Citizenship Test

[supermario]

That's my biggest fear. Back in 2007 they faced a similar situation where the new government paused all processes for about 6 months while they came up with new rules and when it all came back they decided the backlog was too large so they returned all applications and asked people to re-apply if they still qualified under tighter rules. I was in the PR process back then and I had to re-apply the following year.

Tests were cancelled this year about a week prior to my scheduled test. It will suck if I have to go back to square one, gather updated docs, translations, and such. I sure hope they won't do that...

There is no federal elections coming up in the next few years. Besides, the government already prioritized spending in different areas like cerb. I don't see any major changes with regards to processing. They just have to figure something out for the testing. People are still getting AOR these days, meaning that once the file gets an AOR, they will process it.
Worst case scenario, let's say they increase 3-year to 4-year period... this process will already take longer than a year with the current backlog. So it doesn't really change much for us.
Either way, they are on the hook, and this pressure from applicants lobbying will get worse if no solution is found for the tests. They easily could have used large stadiums with social distancing, masks and soap dispensers to accommodate testing during the summer months. Now the winter is coming, good luck containing the virus within enclosed spaces, along with the seasonal flu...
Anyway. Some wishful thinking perhaps, but it'll be long ride for sure.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[harirajmohan]

That's my biggest fear. Back in 2007 they faced a similar situation where the new government paused all processes for about 6 months while they came up with new rules and when it all came back they decided the backlog was too large so they returned all applications and asked people to re-apply if they still qualified under tighter rules. I was in the PR process back then and I had to re-apply the following year.

Tests were cancelled this year about a week prior to my scheduled test. It will suck if I have to go back to square one, gather updated docs, translations, and such. I sure hope they won't do that...

My take: We are deviating from the core problem.
Lets not talk about the ones that wont happen - Getting our applications returned. This is not PR application hence its not comparable.
And we will not have 1M applications pending even if they dont conduct test in 2021(which wont happen) - Not even half a million applications would be accumulated as more than half of applications were adjudicated for 2019.
FYI: 176,473 people became Canadian citizens in 2018 https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/fewer-newcomers-becoming-citizens-statcan-suggests-it-s-tied-to-income-1.4684404

First fear: Not conducting tests this year. Lets stick to this which is possible which will delay our applications beyond one year from now for many(only if they dont conduct test this year).

When some people suggested in March/Apr that they would do virtual oath but many/lot were telling that its impossible and now where we are. We do give virual oath. So we can only conclude if there are no plans for tests by the end of this year to see any catastrophe but it wont be catastrophe like an opportunity of life time, the PR. PR applications returned would affect all 100% of the people whoever applied because the chance of getting into Canada was taken away and cant reapply due to loss in points/qualifying but here its not the case and hardly 1% of the people are affected who would lose some opportunity and others can very well reapply and life wont change except loss of 6-12 months (for the people who are already in the system waiting for few years - some pain of waiting but not life changing problem for most). So this is not comparable like last time and lets wait for few more months to talk about applications being returned.

 

[ott-613]

That's my biggest fear. Back in 2007 they faced a similar situation where the new government paused all processes for about 6 months while they came up with new rules and when it all came back they decided the backlog was too large so they returned all applications and asked people to re-apply if they still qualified under tighter rules. I was in the PR process back then and I had to re-apply the following year.

Tests were cancelled this year about a week prior to my scheduled test. It will suck if I have to go back to square one, gather updated docs, translations, and such. I sure hope they won't do that...

Any official materials that support your claims ? We would like to understand what you refer to .

 

[fr72]

There is no federal elections coming up in the next few years.

There will be one next spring. As soon as NDP is ready.

 

[supermario]

Someone just posted on Facebook that during her virtual oath someone asked when citizenship tests will resume, as her daughter's test got canceled. They told them that online tests will begin in September.

