Just a thought: Why does Canada not offer premium service at extra cost?

[alxms10]

I mean the UK live on this. They for example offer Standard, Priority and Super Priority services which can save you a lot of time if you're really in need of an expedited service. This obviously comes at extra cost but sometimes it's justified!

Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration/about-our-services

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

I mean the UK live on this. They for example offer Standard, Priority and Super Priority services which can save you a lot of time if you're really in need of an expedited service. This obviously comes at extra cost but sometimes it's justified!

Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration/about-our-services

We have something like this for passports. There's Express Pickup and Urgent Pickup for passport applications. However, the urgent processing of other applications (citizenship application, for example) is strictly need-based and they are very picky and have a LOT of discretion on whether to approve urgent processing or not. There's too much red tape.

But you're right, it would be good to have urgent processing of applications for a price so that people who genuinely need urgent processing can benefit from it.

 

[ybjianada]

I noticed that the UK website does not mention COVID as a reason (excuse) for not being able to meet processing standards.

 

[canuck78]

I noticed that the UK website does not mention COVID as a reason (excuse) for not being able to meet processing standards.

Doesn’t mean their processing hasn’t been slowed down.

 

[canuck78]

I mean the UK live on this. They for example offer Standard, Priority and Super Priority services which can save you a lot of time if you're really in need of an expedited service. This obviously comes at extra cost but sometimes it's justified!

Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration/about-our-services

Would essentially prioritize wealthy people and especially those with no intentions of remaining in Canada. Can only imagine how many applications from people planning on applying for TN visas would be paying for priority processing. It is crazy enough that Canada processes citizenship applications for people who no longer live in Canada and have no intention of returning.

 

[CaBeaver]

I mean the UK live on this. They for example offer Standard, Priority and Super Priority services which can save you a lot of time if you're really in need of an expedited service. This obviously comes at extra cost but sometimes it's justified!

Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration/about-our-services

I am against different services speeds for the citizenship applications based on the cost, but I am with it once you get the certificate and you want to expedite the issuance of your passport. I know this option used to be there before the pandemic. I am not sure now.

Having said this, the UK seems more transparent and organized than IRCC. For example they say in the link you included that they will get back to you and explain why your application wouldn't be processed within the standard time if that was the case. While many applications with IRCC no one knows what's going on with them, and why they are taking so long, and why many later applicants progressed before earlier applicants. Covid-19 served them very well for this. They use it for everything. It's general and vague

 

[canuck78]

I am against different services speeds for the citizenship applications based on the cost, but I am with it once you get the certificate and you want to expedite the issuance of your passport. I know this option used to be there before the pandemic. I am not sure now.

Having said this, the UK seems more transparent and organized than IRCC. For example they say in the link you included that they will get back to you and explain why your application wouldn't be processed within the standard time if that was the case. While many applications with IRCC no one knows what's going on with them, and why they are taking so long, and why many later applicants progressed before earlier applicants. Covid-19 served them very well for this. They use it for everything. It's general and vague

What is posted online for the UK and what happens on the ground is very different. Assume there is a good chance that there are delays in the UK as well.

 

[ybjianada]

Doesn’t mean their processing hasn’t been slowed down.

Where is your evidence? Even there were delays, are they as significant as what happens with IRCC?

 

[canuck78]

Where is your evidence? Even there were delays, are they as significant as what happens with IRCC?

People often compare immigration timelines for the UK when complaining about Canadian processing times. What is advertised and what actually happens are rarely the same. Canada and the UK have different programs on top of recently going through Brexit so impossible to say which are worse but both countries had significant lockdown periods so it is pretty safe to assume that both countries experienced significant service disruptions.

 

[ybjianada]

So the opinion you expressed here is based on an assumption – Let's be clear about that.

People often compare immigration timelines for the UK when complaining about Canadian processing times. What is advertised and what actually happens are rarely the same. Canada and the UK have different programs on top of recently going through Brexit so impossible to say which are worse but both countries had significant lockdown periods so it is pretty safe to assume that both countries experienced significant service disruptions.

 

[CaBeaver]

What is posted online for the UK and what happens on the ground is very different. Assume there is a good chance that there are delays in the UK as well.

How do you know that? I would assume if a governmental body say in an official website they would send an explanation, it means they will. IRCC doesn't want to be held accountable, and hence doesn't say such things.

 

[canuck78]

Where is your evidence? Even there were delays, are they as significant as what happens with IRCC?

There seems to be very similar delays when it comes to citizenship applications in the UK. Whether covid is not mentioned as a reason for delays on the website it seems to have been used by the government like it has been in Canada. I have included examples from law offices and first hand accounts. Citizenship requirement are also longer and much less flexible. It would be very unusual for someone to get UK citizenship before getting Canadian citizenship,

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/coronavirus-british-citizenship-ceremonies-home-office-b514515.html
https://iasservices.org.uk/citizenship-application-chaos/
https://metro.co.uk/2021/02/02/despite-brexit-im-an-eu-national-who-just-got-british-citizenship-13963606/

 

[CaBeaver]

People often compare immigration timelines for the UK when complaining about Canadian processing times. What is advertised and what actually happens are rarely the same. Canada and the UK have different programs on top of recently going through Brexit so impossible to say which are worse but both countries had significant lockdown periods so it is pretty safe to assume that both countries experienced significant service disruptions.

Having significant lockdowns and having stopped working are two different things. You can be in lockdown and still process applications. IRCC spent months not doing anything in 2020 waiting for the magical online test to happen

 

[canuck78]

How do you know that? I would assume if a governmental body say in an official website they would send an explanation, it means they will. IRCC doesn't want to be held accountable, and hence doesn't say such things.

There are plenty of examples from various organizations involved with immigration in the UK plus first hand accounts that posted immigration timelines often do not coincide with the reality on the ground. I think that is likely true of many countries. I don’t think IRCC is denying there have been delays due to covid. Anyone applying for citizenship in Canada must also realize that the actual residency requirement is extremely flexible and only 3 years so even with processing delays it is still faster to get citizenship in Canada than citizenship in most countries.

 

[canuck78]

Having significant lockdowns and having stopped working are two different things. You can be in lockdown and still process applications. IRCC spent months not doing anything in 2020 waiting for the magical online test to happen

Have you ever worked in government? Nothing happens fast. I am sure initially everyone thought this would be a temporary lockdown and then the world would return to normal. After it became clear that it was unlikely to be the case then there had to be a discussion about whether there should be a way to do the test online without fraud and how this could be done. Then there had to be the request for bids from contractors and then discussions about the various bids. After selecting the bids they waited for the platform to be built, tested, reviewed by IRCC, tested by a limited amount of applicants, etc. This isn‘t the private sector where the company can be nimble and doesn’t have to be accountable except to maybe shareholders. Doesn’t have strict processes to adhere to, doesn’t have unions to deal with, etc. For most having their citizenship delayed would have minimal impacts on their life if they intend on remaining in Canada. For those few who need citizenship to access certain jobs I agree that priority processing should have been available. For those who just want to leave Canada permanently and are delayed I don’t think anyone will have much sympathy that they are being delayed. I am sure that was considered and priority was health and safety in Canada.