Endless wait for citizenship application update

[nick677]

Hi All,

I wanted to get some advice from experts / other fellow applicants who might have more experience in thie process than me.

Here are my case timeline details :-

1. We received your application for Canadian citizenship (grant of citizenship) on September 11, 2017.
2. We sent you correspondence acknowledging receipt of your application(s), and a study book called Discover Canada on October 12, 2017.
3. We started processing your application on November 2, 2017.

This is my 10th month after application and have heard nothing from CIC after the 3 rd update about the processing of my application starting from Nov 2 - no update about fingerprints or anything.

Based on my earlier posts and advice shared I have already applied for my GCMS notes ( I believe I should be getting them in a month as I applied last week ) and also sent a request to my local MP ( never heard anything back from him as of now ). What else can I do ?

Yes I know that I need to be patient but I have been patient now for close to 10 months and applied with more than enough days of physical presence requirement and all the necessary documentation.

I need some sincere advice here please because when I see people getting citizenship within 4 - 5 months of applying and even people who applied months after me getting citizenship I fail to understand why is mine getting delayed.

 

[keesio]

What city are you in? I've noticed that your location has a big impact. For example, the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) seems to be pretty slow but other offices (like Calgary) seem to have better timelines on average...

 

[FloydCan]

If you read other threads you will see there are a lot who are in the same situation especially people in the GTA. It's depressing as hell but there's nothing much to do.

 

[oomuchi]

Hi nick677,

Be happy !!! because at least your process is considered IP status...
think of those who are waiting more than 4 months for an AOR ...

 

[nick677]

What city are you in? I've noticed that your location has a big impact. For example, the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) seems to be pretty slow but other offices (like Calgary) seem to have better timelines on average...

Hi Keesio,

Thank you for your reply.

I am based in Mississauga ( GTA ) and I understand that because of the nuber of applicants the process can be slower here but this slow is agonizinly painful.

All the documentation has been submitted long time ago, all eligibility criterion have been met and yet a wait time of this long is according to me unacceptable.

I applied when the old rules ( 4 year residency ) were there so technically the processing should be faster because all the new rule ( 3 year residency ) applicants would have come much later and shouldn't logically CIC be trying to decide on the old rule applicatios to clear that back log first.

My frustration stems for the fact that I see people who applied with the new rules also getting fingerprint calls and citizenship oath calls whereas people who applied under the old rules are still stuck till date.

Our immigration system is totally broken and this is frustrating to say the least.

 

[nick677]

If you read other threads you will see there are a lot who are in the same situation especially people in the GTA. It's depressing as hell but there's nothing much to do.

Thank you for your kind words FloydCan.

Just feels so helpless. I think I will just leave everything to Almighty now....I have done everything I can. I am just tired of all this tension.

I thought getting a citizenship was an easy process if you follow the rules but looks like this is not the case. Anyways keeping fingers crossed.

Wishing you all we ll in your citizenship aplication process.

May we all get it very soon !!

 

[nick677]

Hi nick677,

Be happy !!! because at least your process is considered IP status...
think of those who are waiting more than 4 months for an AOR ...

Hi Oomuchi,

I understand where you are coming from but this is just extremely frustrating.

My PR application took almost an year to come through when the usual processing times were 6 - 8 months and now this is almost approaching an year. Don't really know what to say or do besideds wait.

Thanks for your note.

 

[humsafar]

I am in same boat as you are with similar time lines.

I guess granting citizenship is not a priory not until the elections are just few months away, right now the priority seems to be processing refugee applications. The system is completely broken. It should be First in first out. but apparently it is highly based on individual officers some are fast some a too lazy and the best thing is they have broad authorities with zero (at least it looks like) accountability.

Moreover Mississauga must be hugely understaffed and is responsible for so many other streams of immigration. like parents, spousal etc...

This process effects your life your future plans, you and your loved ones are in undue stress because of this process. but who cares.

The only thing we can do is wait and try to keep us as calm as possible.

 

[FloydCan]

For us who already applied in Mississauga, we're screwed but for prospective applicants, whatever you do never apply in Mississauga!

 

[Hus]

I also have the exact same problem. I am an applicant from Dollard-Des-Ormeaux (city in Greater Montreal). They physically received our application on October 25, 2017 and sent us the AOR on November 27. They started processing my application on January 16, 2018 and sent me finger prints application on March 16. I submitted my finger prints on March 20, and heard nothing from them since then.

