Applying for citizenship - timeline for a travel in between

[caqui]

Hello all and thanks in advance for your comments. I am sure you have been asked that quite a few times...sorry for that!!

I am planning on applying for citizenship around the end of May 2011. I am also planning a 3 week vacation overseas to happen in March 2012. I will have full access to my emails but no access to snailmail while overseas ( but I can try to get a neighbour to get my mail)

1 - How soon after you apply do you usually get called for the exam, and then how soon for the oath?
2 - How much time in advance of the exam/oath does the letter give you?
3- Am I allowed to travel during the application process?


Many thanks and Happy New Year to all,

Claudia

 

[Leon]

1. Timelines vary greatly. The official processing time is now 13 to 15 months from application to exam and oath 2-4 months after the exam. I have heard of people getting it in as little as 8 months though and my own application took 2.5 years.

2. In each case, exam and oath, they sent me a snail mail letter with 2 weeks notice to appear.

3. Yes, you can tell them that you are travelling and hope that they will not schedule you to appear while you are gone but no guarantees. If it happens that you get called for the exam or oath while you are on vacation and you miss it, you can request another date but it will likely delay you quite a bit.

 

[Egyman]

I totally agree with Leon, I just want to add that some people get test and oath at the same, don't know why.

 

[Leon]

I think some provinces do it that way. I heard Quebec. I think it is better that way. Then you know right away if you passed and are all done with one appointment.

 

[citizenship]

hello,

maybe if we share this info below and someone can shed a light on the content , or can give us his own experience with immigration .


2010-06-11
1.8. Retaining permanent resident status
Paragraph 5(1)(c) of the Citizenship Act stipulates that, pursuant to section 24 of the Immigration
Act, an applicant must not lose permanent resident status at any time before being granted
citizenship. For the greater part, the Immigration clearance check confirms whether the applicant
is subject to an immigration inquiry or has lost permanent resident status. This check, however, is
only valid to a specific date. See Chapter 6-Prohibitions and Clearances.
Questions have been raised concerning whether citizenship staff have the authority to determine
whether an applicant has lost permanent resident status, even where there has been no previous
concern raised by an immigration official. This can arise where it is discovered that a citizenship
applicant has permanent residence in another country, and immigration has permitted the
individual to return to Canada as a permanent resident. The onus is on the applicant to prove to
CIC that permanent resident status was maintained and that the applicant maintained an actual
residence in Canada during periods away from Canada. Where applicants cannot prove
residence in Canada, the matter should be referred to immigration for re-examination and a
decision. The better position is to rely upon the decision of Immigration colleagues, in the
absence of evidence that the person's re-entry to Canada was fraudulent.
Where the officer suspects fraud in the citizenship process, the application is referred to Case
Management

 

[Karlshammar]

They do tell you to contact them if you go away for more than 2 weeks. Based on the information we've been given, that makes sense. Perhaps just call them, tell them you'll be out of the country from date one to date two, and hope for the best? I don't personally know if this would delay your application or not.