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

[Flandernss]

If it's 21 months that's good actually. My application has already exceeded 21 months, and it seems I have to wait until Q1 2022 for the oath, i.e., ~ 28 months in total. That's absolutely insane

Why it seems Q1 2022 for the Oath if 21 months is the projection and that's just about where you are already?

 

[umanitoba]

Why it seems Q1 2022 for the Oath if 21 months is the projection and that's just about where you are already?

The document talks about DM not oath. Decision made is different than the oath.

 

[freediagram]

I have been waiting since April 2019! the only change is the background check went complete end of July 2021; so 28 months just for the background check and even that I think is because I requested GCMS notes from IRCC, CBSA, and CSIS. The CSIS notes showed my BG was complete in mid-2020. Who knows how long the BG would have taken if I didn't get sick and tired of them and called and asked for ATIP.
At this rate, I have lost all hope that I will even receive my test invite in 2021. when I called a few months back, they said my BG is nonroutine, hence the long processing time. I wonder what's the hold up now that the BG is complete. If my BG check is complete, why an applicant from late 2020 receives a test invite and I have to wait? It just doesn't make sense.

 

[Flandernss]

I have been waiting since April 2019! the only change is the background check went complete end of July 2021; so 28 months just for the background check. at this rate, I have lost all hope that I will even receive my test invite in 2021. when I called a few months back, they said my BG is nonroutine, I wonder what's the hold up now that the BG is complete. If my BG check is complete, why an applicant from late 2020 receives a test invite and I have to wait?

There is no way to know why it is nonroutine? Gmcs notes, other ATIP documents, phone calls, MPs...?

 

[umanitoba]

I have an updated ATIP document regarding citizenship online applications and IRCC production and throughput and all streams.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SQPJW0MKT3-HkynGtOsnPynhicLjpYTu/view?usp=sharing

Specifically it details all the backlog and processing around DM to oath and the typical processing timeline (around 23 months around Canada). Information is current as of early August 2021

Request

Thanks for this valuable information. Do you have any plan to share this with Cbc and toronto star?

 

[freediagram]

There is no way to know why it is nonroutine? Gmcs notes, other ATIP documents, phone calls, MPs...?

I don't think there's a way to know for sure but my only guess is because of my background which is from the middle east. But the BG is complete now. AFAIK a nonroutine application should not affect anything besides the background check. I have not travelled much so confirming my physical presence and also language etc must be very routine.

 

[ott-613]

It says not doing as proposed will have application delays increased from 21 months to 4 years if not more . Page 3 Protected B .

Im depressed. Please IRCC clear the paper based backlog . Enough. We are waiting since 20 months already, no test, nothing.

 

[luvtrump]

It says not doing as proposed will have application delays increased from 21 months to 4 years if not more . Page 3 Protected B .

Im depressed. Please IRCC clear the paper based backlog . Enough. We are waiting since 20 months already, no test, nothing.

I hope that IRCC can hear you. Now there is no way to even contact them because they are focused with afghanistan. lol

 

[freediagram]

from the document ( page 37):

Existing older paper file backlog will continue to be the priority, and a small portion of eapplications will be processed in parallel to test our processes, train officers, and identify issues with this new intake process early on. This approach will focus on the elimination of paper application backlog to transition to a primarily electronic inventory.

further down indicates the huge backlog:

decision output was reduced and limited. This has resulted in a backlog of citizenship grant applications which has reached around 438,000 as of July 1, 2021, and continues to grow. This includes over 56,000 applications in the mailroom that are pending file creation, and approximately 12,000 e-applications. An average monthly intake of 22,000 new paper applications is anticipated. Processing times have reached 21 months and are expected to continue to increase.

so they say their focus is paper applications ....

The objectives of the strategy are the focused elimination of the paper backlog and a long-term goal to transition to a primarily electronic inventory. The strategy reflects operational complexity, client expectations, and legal considerations.

They mention the target:

The Department will process the old paper file backlog while processing a small portion of the e-applications received to refine processes, train officers, and identify issues early in the process.
CN and DN will issue final decisions on the oldest of paper applications while also incorporating 5,000 e-application final decisions based on the order in which thee-applications were received, as part of its 245,000 FY 2021-2022 decision target, as outlined in Annex C.

...

Most importantly, this will also allow the Citizenship Program to concentrate on processing the aging paper inventory while building digital processing capacity and gradually transitioning to an electronic inventory. Not focusing on eliminating the paper inventory first and prioritizing
processing of new e-apps would result in a large stagnant paper inventory with processing times reaching at least four years, if not longer.

but then they talk about restrictions and the staff not having access to paper apps:

This approach will also provide : flexibility in the event of continuing public health restrictions, allowing for work-sharing, processing applications remotely, especially while IRCC's employees are working from home, and an increased percentage of e-apps to be processed to meet monthly targets if access to paper files is restricted.

