Citizenship Revocation
The revocation of Canadian citizenship is a very serious matter that will likely have a tremendous impact on the life and future of the person concerned. Depending on the reasons provided for seeking revocation, a person who loses their citizenship may also lose their permanent residence and face removal from Canada. If you or a family member is facing the revocation of citizenship and want to challenge this decision, legal counsel is important as this is a highly complex area of law.
Why can the Government seek to take citizenship away?
If Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) believes that you obtained your citizenship through “false representation or fraud or by knowingly concealing material circumstances”, they can start proceedings to take citizenship away from you. This means, that if you were untruthful in setting out your period of residence in Canada or, for example, did not disclose a criminal record that you are at risk of losing your citizenship.
Recently the Government has passed new amendments to the Citizenship Act that will also allow – when the new provisions come into force – CIC to take citizenship away from individuals who are believed to be involved in acts of terrorism and/or has committed treason against Canada.
What happens if my citizenship is revoked?
If you were honest on your application for permanent residence, and so the only errors are with your citizenship application, then on loss of citizenship you become a permanent resident. For example, if your days of declared residence in Canada were wrong, you would again become a permanent resident of Canada.
It is possible that on return to being a permanent resident that you will face additional challenges. If, while you were a permanent resident of Canada, you were committed a crime overseas and did not disclose this on your citizenship application, then on return to being a permanent resident (after loss of citizenship) you may face allegations that you are inadmissible to Canada for criminality. For more information on criminal admissibility, click here.
On the other hand, if you also misrepresented yourself on your permanent residence application then loss of citizenship will lead directly to loss of permanent resident.
What is the process for citizenship revocation?
The process of citizenship revocation begins with CIC sending a Notice of Intent to Revoke Citizenship. The Notice will outline the grounds for revocation: the summary of CIC’s case against you.
If you receive this Notice, you have the right to request that the matter be referred to the Federal Court for review within 30 days. The Federal Court process will begin with CIC filing a Statement of Claim, which will set out in detail the reasons why CIC believes that your citizenship should be revoked. You respond to this by filing a Statement of Defense. This is a highly complex process that has legal and financial implications. It is recommended that you seek experienced legal counsel to assist you if you find yourself before the Court in citizenship revocation proceedings.
Should the Federal Court find that CIC’s allegations are inaccurate and/or insupportable, then the matter ends there and you maintain citizenship. However, if the matter is not referred to the Federal Court or if the Court finds that CIC’s allegations are well-founded, then the Minister may proceed to submit a report to the Governor in Council recommending that citizenship be revoked.
The text of this report by the Minister to the Governor in Council is to be disclosed to you; you then have the opportunity to make written submissions. These submissions would be attached to the final report provided to the Governor in Council, who must then determine whether the revocation should be carried out. If the Governor in Council finds that citizenship should be revoked, their decision is carried out by an Order in Council. If this happens to you, you still have the right to have the Federal Court judicially review the Governor in Council’s decision.
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It's been a very good experience working with Bellissimo Immigration Law Group PC. The wealth of experience and professionalism they bring to the table is fantastic. Their professional approach, meticulous planning, their relentless push to get everything they want to compile a flawless submission document was amazing. Overall, they work very hard to get positive results and I am impressed with their services.
Our special thanks to Ms Keely Anderson and Ms Alexandra Goncharova for their efforts and due diligence in pulling together a compelling submission in support of my husband’s rehabilitation application due to criminal inadmissibility. This was a complex case, refused once because of incompleteness and lack of transparency then put on hold for 2 years due to the covid pandemic. We subsequently reapplied with BLG upon the advice that they were the best. It was a long journey and they don’t come cheap but the result speaks for itself. We were invited to meet with the Reviewing Officer in IRCC London who said the application was so well documented that no questions remained and we were granted approval then and there. It’s been a 5-year journey but the freedom one feels to be able to travel back and forth with my husband to Canada cannot be underestimated. We are now free to apply for my husband’s permanent residency for which we will always be grateful to BLG for making it possible. Thank you.
I was immigrating from the United States to Canada. Whole process went very smooth. Viola Gniadek provided me with very clear Instructions and was there any time I had a question to help me through the process. She deserves more than 5 stars! I would recommend this firm to anyone interested in immigrating.
My wife and I worked with Bellissimo Law Group on a very complex spousal sponsorship application. Our relationship started long-distance and lasted three years before we got married, without having met in person. This raised several red flags in the immigration process. From the beginning, we knew we were facing a difficult case that needed serious legal guidance. After doing thorough research, Bellissimo stood out for their experience with complicated immigration cases, and they lived up to that reputation.
