Again, at the risk of being too repetitive (and this will be the last topic in which I post this), but my best effort (within time constraints given a looming deadline to submit a manuscript in my day job) to offer some input in the overflow of threads addressing numerous issues, questions, and concerns, and much confusion, related to the roll out of the new form, new rules, and new instructions for citizenship applications, it seems warranted, to me, to repeat with some emphasis a recognition of the problems juxtaposed with positive assurance that IRCC will almost certainly work its way through most of the issues.
In particular . . .
CAUTION: rollout pitfalls; pretty form not-so-pretty muddle; BUT there are reasons to RELAX
As I had cautioned, well before October 11, the roll out of the new citizenship application rules and process probably would be (and it is) fraught with issues. But for the details, the new application form is pretty, a format which office manager types should appreciate, since in
form it appears to be user-friendly while at the same time processing-friendly. As usual, however, the devil lurks ominously in the details. And no more than a glance is necessary to see problems lurking in some of the details, as is amply illustrated by the plethora of questions and confusion being discussed in many new topics here.
At this juncture many have already sent their applications off. And it appears many more will do so today or tomorrow. Not the prudent way to navigate this but what is in the hopper is in the hopper, or to mangle metaphors, the cake is in the oven and it is time to wait to see if it rises properly.
But there are reasons to RELAX, to not worry so much.
This is true for those who have (imprudently in my view) rushed sending off an application, and for those preparing an application who are struggling with the many vague, ambiguous, or otherwise problematic questions and instructions.
IRCC is almost certainly going to exercise a good deal of flexibility in how it handles the first batch of applications using the new form and presence calculator.
Sure, many if not most of those who rushed to apply right away can anticipate the processing of their applications to be delayed some, compared to applications made after
the-dust-settles, so to say. But for the vast majority of applicants who rushed, that should be the worst of it, a little or a moderate delay in processing. No big deal. No long-term delays. Not much risk of a negative outcome.
In particular, overall:
Applicants who submit an application which is complete and on its face demonstrates their qualification for citizenship, and who make a concerted effort to understand what was requested, as best they can, and who provide as best they can, according to their best assessment of how to respond based on the facts in their situation, a complete, accurate, and honest response,
it is most likely all will go well, NO PROBLEM, perhaps some inherent, inevitable delays due to the
roll-out-blues, but no serious problems. IRCC is going to accept and deal with various approaches to answering numerous parts of this form, at least until
the dust settles and there is more clarification about what IRCC expects.
The above is in large part derived from a longer post, from more detailed observations including discussion about some of the more salient issues. Follow link in quote below to see full post.
But there are reasons to RELAX, to not worry so much.
This is true for those who have (imprudently in my view) rushed sending off an application, and for those preparing an application who are struggling with the many vague, ambiguous, or otherwise problematic questions and instructions.
IRCC is almost certainly going to exercise a good deal of flexibility in how it handles the first batch of applications using the new form and presence calculator.
As badly as the roll out has gone, as poorly composed the form is, and despite that steepest part of the learning curve those total-stranger-bureaucrats will be struggling with when they are processing the first batch of new-rules-new-form applications, IRCC is going to work, and probably work very hard, to make all this work, and thus IRCC will almost certainly be understanding and perhaps very liberal in how it assesses responses to the more confusing and problematic items.
Item 11 (work or school history):
I think my overall observation applies to item 11 as well, that as long as the applicant is reasonably responsive, providing the key information even if falling short in some of the details, IRCC will most likely adapt and be liberal in how it assesses this information.
For anyone who has been following residency and presence issues for long, it is easy to see that IRCC is seeking a way to obtain a wide range of information it can use to verify the applicant's work history. But as most have observed, Q 11 is a mess, it is vague, in part ambiguous, perhaps overreaching to some extent (asking for contact information for old employers, for example). Some of the questions posed above, as to very particular situations, illustrate the difficulties this item poses for many applicants.
For now, I can see no better approach than that I describe above, which is basically to just do the best you can to be responsive, being sure to provide key information even if falling short in some details.
This is one of the items IRCC really needs to either fix or be more precise about in the instructions.
