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Citizenship test: Collective action required, or expect endless delays, years. Example of the effective lobbyng of people awaiting spousal sponsorship

im2kool

Star Member
Dec 29, 2020
181
118
Agreed. There is no comment on the oath ceremonies. Test invitations have increased in volume, I feel, based on the number of entries I'm updating in the spreadsheet everyday (for 2019 and 2020). However, oath ceremonies are lagging behind. This needs to be scaled as well in order to effectively tackle the backlog.
The parts after test are highly dependent on the availability of resources.
 

perpetualwait

Full Member
May 27, 2021
48
36
Agreed. There is no comment on the oath ceremonies. Test invitations have increased in volume, I feel, based on the number of entries I'm updating in the spreadsheet everyday (for 2019 and 2020). However, oath ceremonies are lagging behind. This needs to be scaled as well in order to effectively tackle the backlog.
If you read closely they are tacitly admitting in regards to the backlog after test stage. The statement indicates that we are "getting more and more applications ready for rendering of decisions". Great but if the actual backlog is around resourcing and slow response from officer in rendering of decisions than it would be a larger and more painful backlog at this stage.

Also if it is all about fairness and first in first out then why are so so many people in late 2020 getting test invites while earlier individuals are languishing in test ready piles. They will never admit it but the whole process is broken and inefficient and it is shameful they are trying to cover all of it up in the garb of the pandemic.
 

rajkamalmohanram

VIP Member
Apr 29, 2015
15,803
5,786
The parts after test are highly dependent on the availability of resources.
Not really. They can simply scale by adding more number of people to each ceremony. The human resource remains the same (same number of clerks and 1 citizenship judge) but more people will be taking oath in the same ceremony. The only resource it will consume more is time. So what if the ceremonies take a bit longer, no big deal IMO. Given the backlog, I think most wouldn't complain if the ceremonies took another half hour or an hour longer.
 

ott-613

Hero Member
Dec 16, 2019
377
175
It does not appear to be urgent matter to pull all resources to work on it. I dont think we have much options other than waiting.
 
Dec 4, 2020
310
212
If you read closely they are tacitly admitting in regards to the backlog after test stage. The statement indicates that we are "getting more and more applications ready for rendering of decisions". Great but if the actual backlog is around resourcing and slow response from officer in rendering of decisions than it would be a larger and more painful backlog at this stage.

Also if it is all about fairness and first in first out then why are so so many people in late 2020 getting test invites while earlier individuals are languishing in test ready piles. They will never admit it but the whole process is broken and inefficient and it is shameful they are trying to cover all of it up in the garb of the pandemic.
They just don't look at it as a priority. And for paper-pushers, once the department heads say it's "not a priority" they take it to heart for obvious reasons. They don't want to work anyways and look for excuses so any such information is a blessing for them.
I wrote to PM's Office, Immigration Minister's Office, Liberal, conservative and NDP MPs in and outside my electoral area asking if someone would take attention to citizenship applications. All I got was generic automated responses saying "Please know that we treat every concern very seriously and will work on it". Lol.

There's no winning with the feds. They do what they want to do.
 

Daxsis

Star Member
Aug 7, 2020
58
35
They just don't look at it as a priority. And for paper-pushers, once the department heads say it's "not a priority" they take it to heart for obvious reasons. They don't want to work anyways and look for excuses so any such information is a blessing for them.
I wrote to PM's Office, Immigration Minister's Office, Liberal, conservative and NDP MPs in and outside my electoral area asking if someone would take attention to citizenship applications. All I got was generic automated responses saying "Please know that we treat every concern very seriously and will work on it". Lol.

There's no winning with the feds. They do what they want to do.
Yep, same experience for me. The same generic response.