My takeaway is that if IRCC staff do not go to work and continue work from home, IRCC will simply forget about paper applications and move unto e-apps to meet its targets.

from page 40 of the document (page 4 of protected B) :

Media attention to e-apps has been minimal, however, on social media, there have been about five questions per month in the last few months, mostly clients asking if they can apply online. Following the pilot launch of 180 e-applications, there was some chatter on social media
criticizing IRCC for the discrepancy between processing times of these e-applications (2-3 months) as compared to paper applications (over a year). There is also intermittent negative media attention to the backlog of citizenship grant applications.

From the above paragraph, I think we paper applicants must make noise on social media and demand IRCC to prioritize paper applications on FIFO basis. Otherwise, we will be waiting for months if not years.

While it shows that IRCC understands the gravity of the situation, I have limited sympathy with them because they have shown such ineptitude in adapting to the conditions created by Covid19. It should have never taken them this long to come up with solutions. Mind you, I don't even see a solution proposed for paper apps. All they talk about is e-apps and how it's gonna help them meet their targets. all the talk about prioritizing paper applications will be meaningless if IRCC staff don't have access to paper appliactions.

 

[novascotia27]

from the document ( page 37):


further down indicates the huge backlog:



so they say their focus is paper applications ....



They mention the target:


...


but then they talk about restrictions and the staff not having access to paper apps:



My takeaway is that if IRCC staff do not go to work and continue work from home, IRCC will simply forget about paper applications and move unto e-apps to meet its targets.

from page 40 of the document (page 4 of protected B) :


From the above paragraph, I think we paper applicants must make noise on social media and demand IRCC to prioritize paper applications on FIFO basis. Otherwise, we will be waiting for months if not years.

While it shows that IRCC understands the gravity of the situation, I have limited sympathy with them because they have shown such ineptitude in adapting to the conditions created by Covid19. It should have never taken them this long to come up with solutions. Mind you, I don't even see a solution proposed for paper apps. All they talk about is e-apps and how it's gonna help them meet their targets. all the talk about prioritizing paper applications will be meaningless if IRCC staff don't have access to paper appliactions.

I did not interpret as they are not going to the office. They ARE going into the office on a limited capacity basis (maybe). They refer to processing online applications if strict public healths restrictions are reintroduced.

 

[freediagram]

I did not interpret as they are not going to the office. They ARE going into the office on a limited capacity basis (maybe). They refer to processing online applications if strict public healths restrictions are reintroduced.

I don't have information about whether or not IRCC staff is going to the office or not and I really want to believe your take. 29 months of waiting have made me very pessimistic though.

 

[novascotia27]

I don't have information about whether or not IRCC staff is going to the office or not and I really want to believe your take. 29 months of waiting have made me very pessimistic though.

I totally understand where you are coming from.. I've been waiting for 14 months and already built up anxiety and dissappointment towards this process.

 

[CaBeaver]

from the document ( page 37):


further down indicates the huge backlog:



so they say their focus is paper applications ....



They mention the target:


...


but then they talk about restrictions and the staff not having access to paper apps:



My takeaway is that if IRCC staff do not go to work and continue work from home, IRCC will simply forget about paper applications and move unto e-apps to meet its targets.

from page 40 of the document (page 4 of protected B) :


From the above paragraph, I think we paper applicants must make noise on social media and demand IRCC to prioritize paper applications on FIFO basis. Otherwise, we will be waiting for months if not years.

While it shows that IRCC understands the gravity of the situation, I have limited sympathy with them because they have shown such ineptitude in adapting to the conditions created by Covid19. It should have never taken them this long to come up with solutions. Mind you, I don't even see a solution proposed for paper apps. All they talk about is e-apps and how it's gonna help them meet their targets. all the talk about prioritizing paper applications will be meaningless if IRCC staff don't have access to paper appliactions.

The quotations say they will prioritize older paper-based applications, but the reality still says otherwise. I have a solution to the paper-based problem in case of WFH continues: scanning each application takes less than 10 minutes. If the officer invests this time in each application so they can later access it from home, they could save much time later. If they keep going to office to bring files home, this will take forever.

 

[umanitoba]

Again we will need to share this document with Toronto star (Nicholas keung) and CBC (Rafyy Boudjikanian) who wrote articles on this issue. Let’s start to make some noise or we will wait for years!!

 

[freediagram]

The quotations say they will prioritize older paper-based applications, but the reality still says otherwise. I have a solution to the paper-based problem in case of WFH continues: scanning each application takes less than 10 minutes. If the officer invests this time in each application so they can later access it from home, they could save much time later. If they keep going to the office to bring files home, this will take forever.

This... and not even 10 minutes, with the modern big scanners each case would have taken a minute or less. they take like 30 papers a minutes and give you 30 scanned files in whatever format you want. They should have started doing the scanning in Summer 2020, if not April 2020, when the shutdowns began. Having foresight is a characteristic of a good manager/leader. This is clear ineptitude and the person(s) responsible for this must be sacked. I would not recommend him/her/them to manage a convenience store.

I have got to say, asking for these ATIP notes is a great tool for putting pressure on IRCC and I thank the person who posted this.