Change in citizenship guide/test imminent...

[HamiltonApplicant]

Hello all,

Just saw an article on citizenship guide overhaul
http://www.torontosun.com/2017/07/24/liberals-citizenship-guide-overhaul-is-all-feel-good

Those who are planning to apply for citizenship in coming months pay close attention. Many online tests might be outdated for some time before they incorporate changes....

Cheers

 

[navaabali]

thanks mate for such good information, most of us dont have time to look into this. is there anyway we can have a look and see what major changes they have done and how difficult or easy it can be for anyone who is applying in AUG-SEPT 2017. do you have any information on how much ti they are taking on new applications to test and from test to oath ceremony. Finally if we apply in aug-sept 2017 would we fall under new law which is passed some time ago or same old 4 yr law.

Once again thank you

 

[Stef.]

For what it is worth: I had a discussion after my interview with the nice lady at the door yesterday. They do expect a huge influx of new applicants once the new rule is implemented and she told me there was a change in paperwork they expect to have to go through. Unfortunately no new/ more employees. I assume for the time being waiting times might become longer, but then...officially they are 12 months and I had my interview after three.

 

[navaabali]

thank you stef, that was my thoughts too however was confused a bit.

 

[HamiltonApplicant]

thanks mate for such good information, most of us dont have time to look into this. is there anyway we can have a look and see what major changes they have done and how difficult or easy it can be for anyone who is applying in AUG-SEPT 2017. do you have any information on how much ti they are taking on new applications to test and from test to oath ceremony. Finally if we apply in aug-sept 2017 would we fall under new law which is passed some time ago or same old 4 yr law.

Once again thank you

There is no way to check right now what the changes are, however, I feel it is going to be sooner than later. Here's a practical tip: While applying, if you don't specify your email id, all the correspondence will be snail mail. You will also get the hard copy of Discover Canada; That way you can be sure which version should be followed for the test. CIC is not very transparent unfortunately...

For what it is worth: I had a discussion after my interview with the nice lady at the door yesterday. They do expect a huge influx of new applicants once the new rule is implemented and she told me there was a change in paperwork they expect to have to go through. Unfortunately no new/ more employees. I assume for the time being waiting times might become longer, but then...officially they are 12 months and I had my interview after three.

I congratulate you for your successful test and interview! If you don't mind me asking, could you share your interview experience? I thank you for sharing this important piece of information about the possible delay after the implementation of 3/4 rule...

 

[links18]

Maybe there will be less material on the Boer War....

 

[Stef.]

There is no way to check right now what the changes are, however, I feel it is going to be sooner than later. Here's a practical tip: While applying, if you don't specify your email id, all the correspondence will be snail mail. You will also get the hard copy of Discover Canada; That way you can be sure which version should be followed for the test. CIC is not very transparent unfortunately...


I congratulate you for your successful test and interview! If you don't mind me asking, could you share your interview experience? I thank you for sharing this important piece of information about the possible delay after the implementation of 3/4 rule...

I have an extensive travel history - all in Europe and mostly due to my elderly Mum who I take around to see family all over Europe.

The agent went through all of my stamps VERY thoroughly and ticked them off one by one on the list that I have provided them with in my application. She also had another computer list to check and they had figured out that I had actually missed one trip. She asked me whether I could remember where I went and I guessed.
She was fine with that as I had enough buffer days.

She also asked me about my family (husband and kids), what they are doing and so forth.

I believe my case was straight forward as I have a Canadian husband born in Vancouver, Canadian children who went to school/ university in Canada and are still residing there and I have only applied after 9 years already in Canada.

I could convince her that the center of my life is in Canada, that I intend to retire here and that my travels are all related to looking after my Mum and my family in Europe. I am not sure I needed to do this but it certainly helped.

It was a very friendly interview and I was completely honest regarding all my travels, including that this will continue in the future.

Without wanting to scare anybody: making sure that your information that you supplied them with is absolutely honest to the best of your abilities is really important. Next to me was a guy who had written the exam and was then told that he had spent over 256 days in another country in one year and that he should withdraw his application.

I strongly believe they look at the whole picture and they know exactly when and where we were, at least to some extent.

Nevertheless, as said the test was doable. You do need to study, but if you do you should have no problems. I made one stupid mistake in the test.
Best of luck to all of you
Stef.

 

[HamiltonApplicant]

Maybe there will be less material on the Boer War....

It's all Kumbaya and Hakuna Matata....

 

[HamiltonApplicant]

I have an extensive travel history - all in Europe and mostly due to my elderly Mum who I take around to see family all over Europe.

The agent went through all of my stamps VERY thoroughly and ticked them off one by one on the list that I have provided them with in my application. She also had another computer list to check and they had figured out that I had actually missed one trip. She asked me whether I could remember where I went and I guessed.
She was fine with that as I had enough buffer days.

She also asked me about my family (husband and kids), what they are doing and so forth.

I believe my case was straight forward as I have a Canadian husband born in Vancouver, Canadian children who went to school/ university in Canada and are still residing there and I have only applied after 9 years already in Canada.

I could convince her that the center of my life is in Canada, that I intend to retire here and that my travels are all related to looking after my Mum and my family in Europe. I am not sure I needed to do this but it certainly helped.

It was a very friendly interview and I was completely honest regarding all my travels, including that this will continue in the future.

Without wanting to scare anybody: making sure that your information that you supplied them with is absolutely honest to the best of your abilities is really important. Next to me was a guy who had written the exam and was then told that he had spent over 256 days in another country in one year and that he should withdraw his application.

I strongly believe they look at the whole picture and they know exactly when and where we were, at least to some extent.

Nevertheless, as said the test was doable. You do need to study, but if you do you should have no problems. I made one stupid mistake in the test.
Best of luck to all of you
Stef.

Thank you for sharing you experience! It looks physical presence has become the single most deciding factor these days, thanks to massive cheating by some people during the past 1.5 decades or so. I have copied your experience in another thread where I am trying to collect all the interview experiences, hope it is OK with you...

 

[Stef.]

Thank you for sharing you experience! It looks physical presence has become the single most deciding factor these days, thanks to massive cheating by some people during the past 1.5 decades or so. I have copied your experience in another thread where I am trying to collect all the interview experiences, hope it is OK with you...

No problem.

Yes, I had the impression not only in my case but all the others as well, that they do check the physical presence very carefully.

In Vancouver, the interviews also tended to be longer than just three minutes as others have reported, at least when I was there.

As said before, buffer seems to be essential, unless you are 100% sure. Also I believe that while they are not directly asking you for your intent to stay, the more convincingly you can convince them of your sincerity towards this country, e.g. that it will be or is already, the country you intend to stay in forever, the easier it will be.

Obviously, this is just my personal opinion and I might be completely wrong.

 

[HamiltonApplicant]

No problem.

Yes, I had the impression not only in my case but all the others as well, that they do check the physical presence very carefully.

In Vancouver, the interviews also tended to be longer than just three minutes as others have reported, at least when I was there.

As said before, buffer seems to be essential, unless you are 100% sure. Also I believe that while they are not directly asking you for your intent to stay, the more convincingly you can convince them of your sincerity towards this country, e.g. that it will be or is already, the country you intend to stay in forever, the easier it will be.

Obviously, this is just my personal opinion and I might be completely wrong.

I find this 3 minute interviews hard to believe. We were the penultimate interviewees which gave us the opportunity to time many interviews. Neither our interview nor the interviews before ours were so short, average interview that day lasted for about 20 minutes...