The backlog will become worse especially since tests are online they are able to process the whole volume of applicants but the processes after the test needs to be done by officers which are either MIA or work slooooowly :D I mean why not on their end? if no one is pushing, and it is not as high priority as creating bubbles all over the economy lol
 
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MrChazz

Hero Member
May 4, 2021
247
226
Not really. They can simply scale by adding more number of people to each ceremony. The human resource remains the same (same number of clerks and 1 citizenship judge) but more people will be taking oath in the same ceremony. The only resource it will consume more is time. So what if the ceremonies take a bit longer, no big deal IMO. Given the backlog, I think most wouldn't complain if the ceremonies took another half hour or an hour longer.
Yes. But if the ceremonies were made larger to handle more people, then it means IRCC staff working on the preceding stages would have to do more work than they are doing right now. Why would they want to mess up a system that works .... for them? :)
 

piotrqc

Hero Member
Aug 10, 2020
391
451
It does not appear to be urgent matter to pull all resources to work on it. I dont think we have much options other than waiting.
Well, let's make it urgent, and a priority for them ...

We do not live, unfortunately, in a world of '' telletubies '', where everyone is nice, and or goes well with a happy ending ... Human nature is like that, it is bad by nature. We're not in a Walt Disney movie, it's real life ...

It's all about the balance of power in humans interactions.

= You have to put the pressure you need to "invite" them to do their work with the backlog.

All means are good, the only limit is the law. EVERYTHING can be considered: Pressure on our local federal deputies, the press and the media, and go out to demonstrate in the street if necessary (Again ... We have already done it).

The spousal sponsors put pressure, and got what they wanted ... Our only way out is to be inspired by them, and to continue to exert pressure by all the means allowed by the law.

You have to make a maximum of noise and a maximum of visibility.


It is legitimate, allowed by law, and many before us have done it, and we will not be the last ... There is no harm in doing `` lobbying '' to denounce an unacceptable situation . (I can only list the shameful abuse of public money with 699 disposition , and stop there, it is enough in my eyes to consider our cause as just).

Finally, please, once again: We must not be discouraged by defeatist people who try by all means to discourage us under false pretexts ... Their intentions are bad, or simply hostile to foreigners .... Like the example of the person here in this topic, who - at least recognizing his courage to be clear in his ideological intentions and ulterior motives -, the person who frankly confessed that everything that happened suited him ... And that 'she wants the length of legal residence before being able to apply for citizenship to be increased ... Even more years, more than 3 years now.

These are the true intentions of these people who will try to discourage us ... But not all will have the courage to reveal their real reasons.

, Piotr.
 
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dpenabill

VIP Member
Apr 2, 2010
6,432
3,176
It does not appear to be urgent matter to pull all resources to work on it. I dont think we have much options other than waiting.
They just don't look at it as a priority.
For those focused on the topic itself, here, that is what can be done to effectively advocate government action toward improving citizenship application processing timelines, these are important observations, key observations.

That is, right, for sure, just in regards to priorities within IRCC, let alone the broader Canadian government, the timeline for processing citizenship applications is NOT an "urgent matter;" right, "They just don't look at it as a priority."

And yes, just as for sure, that does not justify the failure to address the problem, to take steps to make the accommodations necessary to resume, as best as practically manageable, reasonably timely processing, which is what the law itself mandates.

For those who see activism through the lens of fighting battles, knowing the battlefield and its obstacles, and taking account of the weather, is absolutely critical, the key to planning strategy and implementing tactics. In this regard, the relative priority of citizenship application processing, its relative low priority, is akin to the natural obstacles in the field of battle. Rather foolish to plan strategy around employing tactics to remove the hill that must be climbed. The battle can only be effectively fought recognizing the impediment the hill poses and planning accordingly.

Effective advocacy is very much about choosing when and where and how to attack.

There is no one-battle to end the war on the horizon here. As I have mentioned before, this is not a storm-the-Bastille scenario.

So, yes, very much indeed, as @ott-613 and @citizenship.enthusiast have noted, and for those working on the messaging, it warrants being aware of and taking into account the relative low priority citizenship application processing has in the general scheme of things at IRCC and recognize the messaging needs to work with and around this basic fact.

