Application for Canadian Citizenship - A Comprehensive Guide

[madosank]

Is an ontario photo card an acceptable ID for an adult applicant along with passport?

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

Is an ontario photo card an acceptable ID for an adult applicant along with passport?

Yes, AFAIK. It is equivalent to a driver's license and can be used as proof of identity.

 

[nourmandy2]

For minors, I would suggest to send as many documents as you can. I send these:

PR card copies
Copies of biographical pages of passports (2 sets of copies)
Immunization report
School reports
Health card copies
Drivers License (if you have one)

Thank you!

 

[Wandering Mind]

PART - 6

Post-Application Phase​

You have now submitted your Citizenship application. If you paid close attention to the guide and prepared a killer application package - the chances of you getting your application back is very less to none.

The hard part begins now - Waiting! In this initial stage after submission, you'd have to wait for AOR.

What can you do while you wait?

It generally takes about 2 months from the date they receive the application for you to get a AOR. (This can vary slightly from person to person). While you wait for AOR (and for further steps after you receive AOR), you can do the following -

• You can check the status of your application using ECAS (about 24 hours after you receive AOR) .
• Please try and contribute - Try to help others on the forum with any questions they might have.
• If you want a more in-depth knowledge of how citizenship applications are processed, I recommend giving Operational Instructions and Guidelines for Citizenship
  • From the page above, open links under 'Administration' for relevant information.
• Check the 2019 Citizenship tracker for past year's trend.
• Check the 2020 Citizenship tracker for current trend.
• Please make sure you enter your information in the appropriate tracker. Larger sample size translates to more accurate stats.
• In due time, you would have to write your citizenship test so start preparing for it.
• You can read qorax's detailed post on Oath ceremony and his post on Citizenship Interview.

Routine vs Non-Routine Applications and Additional document requests

Your citizenship application could be processed in 2 different ways - Routine and Non-Routine.

• Routine applications generally move much faster than their non-routine counterparts.
• One of the major reasons why an application could go into non-routine processing is if IRCC requests additional documentation OR if they set up an additional interview for you.
• There are different kinds of additional documents. Credit : I am paraphrasing from dpenabill's post.
  • RQ - Lite <CIT 0205> (Residency Questionnaire - 'Lite')
  • RQ <CIT 0171> (This is a full-blown Residency Questionnaire)
  • You might also get an RQ in the name of PPQ - QAE (Physical Presence Questionnaire - Quality Assurance Exercise)
  • This thread claims to have solved the mystery of the aforementioned QAE process but take it with a grain of salt.

What happens during application processing?

At the time of writing this post, the "official" processing time is 12 months. In reality, however - It ranges anywhere between 6 months to Forever. A sizable portion of the applications are processed between 6 - 9 months time.

• Though we send the initial application to CPC - Sydney, further processing of your application is generally done by the office responsible for the location you live in.
• As your application progresses, the ECAS status will keep changing. Find out what the ECAS status changes mean.
• Here are all the legal guidelines by which IRCC processes the applications.

The basic consensus of how a citizenship application might progress is explained below. This might vary slightly between applicants but this should give you a general idea. There is some speculation here and I am paraphrasing this from one of dpenabill's post and other posts in this forum.

• CPC-Sydney issues an AOR after the completeness-checking the application package
• A file is opened in GCMS (simultaneously).
• The application is sent for background checks
  • Criminality checks are done by RCMP
  • Security checks are done by CSIS
  • GCMS checks are done by IRCC
• CPC-Sydney might do some additional processing (?)
• Application is forwarded to the local visa office for further processing
• Local Visa Office (LVO) checks and verifies the authenticity of the information / documents in the application package
• LVO sends Notice to appear for citizenship test and interview
• LVO sends a Notice to appear for Citizenship Ceremony (Oath)

After the oath: Next Steps

You are officially a Canadian Citizen after you take the oath of citizenship.

• Official sources state that you need to wait a minimum of 2 business days before you can apply for a Canadian Passport.
• However, in reality, you can apply for a passport as soon as your ECAS status changes to 'Complete' and this can happen before 2 business days.

Closing notes

Canadian Citizenship is a privilege and not a right. Let's embrace it, respect it and let's never abuse it. NEVER lie on an immigration / citizenship application - It is not worth the consequences.

I hope that the mods make this a sticky thread for easy access. Let's further discuss about the nuances of this process and help each other in this beautiful journey of becoming a citizen of this great nation.

-rajkamalmohanram

Thanks for taking the time and effort to create this very helpful post @rajkamalmohanram

 

[nourmandy2]

Case Processing Centre-Sydney
49 Dorchester Street
Sydney, Nova Scotia
B1P 5Z2
Or
Case Processing Centre—Sydney
Citizenship Grants
47–49 Dorchester Street
Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 5Z2

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

Case Processing Centre-Sydney
49 Dorchester Street
Sydney, Nova Scotia
B1P 5Z2
Or
Case Processing Centre—Sydney
Citizenship Grants
47–49 Dorchester Street
Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 5Z2

Use whichever address is shown in the application form.

 

[Aragorn165]

@rajkamalmohanram Hello! I have a question - is a citizenship test always the last step in the process? I ask only because I always assumed it was, but I got my invitation to take it recently, and my online status tracker still only shows one step as completed right now.

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

@rajkamalmohanram Hello! I have a question - is a citizenship test always the last step in the process? I ask only because I always assumed it was, but I got my invitation to take it recently, and my online status tracker still only shows one step as completed right now.

No, it isn't the last step in the process. Your Residence, Language and Prohibitions will be checked after the test and if you pass those checks, your application will go to "Decision Made" status. You'll then have to wait for a date to take the oath for citizenship. You'll become a Canadian citizen only after you take the oath of citizenship. Currently, there is a severe backlog for oath.

 

[Aragorn165]

No, it isn't the last step in the process. Your Residence, Language and Prohibitions will be checked after the test and if you pass those checks, your application will go to "Decision Made" status. You'll then have to wait for a date to take the oath for citizenship. You'll become a Canadian citizen only after you take the oath of citizenship. Currently, there is a severe backlog for oath.

Thank you very much, appreciate the response

 

[nourmandy2]

Hi I paid all fees together ( 2 adiults and one minor)as per guide shall I make copy for every application with explanation as many people said that paying all fees together cause confusion for the officer ?is it right!

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

Hi I paid all fees together ( 2 adiults and one minor)as per guide shall I make copy for every application with explanation as many people said that paying all fees together cause confusion for the officer ?is it right!

Not sure about this but I suppose you can. Just put the explanation letter on the top and mention that you've paid the fee for 2 adults and 1 child in a single payment and attach the fee receipt to it.

 

[nourmandy2]

Not sure about this but I suppose you can. Just put the explanation letter on the top and mention that you've paid the fee for 2 adults and 1 child as in a single payment and attach the fee receipt to it.

Thank you.

 

[nourmandy2]

Hi ,
I just noticed that courier address for citizenship from the guide has only the address and doesn't mention grants adult while the address on the application firm (mentions grants ) adults which one we have to follow ,please note that I am applying as family and have minor ?thanks

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

Hi ,
I just noticed that courier address for citizenship from the guide has only the address and doesn't mention grants adult while the address on the application firm (mentions grants ) adults which one we have to follow ,please note that I am applying as family and have minor ?thanks

Follow the instructions in the application form. Including "Citizenship Grants" will not affect the delivery of the application AFAIK as long as the address you've provided is correct.

 

[nourmandy2]

Thank you.

Thanks brother, my concern is that will affect the sorting of the applications as one of them is minor and causing delay .