Hi I've never posted here before, but I did a bit of reading in this forum hoping to find out what happens when you have a citizenship test/oath all in one day. I couldn't find anything ,so I thought I was post this in case anyone is interested like I was.
I had my citizenship test and oath, today, Feb 5, 2013. For some background, this was the Calgary CIC office and I originally applied for citizenship in June 2011 (or so... I can't quite remember).
I should start by saying I was surprised it was in the same day, since I had a friend who became a citizen and she had 2 months between test and oath through the Calgary office. I called CIC, and they told me that certain offices are starting to do it, so it is like Calgary was starting to do it too.
I was asked to arrive at 10:30am. I arrived at 10:15, and there was already a long line of people. The line was slow. There were 3 civil servants there whose job was to review your documents. I showed my driver's license, my health card, my current passport, all my expired passports, my confirmation of permanent residency form, and my PR card. I was asked how many times I'd left the country since I had applied. They didn't really look through my passports since my trips were almost all to the US, and they don't stamp your passport all the time for that. They were very happy I had made copies of my passports (but they'd asked me to bring copies in their instruction letter, so I was surprised she was so happy I had - as if she wasn't expecting me to have followed instructions.) I didn't get asked many questions, but the lady next to me was asking people about their children, where they lived, where they worked. I got the sense the lady in the next booth liked talking to people, because she sounded so friendly.
Then they let us into a nice bright room (the citizenship test/citizenship ceremony room), with lots of windows, murals of Canadiana, flags, etc. and rows of seats where only every third or fourth seat had a fold up desk (to encourage staggered seating). While we were waiting for everyone to get through the line, there was constantly repeating silent slide presentation explaining how to fill out a multiple choice test. Interestingly, one of the slides said, "If you passed the exam, you will be mailed a letter inviting you back for the oath ceremony, this should take 2-3 months." Obviously, this office hadn't bothered to update the slides they were showing. They passed out the exam, and then had everyone start all at once. This was at 11:15am. One woman was proctoring the exam, another woman was marking the exams as they were being handed in. The first people started handing them in at about 11:20. People were asked to stay seated until after they had turned in their exam. Only 5 minutes after the exam was done (11:50am), the marking was all done and they read a list of names of people who passed, and handed them a printed, personalized invitation to oath ceremony stapled to a form in which you will later sign the oath in writing. (This all must have been pre-printed.) They asked everyone who passed to come back at 1:15pm. So I had about an hour and 20 minutes to go get lunch somewhere.
At 1:15, your guests were allowed to go directly into the testing/citizenship room, and the new citizens had to stand in the same line again, where again there were 3 booths with civil servants. Here, you had to show once again confirmation of PR (or landing document), and turn in your PR card, and sign a few documents in their presence. You were given a few brochures which included coupons for free 1-year pass to museums/parks. Then you needed to go into the room and join your guests. Along the way were a bunch of brochures, one had a poster in it, the words to "O Canada", and a flag you could pick up.
The ceremony started once everyone was in, about 1:45pm. The judge came, and gave a ten minute speech about immigration, citizenship, etc. Then everyone (including the guests if they wished) were asked to stand and take the oath. It was given in English, then in French. Everyone was encouraged to say it in both languages. Then family by family, people were called up to get their certificate, shake hands with the judge and get a Canada pin. Then we sang O Canada. Then the judge left. People were allowed to take photographs throughout, and afterwards the judge stayed an took pictures with anyone who wanted to. The ceremony was over about 2:35 or 2:40.
Interestingly we were told we needed to wait 2 days to apply for a passport, to give them time to update our files electronically.
In all about 25-30 people took the exam. About 75 people were present at the oath ceremony (including children).
I very much liked how efficiently they did this. I hope they do it this more often.
I hope this is useful to people.
, not dreaming, soon you will know good news, see some posts here.