So yeah, as I have before, I disagree with those who push for an approach that will, in effect, waste everyone's time and efforts, who want to attack the hill itself (as in try to change the government's priorities) rather than adapt the manner and means of messaging to deal with it, recognizing that in this instance it is likely to be a laboured slog up the hill.
 

piotrqc

Hero Member
Aug 10, 2020
391
451
A little reminder that becomes necessary, with all these people who try to discourage us by all means (I highly doubt their real intentions):

https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/const/page-15.html


Fundamental Freedoms
Marginal note:Fundamental freedoms
2.
Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:

  • (a) freedom of conscience and religion;
  • (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;
  • (c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and
  • (d) freedom of association.
 

perpetualwait

Full Member
May 27, 2021
48
36
Lets begin with the response they generally provide these days whenever you ask them anything:

"Due to the ongoing situation related to the novel coronavirus, some IRCC offices are currently operating with reduced or critical staff only.

We are working on processing applications as quickly as possible; however, processing times are affected and any disruption caused by COVID-19 is not reflected accurately on our website. We will make all the necessary efforts to finalize the application as soon as possible. "


The above are their own words not mine.

It has been such a long time and they still haven't figured anything out (online tests are useless if they can't review and process applications post tests). It is apparent as per their own response that a good chunk of staff is not working or has not adapted to remote work.

Priority or no priority taking full salary with no or minimum work is not justifiable at this stage under any circumstances. Hills, battles, priorities whatever is noted in other comments above, this is pure incompetence and corruption. We should not have to convince the government to waste taxpayer money and do their jobs.
 

tazbed

Full Member
May 4, 2021
32
14
Well, let's make it urgent, and a priority for them ...

We do not live, unfortunately, in a world of '' telletubies '', where everyone is nice, and or goes well with a happy ending ... Human nature is like that, it is bad by nature. We're not in a Walt Disney movie, it's real life ...

It's all about the balance of power in humans interactions.

= You have to put the pressure you need to "invite" them to do their work with the backlog.

All means are good, the only limit is the law. EVERYTHING can be considered: Pressure on our local federal deputies, the press and the media, and go out to demonstrate in the street if necessary (Again ... We have already done it).

The spousal sponsors put pressure, and got what they wanted ... Our only way out is to be inspired by them, and to continue to exert pressure by all the means allowed by the law.

You have to make a maximum of noise and a maximum of visibility.


It is legitimate, allowed by law, and many before us have done it, and we will not be the last ... There is no harm in doing `` lobbying '' to denounce an unacceptable situation . (I can only list the shameful abuse of public money with 699 disposition , and stop there, it is enough in my eyes to consider our cause as just).

Finally, please, once again: We must not be discouraged by defeatist people who try by all means to discourage us under false pretexts ... Their intentions are bad, or simply hostile to foreigners .... Like the example of the person here in this topic, who - at least recognizing his courage to be clear in his ideological intentions and ulterior motives -, the person who frankly confessed that everything that happened suited him ... And that 'she wants the length of legal residence before being able to apply for citizenship to be increased ... Even more years, more than 3 years now.

These are the true intentions of these people who will try to discourage us ... But not all will have the courage to reveal their real reasons.

, Piotr.
Agreed. There's no strategy to making our voices heard, there's no sweet spot to pursue. The only way for things to change is for these officials to take notice of how many people they're affecting with their lack of transparency and, quite frankly, apathetic demeanor. The louder we are and the more we are, the more it will become unfeasible for them to sit by and not take action. Do you have specific ideas as to what we can do in place of peaceful assemblies (because of Covid)?
 
Dec 4, 2020
310
212
I spoke with a CBSA agent over phone a few days ago and he admitted that he's struggling with the new systems as a lot has been changed since covid, atleast he was honest. He sounded like a guy in early 50s which is probably most of the workforce at immigration. On the brighter side tho, new system means once they actually get used to it, things will flow more smooth and faster but the learning curve for federal agencies doesn't give much confidence. Lol
 

novascotia27

Hero Member
Jan 4, 2016
491
280
I spoke with a CBSA agent over phone a few days ago and he admitted that he's struggling with the new systems as a lot has been changed since covid, atleast he was honest. He sounded like a guy in early 50s which is probably most of the workforce at immigration. On the brighter side tho, new system means once they actually get used to it, things will flow more smooth and faster but the learning curve for federal agencies doesn't give much confidence. Lol
What’s new systems in CBSA? And how does it related to IRCC’s Citizenship applications?