Do you know if the ICC office contacts the person that you put as a reference? If yes, after how many weeks from that did you get the invitation to the test?
Of course it is entirely possible that IRCC will in fact contact the individual identified as a Canadian citizen reference. It is almost certain that some will be contacted. It is quite likely that some will not be contacted. What the odds are is impossible to guess.
Very few applicants issued the PPQ - QAE have reported being scheduled for the test, as yet, so there is no time line pattern yet discernible, and it is NOT likely any informative or useful pattern will be discernible any time soon . . . basically, given a small number of reports it is clear that the applicant could be scheduled for the test quite soon after sending in the response to PPQ BUT it is also quite likely many others will have to wait at least two to four or six months.
I have a question from those who have received different versions of RQ or quality assurance or any other name it might be called:
1. Has there been a version where the applicant had to submit a limited and specific documents only like banking info for only 2 years? In such a case does the applicant always has to sign a form again like that of RQ?
2. In case of those who received a request for more docs after the interview, how long more after interview has someone received such a request? (What has been the longest instance)?
3. Are the docs only requested for the eligibility period?
Request for bank statements:
The range of particular documents which may be requested from a specific applicant is very broad, including in requests made in a letter format as well as the CIT 0520, the latter typically used when IRCC has a concern for which it anticipates some particular documents can fully resolve the concern or question.
I have not seen requests for bank statements reported EXCEPT as part of the full-blown RQ (CIT 0171) or the PPQ - QAE (in which the request for documents is made in its own letter-like correspondence which is included in the QAE package along with the PPQ itself, the CIT 0205 form).
It is, in any event, possible that IRCC could request bank and credit card statements from an applicant, and could specify the period of time. As to the time period for which records are requested, however, my sense is that would usually be for the ELIGIBILITY PERIOD.
Document requests AFTER Interview:
There is no definite timeline for how long after the interview IRCC may issue the applicant a request for additional information or documents. We have very little information about what might be the usual timeline since this procedure has NOT been commonly reported in the last year plus -- there are readily discerned reasons for this lack of reports, and reasons to anticipate the probability we will be seeing more reports going forward; just this week there has been new reports of both RQ-lite (CIT 0520) and RQ (probably CIT 0171 but not yet confirmed).
Historically, and relative to the few reports we have seen over the last couple years, it appears such requests are generally sent within one to four months after the interview. BUT this only indicates when it is likely to receive such requests. It does not signal, in any way, that if a longer period of time has passed since the interview the odds of getting such a request diminish. On the contrary, the longer it has gone since the interview, my strong sense is the greater the likelihood that a request for additional information or documentation may yet be coming.
Document requests AT or AFTER the interview, other than the Finger Print request, can include:
-- correspondence in letter form requesting particular documents
-- form CIT 0520 requesting particular documents; oft referred to as RQ-lite
-- form CIT 0171 which is an extensive questionnaire and which includes a request for presence and residency related documents; this is actually titled "Residency Questionnaire" and is sometime referred to as "full-blown RQ," given the scope of information and documents requested
There may be, perhaps, other ways in which IRCC requests information or documentation. For example, it is not clear yet whether or not the PPQ (Physical Presence Questionnaire) might be used at a later stage in the process.
Additionally, as noted IRCC can request Finger Prints at or after the interview. IRCC can also request an applicant to provide a Police Certificate from a particular country (so far it appears this request is made in a letter format).
Period of time for which documents are requested:
The requests are usually for the ELIGIBILITY period but they can be for a shorter period of time AND they can often include a request for documents AFTER the application was made, that is while the application has been pending.
Police certificate requests will ordinarily be for the period beginning four years prior to the application and to the present.
In unusual circumstances, the request may be for documents for some other particular time, but of course the request needs to be reasonably relevant to processing the citizenship application.
UPDATE REGARDING CIT 0520 AND CIT 0171:
Just this week a forum participant has reported receiving CIT 0520, RQ-lite. So it is apparent this is still in use.
It’s a 0520 and only asked for US travel entry and exit history. They gave an online link print the travel history.
Similarly, just this week a forum participant has reported receiving "RQ" which has not been confirmed to be CIT 0171 but the description of the questionnaire is consistent with it being CIT 0171 (hopefully this individual will confirm which form was actually received).
LOCATION WINDSOR
APP SENT : OCT 16-17
APP DEL : OCT 20-17
IN PROCESS : DEC 20-17
TEST DATE : MARCH 13-18
OATH DATE : AWAITING
I GOT A FORM IN THE MAIL A WEEK AFTER MY TEST TO FILL OUT THE QUESTIONNAIRE AND SUBMIT ALL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS WHICH INCLUDED MY WHOLE HISTORY IN CANADA AND ABROAD WHICH I FILLED IT OUT AND SUBMITTED NEXT DAY .I ACTUALLY MISSED TO ENTER 1 TRIP OUTSIDE CANADA FOR 5 DAYS . MY PHYSICAL PRESENCE DAYS ARE OVER 500 THEN REQUIRED.
DID ANYONE ELSE GET THIS KIND OF ISSUE!! WILL IT CAUSE MY APPLICATION DELAY . IT JUST HAD TO BE MAILED TO THE LOCAL OFFICE WHERE I WROTE MY TEST!!
While this suggests that the PPQ - QAE is NOT replacing RQ, obviously a single report such as this is NOT enough to support a firm conclusion.
By the way, as noted above, but warranting some emphasis: the huge surge in applications these past six months is almost certain to lead to an increase in the number of applicants issued RQ or RQ-lite. For anyone who is issued either the CIT 0520 or CIT 0171, please provide the forum with some detailed information about it, including the form's date . . . this is in a mm-yyyy format in parentheses following the official form number; for example, current version of the PPQ is "CIT 0205 (10-2017)"
A copy of the blank form, before any information is entered, and with identifying information blacked out, would be especially helpful.
EDIT to ADD:
I have been reminded that at or following the test/interview IRCC may also request a translation of documents, typically a request for translation of passport stamps not in one of the official languages for those applicants who failed to properly provide the translation attendant the interview.