WWW . PHILIPPINEASIANNEWSTODAY . COM
prove you can speak and listen in English or French at this level . Use our wizard to see if you have the proof we will accept . The citizenship application guide also contains the type of proof we will accept .
Second , we will note how well you communicate to staff or a citizenship officer during your interview .
A citizenship officer will make the final decision on your application , including how well you can communicate in English or French .
How well you know Canada
To become a citizen , you must understand the rights , responsibilities and privileges of citizenship , such as voting in elections and obeying the law . You must also show , in English or French , that you understand Canada ’ s : history , values , institutions and symbols .
If you are 14 to 64 years of age , when you apply for citizenship , you will need to take a citizenship test to show you have adequate knowledge of Canada and the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship . It is usually a written test , but it is sometimes taken orally with a citizenship officer . All you need to know for the test is in our free study guide , Discover Canada : The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship . We will send you a copy of it once we get your application . The questions in the citizenship test are based on this study guide . Prohibitions If you have committed a crime in or outside Canada you may not be eligible to become a Canadian citizen for a period of time . For example if you : are in prison , on parole or on probation in Canada , or are serving a sentence outside Canada , have been convicted of an indictable offence in Canada or an offence outside Canada in the four years before applying for citizenship , or are charged with , on trial for , or involved in an appeal of an indictable offence in Canada , or an offence outside Canada .
Time in prison or on parole does not count as time you have lived in Canada . Time on probation also does not count if you were convicted of a crime . .
10 Reasons to use a Licensed Mortgage Broker
work on you application with most of the lenders .
In a nutshell , here are some reasons why you should consider working with a reliable independent licensed mortgage broker :
1 ) Get independent advise on your financial options
As an independent mortgage professional , we are not tied to one lender or range of products . Our goal is to help you successfully finance your home or property .
2 ) Save time by One- Stop-Shopping
It would take weeks for you to organize appointments with competing mortgage lenders . We work directly with these lenders and could quickly narrow down a list of those that suit you best . It makes comparison-shopping fast , easy and convenient .
3 ) Someone to negotiate on your behalf
Many people are uncertain or uncomfortable negotiating mortgages directly with their bank . We negotiate mortgages each and every day on behalf of Canadian homebuyers . You can count on our market knowledge to secure competitive rates and terms that benefit you .
4 ) More choices mean more competitive rates and products
We have access to a network of major lenders in Canada - big banks , credit unions , trust companies and private lenders - so your options are extensive .
5 ) Ensure that you are getting the best rates and terms
Because of our familiarity with all the rates and products available , we can help review your application so you get the best rate and product to suit your needs .
6 ) Get access to special deals and add-ons
Most independent mortgage brokers belong to a mortgage company whose volume may get us preferential treatments , special privileges , rates and products from lenders , which in turn , can get passed on to our clients . 7 ) Things get done more quickly
Our job isn ’ t done until your closing date goes smoothly . We help your mortgage transaction takes place on time and to your satisfaction . 8 ) Get expert advice Some clients find mortgages , rates , products , requirements and conditions quite overwhelming . We will walk you through and explain everything in plain language so you can decide confidently . 9 ) No cost to you There ’ s generally no charge for our services on typical residential mortgage transaction . How can we afford to do that ? Like many other professional services such as insurance , the financial institution generally pays mortgage brokers . These fees are quite standard and nearly industry-based and would not be added on to the client .
10 ) Ongoing support
and consultation ( even after office hours and week-ends )
Even once your mortgage is signed and paperwork is complete , we are and will always be happy to be of assistance when you need it .
Working with an indpendent licensed mortgage broker will not only save you time and money , but you will also have peace of mind that you have the best rate and product for your mortgage needs .
For more information , please feel free to contact me :
Cel : 604 783 9097 / Email : mylene .. mortgage @ gmail . com / Web : www . MyleneLim ca / FB : Mylene Lim , AMP