[DECEMBER] Online Citizenship Applicants

[dersonc]

Funny. I went to UPS today got my photo via email. Later when I checked receipt then it says "Passport Photo". Also photo I received is of 1200X1600 pixel which is much higher than what's requested for Citizenship application.

Did UPS screw up my photo and do I need to get it done again? I uploaded photo online in Citizenship application and went fine without error.

No. They got it right at the first time. I double checked the settings when they were working on it and the person selected based on what I told her.

 

[dersonc]

I received the citizenship certificate today. It was delivered by Purolator in a cardboard envelope. The certificate came inside another envelope with a cardboard to avoid folding.

 

[maxkram]

You've been scheduled to attend your citizenship ceremony on December 17, 2021.

 

[ana0911]

You've been scheduled to attend your citizenship ceremony on December 17, 2021.

Congratulations.Did you receive the oath email yet?And what’s your office?Scarborough or Mississauga.

 

[Kiki87]

Hey Guys,

Please update the tracker with the below information.

Location: Toronto
Application type: Single -Online
App submitted : December 22, 2020
AOR: April 13, 2021
FP Requested: August 25, 2021
FP done: August 27, 2021
Background Verified as completed: November 15, 2021
Test Invite: November 19, 2021
Test Taken: November 21, 2021
Test Marked as completed: November 22, 2021

So far, background and Citizenship test marked as completed. Language Skills, Physical presence and Prohibition in Progress, Citizenship ceremony, Not started.

 

[Rijo02]

Hey Guys,

Please update the tracker with the below information.

Location: Toronto
Application type: Single -Online
App submitted : December 22, 2020
AOR: April 13, 2021
FP Requested: August 25, 2021
FP done: August 27, 2021
Background Verified as completed: November 15, 2021
Test Invite: November 19, 2021
Test Taken: November 21, 2021
Test Marked as completed: November 22, 2021

So far, background and Citizenship test marked as completed. Language Skills, Physical presence and Prohibition in Progress, Citizenship ceremony, Not started.

Wow! This very randomized processing style is very unfair. Why would someone then rush to apply for citizenship immediately after they are qualified when it doesn't matter when one applies? A March 2021 applicant has not just done his/her citizenship ceremony, the certificate is resting in his/her home whereas a Dec 2020 applicant is waiting for DM.

There are applicants who submitted in 2019 waiting for a test and some oath, etc. While it is rumored that IRCC is focusing on Dec 2020 applicants to meet the 1yr SA, what on earth would make a 2021 March applicant complete his/her process before someone of Feb/Jan 2021 not to talk of Dec 2020?

This whole process is a fat MESS!

 

[Kiki87]

Wow! This very randomized processing style is very unfair. Why would someone then rush to apply for citizenship immediately after they are qualified when it doesn't matter when one applies? A March 2021 applicant has not just done his/her citizenship ceremony, the certificate is resting in his/her home whereas a Dec 2020 applicant is waiting for DM.

There are applicants who submitted in 2019 waiting for a test and some oath, etc. While it is rumored that IRCC is focusing on Dec 2020 applicants to meet the 1yr SA, what on earth would make a 2021 March applicant complete his/her process before someone of Feb/Jan 2021 not to talk of Dec 2020?

This whole process is a fat MESS!

I completely agree with you. I don't know what they're doing but clearly there is no structure in they way the process the applications. From what I can see based on information here, every office processing time is different, so applicants who submit applications after I did, depending on the processing office are further along in the process than I am. BTW I got fingerprint request from Vancouver office and test invite from Scarborough office. I'm just hoping my application will be complete by the end of December.

 

[Rijo02]

I completely agree with you. I don't know what they're doing but clearly there is no structure in they way the process the applications. From what I can see based on information here, every office processing time is different, so applicants who submit applications after I did, depending on the processing office are further along in the process than I am. BTW I got fingerprint request from Vancouver office and test invite from Scarborough office. I'm just hoping my application will be complete by the end of December.

Even when a file is in a visa office, the officer processing the file can result in a huge delay. One office can be very fast while the other can be very slow! In the end, no performance metric is used to guide the processing of files!

 

[maxkram]

Congratulations.Did you receive the oath email yet?And what’s your office?Scarborough or Mississauga.

Not yet
Edmonton

 

[maxkram]

Folks, about the citizenship ceremony. I've lost an original of the confirmation of permanent residentship. However, I've still got an electronic copy of it. Would it be enough? What'd you think?