I called, and wrote to them several times, but all what they say is that I am still within the normal processing times and that I have to wait.

Honestly, I almost gave up, and will wait until October 25, 2018 to file a complaint. They won't have any excuse around that time.

Anyways, I totally understand that the citizenship is a privilege and not a right, but I am really frustrated too.

 

[keesio]

Thank you for your kind words FloydCan.

Just feels so helpless. I think I will just leave everything to Almighty now....I have done everything I can. I am just tired of all this tension.

I thought getting a citizenship was an easy process if you follow the rules but looks like this is not the case. Anyways keeping fingers crossed.

Wishing you all we ll in your citizenship aplication process.

May we all get it very soon !!

I understand how you feel. My wife is also a GTA applicant. I used to check every day on eCAS but now we just accepted the fact that the GTA is slow and have adjusted our expectations. I would offer the same advice - do not stress out about it and just go on with your life. That is all that can be done. It will happen when it happens I guess

 

[nick677]

I am in same boat as you are with similar time lines.

I guess granting citizenship is not a priory not until the elections are just few months away, right now the priority seems to be processing refugee applications. The system is completely broken. It should be First in first out. but apparently it is highly based on individual officers some are fast some a too lazy and the best thing is they have broad authorities with zero (at least it looks like) accountability.

Moreover Mississauga must be hugely understaffed and is responsible for so many other streams of immigration. like parents, spousal etc...

This process effects your life your future plans, you and your loved ones are in undue stress because of this process. but who cares.

The only thing we can do is wait and try to keep us as calm as possible.

I am in same boat as you are with similar time lines.

I guess granting citizenship is not a priory not until the elections are just few months away, right now the priority seems to be processing refugee applications. The system is completely broken. It should be First in first out. but apparently it is highly based on individual officers some are fast some a too lazy and the best thing is they have broad authorities with zero (at least it looks like) accountability.

Moreover Mississauga must be hugely understaffed and is responsible for so many other streams of immigration. like parents, spousal etc...

This process effects your life your future plans, you and your loved ones are in undue stress because of this process. but who cares.

The only thing we can do is wait and try to keep us as calm as possible.

Thank you for your note.

I agree 100 per cent with what you said.

Let's hope that we both and others on the thread hear back soon from CIC and become citizens by or before the 12 month waiting time period expires.

 

[nick677]

For us who already applied in Mississauga, we're screwed but for prospective applicants, whatever you do never apply in Mississauga!

Hi FloydCan,

Do we have a choice to apply to a particular center ?

I thought you just apply to CIC and they send your file to the nearest center from based on your postal address. Isn't that correct ?

How do I get to know where my file is being processed ?

I am a resident of Mississauga so I am presuming that this is where my application is being processed though I do know of a case in which a Mississauga resident had his application processed in Scarborough as that is where his file was sent to.

 

[nick677]

Thank you for your note.

I agree 100 per cent with what you said.

Let's hope that we both and others on the thread hear back soon from CIC and become citizens by or before the 12 month waiting time period expires.

Also I don't know if you want to but do apply for your GCMS notes ( if you haven't done that already ) to see what the case officer has written about your application in his notes.

It might help to move your case faster in case someone notices a delay because of no reason. Just a suggestion !!

 

[nick677]

I also have the exact same problem. I am an applicant from Dollard-Des-Ormeaux (city in Greater Montreal). They physically received our application on October 25, 2017 and sent us the AOR on November 27. They started processing my application on January 16, 2018 and sent me finger prints application on March 16. I submitted my finger prints on March 20, and heard nothing from them since then.

I called, and wrote to them several times, but all what they say is that I am still within the normal processing times and that I have to wait.

Honestly, I almost gave up, and will wait until October 25, 2018 to file a complaint. They won't have any excuse around that time.

Anyways, I totally understand that the citizenship is a privilege and not a right, but I am really frustrated too.

Hi Hus,

Sorry to hear about the delay in your case.

Well at least they called you for fingerprints but in my case even that hasn't happened.

I agree with you that citizenship is a privilege and not a right but it is a privilege that is being delayed in our case because of things outside our control which is frustrating and disappointing.

Anyways wish you well in your application.