Our consultant and main point of contact was Viola Gniadek. She was professional, honest, and very precise. She responded to our concerns whenever something about the case worried us and was always flexible with us in terms of availability. I remember it was during a weekend and she was still double-checking and completing our forms as we had a submission deadline on Monday. You will be lucky to have her handle your case. The firm took time to understand the complexity of our case and worked closely with us over several months to prepare over 300 pages of documentation. What I appreciated most was how careful they were with every word submitted. In immigration law, even one unnecessary detail can be used against you, and Bellissimo knew how to manage that risk with skill and strategy.
With their guidance, we submitted a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) application, even though they had warned us clearly that, due to the circumstances and the country involved, there was a high chance of refusal. But they also had a plan in place from the start to appeal it if that happened. The TRV was refused, as expected, but we followed through on the appeal. IRCC later offered us a settlement, and our application was reopened. We were given a second chance, and even without much new documentation, the TRV was approved within 15 days of reopening. That moment changed everything.
Thanks to that approval, my wife and I have been together in Canada since March 20. Her spousal sponsorship application was finalized and approved shortly after, but had we not pursued and won the TRV appeal, we would likely still be separated due to delays with passport stamping and processing. That TRV win was a turning point not just legally, but personally.
Later, we were invited for a spousal sponsorship interview, which showed that the officer remained skeptical of our case. Bellissimo helped us prepare thoroughly for the interview, which was a separate legal process with additional fees. But the preparation paid off. After seeing how our TRV refusal had been overturned and how well our case had been built, it would have been very difficult for an officer to justify a refusal at that point. It was clear to them that we were not only committed but had the legal backing to defend ourselves through every stage of the system.
One important thing I want to stress is that just because you can apply on your own does not mean you always should. I have seen people succeed without a lawyer, and I have seen many people fail and remain stuck in the system for years due to refusals or misrepresentation. Legal support is expensive, yes, but you need to consider what is truly at stake. Your future, your time, your peace of mind, and your chance to be with the person you love, these are far more valuable than saving a bit of money upfront.
Also, do not assume that a cheaper option means better value. It might cost less, but if they do not understand the complexity of your case or submit something careless, it could cost you far more in the long run. This is your life. Do not cheap out.
If your case is complicated like ours, Bellissimo Law Group is absolutely worth it. They do not make empty promises. They know exactly what they are doing. I am deeply grateful for their work and recommend them without hesitation. Thank you, Mr. Bellissimo and the entire team.
I recently had the pleasure of working with Bellissimo Law Group to resolve a misrepresentation issue on my permanent residency application, and I cannot recommend them highly enough. From the very beginning, their team was incredibly responsive and attentive, making sure I was informed and comfortable with every step of the process.
Their expertise and dedication were evident throughout my case. They meticulously reviewed all the details, provided clear and professional advice, and guided me through the complex legal landscape with ease. Their support was unwavering, and they always made themselves available to answer any questions or concerns I had.
Thanks to Bellissimo Law Group, my permanent residency application was successfully resolved, and I am now a proud resident of Canada. If you are looking for a law firm that truly cares about their clients and delivers outstanding results, look no further than Bellissimo Law Group.
I highly recommended Bellissimo Law Group for both legal and the process of application for immigration. The team handled my 2 cases brilliantly. They are very knowledgeable and the work and service are outstanding and very professionally done. Viola Gniadek, Christopher Colette and Punya Bagga handled my first case for my nephews and Michelle Boeriu on the second case for my brother. These two cases have been approved. Thank you with all my heart for the job well done. I really appreciate your valuable work and services. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the team and Belllissimo Law Group.
I scheduled a consultation with Bellissimo Immigration Law Group and was incredibly pleased with how helpful they were. Not one, but two lawyers were on the call to advise me, and they took the time to look into all possible immigration options for me and my family. I had done a lot of research prior to speaking with them, but that consultation made me realize how difficult the process would be without a law firm that keeps up with the frequent policy changes. They offered invaluable advice and I will definitely hire them to create my profile when I have everything together.
Lijing was very knowledgeable and answered all of my questions in great detail. I highly recommend Bellissimo for immigration issues!
Thank you Belissimo Law Group for helping my husband and I navigate through his PR application. It’s difficult to know who to trust, especially with matters as sensitive and complex as immigration but I am so happy that I made the choice and chose BLG. They not only have an incredible comprehension of immigration law but also a great deal of compassion and consideration for their clients. I truly enjoyed working with them and I feel grateful that there are people out there working hard to make a positive impact on someone else’s life like they did with mine. Thank you again BLG, I would recommend your services to anyone in the same or similar situations!
On a side note, for people out there who are thinking about hiring an immigration consultant, please talk to a law firm first. Some consultants charge the same or more for their services without needing to have a good comprehension of immigration laws.