 

[masood8]

That's my biggest fear. Back in 2007 they faced a similar situation where the new government paused all processes for about 6 months while they came up with new rules and when it all came back they decided the backlog was too large so they returned all applications and asked people to re-apply if they still qualified under tighter rules. I was in the PR process back then and I had to re-apply the following year.

Tests were cancelled this year about a week prior to my scheduled test. It will suck if I have to go back to square one, gather updated docs, translations, and such. I sure hope they won't do that...

PR situation is different from Citizenship.

 

[Flandernss]

Someone just posted on Facebook that during her virtual oath someone asked when citizenship tests will resume, as her daughter's test got canceled. They told them that online tests will begin in September.

Oh I hope this is true...

 

[limits]

My suggestion to CIC is to get rid of the stupid test altogether! AOR -> Oath DIRECT!

 

[masood8]

My suggestion to CIC is to get rid of the stupid test altogether! AOR -> Oath DIRECT!

This will require a change in citizenship act.

 

[deepax]

A simpler solution would be to maintain physical distancing and sanitization protocols, and require all attendees to have a Covid negative test result from last 72 or 96 hours.

Now, there is an added cost of the test on the health care system, but given that ircc was already looking into eliminating citizenship fees, it won't hurt to take some of that money and divert on the required tests. Yes, I am aware that health care is provincial responsibility, not federal.

 

[Durgesh_jpr]

Hi All,

Does anyone received the citizenship test request recently? Any idea if Citizenship test resumed? I received cancellation of my citizenship test in March 2020, it was mentioned that new dates will be communicated soon. But it’s more than 8 months and still not received new date for Citizenship test. Please advise

 

[BOYX]

Hi All,

Does anyone received the citizenship test request recently? Any idea if Citizenship test resumed? I received cancellation of my citizenship test in March 2020, it was mentioned that new dates will be communicated soon. But it’s more than 8 months and still not received new date for Citizenship test. Please advise

Unfortunately, there has been no official communication of re-testing apart from the pilot program in Vancouver. Even so, there has been no genuine news, to my knowledge, that anyone has been re-tested since March. Any news brought up otherwise is often either an obvious lie or simple hearsay.

Long story short: no, there has not been any testing and the likelihood of you having one anytime soon is not very good. If and when you do receive an invite, please do let us know since re-testers will be the first to be called up.

N.B: By re-testing I mean people who's test got cancelled in March and have been invited once again.

 

[mirko.alilovic]

Unfortunately, there has been no official communication of re-testing apart from the pilot program in Vancouver. Even so, there has been no genuine news, to my knowledge, that anyone has been re-tested since March. Any news brought up otherwise is often either an obvious lie or simple hearsay.

Long story short: no, there has not been any testing and the likelihood of you having one anytime soon is not very good. If and when you do receive an invite, please do let us know since re-testers will be the first to be called up.

N.B: By re-testing I mean people who's test got cancelled in March and have been invited once again.

Might be off topic but anyone knows how much notice we're given to appear for test? Is it a week? A month?
I plan to go see family but afraid that I won't have enough time to arrange the trip back as well as to satisfy the 2 week quarantine rule. Ideas?

 

[BOYX]

Might be off topic but anyone knows how much notice we're given to appear for test? Is it a week? A month?
I plan to go see family but afraid that I won't have enough time to arrange the trip back as well as to satisfy the 2 week quarantine rule. Ideas?

Well, given the halting, I would guess you would be given at minimum a week's notice before the commencement of testing. This notice would be your cue to be ready to mobilize.

After that, it varies significantly. To elaborate and use the virtual oath as a frame of reference, some candidates were given an evenings notice to appear for the oath. Others were given a couple of weeks. Missing the invite has led to some being invited once again after nearly 2 months. Therefore, due to the COVID delays, it would be prudent to prepare for the situation where you are given an evening's notice. I personally would take the notice of test commencement as a cue to be back in Canada, especially if I am up for re-testing.

 

[Flandernss]

"the notice of test commencement" - has this taken place?