October 2024 - Citizenship Applications

[gaur_sakshi]

For call - https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/may-2022-citizenship-applications.766933/page-135#post-10523591

Thanks for sharing the phone number. I contacted them, they told me I can expect to receive invitation somewhere between Mar 10th and 20th for the oath ceremony scheduled for March 24th. Let's see if I receive it by then.

 

[usmm]

Thanks for sharing the phone number. I contacted them, they told me I can expect to receive invitation somewhere between Mar 10th and 20th for the oath ceremony scheduled for March 24th. Let's see if I receive it by then.

hi can your please share your timeline

 

[gaur_sakshi]

hi can your please share your timeline

AOR - Oct 28
Test Assigned - Dec 19
Test taken - Jan 14
Test completed on tracker - Jan 16
LPP - Jan 24
Oath updated on tracker - Jan 24
Oath Ceremony - Due for Mar 24 (though have not received email as of today)
Processing Office - Sydney NS

 

[usmm]

AOR - Oct 28
Test Assigned - Dec 19
Test taken - Jan 14
Test completed on tracker - Jan 16
LPP - Jan 24
Oath updated on tracker - Jan 24
Oath Ceremony - Due for Mar 24 (though have not received email as of today)
Processing Office - Sydney NS

congarts

 

[Kiranmayi]

By non routine I meant that there will be extra time. The centre meant that there is 'an issue' like criminality.
Your timeline now depends on how fast the secondary officer picks up the application and conducts the review. Do you have a lot of entry and exits? Were you gone for a while prior to applying? Did you apply for waiver of physical presence? It's weird the notes say there is a waiver request....

Thanks, @forw.jane and @moman21 for your quick responses. Sorry for my late reply.

Here’s my situation: I missed a couple of oath ceremonies in 2020 and 2021 because I was stuck in my home country during COVID. After returning, I asked IRCC to schedule a final ceremony so I could complete the process, but they said a closed file cannot be reopened and advised me to submit a new application. I was 95 days short of the physical presence requirement but I reapplied with explanations and proof of why I missed multiple ceremonies.

I first reapplied in June 2024, but they returned it. I submitted it again in October with another explanation letter, and this time, they accepted it. They then asked for a PCC, which I sent in November. Since then, there have been no updates except that my Background and Criminality checks were completed on December 13th.

Now, I’m unsure whether to withdraw or continue with this application. I read on this forum that someone else submitted an application, but it went into a long review. Later, they met the physical presence requirement but couldn’t submit a new application because their previous one was still in progress. They could only withdraw it before a final decision.

I will be eligible to submit a new application in June 2026. What would be the best choice now?

@forw.jane, you mentioned that my new application would go through the same process. Does that mean that even if I meet the physical presence requirement, it will still take longer? If I withdraw my current application and submit a new one in June/July 2026, will it be processed normally?

Thanks for your help again

 

[forw.jane]

Thanks, @forw.jane and @moman21 for your quick responses. Sorry for my late reply.

Here’s my situation: I missed a couple of oath ceremonies in 2020 and 2021 because I was stuck in my home country during COVID. After returning, I asked IRCC to schedule a final ceremony so I could complete the process, but they said a closed file cannot be reopened and advised me to submit a new application. I was 95 days short of the physical presence requirement but I reapplied with explanations and proof of why I missed multiple ceremonies.

I first reapplied in June 2024, but they returned it. I submitted it again in October with another explanation letter, and this time, they accepted it. They then asked for a PCC, which I sent in November. Since then, there have been no updates except that my Background and Criminality checks were completed on December 13th.

Now, I’m unsure whether to withdraw or continue with this application. I read on this forum that someone else submitted an application, but it went into a long review. Later, they met the physical presence requirement but couldn’t submit a new application because their previous one was still in progress. They could only withdraw it before a final decision.

I will be eligible to submit a new application in June 2026. What would be the best choice now?

@forw.jane, you mentioned that my new application would go through the same process. Does that mean that even if I meet the physical presence requirement, it will still take longer? If I withdraw my current application and submit a new one in June/July 2026, will it be processed normally?

Thanks for your help again

Is Background check on your tracker marked as completed?

 

[Kiranmayi]

Is Background check on your tracker marked as completed?

@forw.jane Yes, it was completed on 13th Dec 2024

 

[moman21]

@forw.jane Yes, it was completed on 13th Dec 2024

I say wait. It doesn't hurt you in any way because if you withdraw, you'll be waiting until 2026 to reapply. Wait and see what they say. You have a reasonable reason for being away.