 

[mbaleine]

Wow! This very randomized processing style is very unfair. Why would someone then rush to apply for citizenship immediately after they are qualified when it doesn't matter when one applies? A March 2021 applicant has not just done his/her citizenship ceremony, the certificate is resting in his/her home whereas a Dec 2020 applicant is waiting for DM.

There are applicants who submitted in 2019 waiting for a test and some oath, etc. While it is rumored that IRCC is focusing on Dec 2020 applicants to meet the 1yr SA, what on earth would make a 2021 March applicant complete his/her process before someone of Feb/Jan 2021 not to talk of Dec 2020?

This whole process is a fat MESS!

Not disagreeing with the sentiments here -- it is indeed very frustrating from our POV, but then again we also wouldn't know the details of each case and how complex IRCC considers each case -- note that the emphasis is how IRCC considers, not how we consider; one never knows exactly what behind-the-scene info they see that make a case more or less complex (e.g. maybe a seemingly straightforward case has a partial name match with a terrorist, and in order to be thorough IRCC takes more time to coordinate with other agencies to exclude all risks).

 

[Rijo02]

Not disagreeing with the sentiments here -- it is indeed very frustrating from our POV, but then again we also wouldn't know the details of each case and how complex IRCC considers each case -- note that the emphasis is how IRCC considers, not how we consider; one never knows exactly what behind-the-scene info they see that make a case more or less complex (e.g. maybe a seemingly straightforward case has a partial name match with a terrorist, and in order to be thorough IRCC takes more time to coordinate with other agencies to exclude all risks).

@mbaleine, very nice and thorough viewpoint you have expressed here!

It is indeed true that IRCC has benchmarks for which applications are processed. They definitely need to follow those guidelines and stipulations to make an accurate decision.

Nevertheless, the frustrations being poured on the IRCC processing are based on the haphazard process of processing applications. Recently, it has been shown that IRCC is more interested in statistics (to meet up with 1 yr service agreement) than the actual order for which applications should be processed. When a case (which I believe differs from applicants to applicants) with the same timeline is processed with a huge difference in processing time and without any obvious indication of adverse information (like you mentioned, terrorist activity), then it becomes questionable.

Here are some points that make questioning their processing timeline plausible:

1. An applicant takes the online test without any issue (ofcos one should be able to know this based on the stipulated guidelines) and it takes IRCC 2 weeks (in some offices) to confirm and complete the test. Why should some offices take 2 weeks whereas some will take the next business day?
2. I read a post of someone who applied in March 2021 that has already got the citizenship certificate and someone else who applied in Dec 2020 that hasn't even gotten a test. This Dec 2020 applicant has not even left Canada since arrival. How can these two discrepancies be justified?
3. Visa offices have been known to process applications "whenever or however" they deem fit. Offices like Montreal and Hamilton are known to be incredibly slow while some others are super fast. Hence, it is no longer about the applicant but the unlucky situation of applicants' files ending up in a particular visa office.
4. Many others which I didn't recall now!!

In general, I know IRCC is working and most likely would want the best for their people (future Canadians like us), but their system has shown to be far from optimal. I am not asking for perfection (as that is not even feasible). All I need to see is a more consistent approach to processing applications!

 

[arav12345]

I received the citizenship certificate today. It was delivered by Purolator in a cardboard envelope. The certificate came inside another envelope with a cardboard to avoid folding.

Did you get your oath ceremony preponed?

 

[chapek_dg]

Hey Guys,

Please update the tracker with the below information.

Location: Toronto
Application type: Single -Online
App submitted : December 22, 2020
AOR: April 13, 2021
FP Requested: August 25, 2021
FP done: August 27, 2021
Background Verified as completed: November 15, 2021
Test Invite: November 19, 2021
Test Taken: November 21, 2021
Test Marked as completed: November 22, 2021

So far, background and Citizenship test marked as completed. Language Skills, Physical presence and Prohibition in Progress, Citizenship ceremony, Not started.

Looks like our timelines are almost exactly the same. So I guess there isn’t any extraordinary delays on our applications. Mine is processed in Scarborough office.

It can be frustrating seeing some of the later applications being processed way quicker than mine but we are still within the expected timelines so Im trying not to focus on that too much. My hope is to hear something back for the ceremony by the end of this December or January. Hope the same for you.

 

[Markham101010]

You've been scheduled to attend your citizenship ceremony on December 17, 2021.

I was wondering ....have you gotten your invitation email yet?