 

[Kiranmayi]

I say wait. It doesn't hurt you in any way because if you withdraw, you'll be waiting until 2026 to reapply. Wait and see what they say. You have a reasonable reason for being away.

Thank you for your suggestion.

I think that's why they added the 'Waive Physical Presence' note to my file.

Will I be able to withdraw or submit a new application in June 2026 if they haven't made a decision on my file by then?

 

[armoured]

Will I be able to withdraw or submit a new application in June 2026 if they haven't made a decision on my file by then?

Yes, no reason why you can't do so then. My understanding is files that are withdrawn and resubmitted get extra review, but that isn't necessarily that long, or at least shouldn't be if you submit your (what would be perfectly valid) reason for withdrawing.

I agree with @moman21 that there's no harm in letting it continue with IRCC to see what happens; I'm skeptical, however, it will be successful because I don't think the law provides for 'reasons' for not meeting the day count. (And on top of that it is debatable in most cases whether such reasons were hard and fast - although I do know India and a couple of other countries didn't allow flights out for a period, I just think they're not likely to create precedents for these circumstances.I could be wrong though.)

They could, or you could, in theory, go to the minister for the discretionary grant of citizenship. But again, I doubt this case reaches to the levels of what they like to see for such cases (exceptional hardship etc). And probably wouldn't save much time anyway.

Anyway, I'm sympathetic personally - awful situation.

 

[Kiranmayi]

Yes, no reason why you can't do so then. My understanding is files that are withdrawn and resubmitted get extra review, but that isn't necessarily that long, or at least shouldn't be if you submit your (what would be perfectly valid) reason for withdrawing.

I agree with @moman21 that there's no harm in letting it continue with IRCC to see what happens; I'm skeptical, however, it will be successful because I don't think the law provides for 'reasons' for not meeting the day count. (And on top of that it is debatable in most cases whether such reasons were hard and fast - although I do know India and a couple of other countries didn't allow flights out for a period, I just think they're not likely to create precedents for these circumstances.I could be wrong though.)

They could, or you could, in theory, go to the minister for the discretionary grant of citizenship. But again, I doubt this case reaches to the levels of what they like to see for such cases (exceptional hardship etc). And probably wouldn't save much time anyway.

Anyway, I'm sympathetic personally - awful situation.

Thanks for your input. Could you clarify what you mean? Are you suggesting that a referral to Program Support automatically means a higher likelihood of rejection, or is it just an extra layer of scrutiny before a decision is made? I’d appreciate any insights you can share.

 

[armoured]

Thanks for your input. Could you clarify what you mean? Are you suggesting that a referral to Program Support automatically means a higher likelihood of rejection, or is it just an extra layer of scrutiny before a decision is made? I’d appreciate any insights you can share.

My understanding is that any application for citizenship from an applicant who previously withdrew one (and possibly any unsuccessful) gets referred for extra scrutiny. Don't know the name. I believe it's just to ensure that there's nothing overlooked in terms of the reasons for which someone withdrew and re-applied. An example might be checking that it wasn't withdrawn because of criminal record (eg someone thinking they could get it struck from record).

I don't believe that means it takes an enormous amount of extra time, esp if reason is simple. Your reason is relatively simple (at least in sense that if you withdraw it in mid-2026, or got returned because not enough days, then perfectly normal to re-apply when you do have enough days).

 

[moman21]

Yes, no reason why you can't do so then. My understanding is files that are withdrawn and resubmitted get extra review, but that isn't necessarily that long, or at least shouldn't be if you submit your (what would be perfectly valid) reason for withdrawing.

I agree with @moman21 that there's no harm in letting it continue with IRCC to see what happens; I'm skeptical, however, it will be successful because I don't think the law provides for 'reasons' for not meeting the day count. (And on top of that it is debatable in most cases whether such reasons were hard and fast - although I do know India and a couple of other countries didn't allow flights out for a period, I just think they're not likely to create precedents for these circumstances.I could be wrong though.)

They could, or you could, in theory, go to the minister for the discretionary grant of citizenship. But again, I doubt this case reaches to the levels of what they like to see for such cases (exceptional hardship etc). And probably wouldn't save much time anyway.

Anyway, I'm sympathetic personally - awful situation.

@Kiranmayi
Did you consult a lawyer before applying? This is a good example when legal advice would be beneficial because it's a non routine application.