Big delay for my citizenship application

[Johnn smith]

Hey there,

My citizenship application has passed the standard processing time, and when my MP office followed up with IRCC on my behalf, He was told that the delay is due to the fact that i requested a waiver for citizenship test because I had already done it in my withdrawn application.

The last time they updated the tracker was in april 2024.

Just wanted to hear from you guys, as I am worried that my application is treated as Non Routine, I don’t know what to do.

Any advice/ suggestions is greatly appreciated.

 

[forw.jane]

Hey there,

My citizenship application has passed the standard processing time, and when my MP office followed up with IRCC on my behalf, He was told that the delay is due to the fact that i requested a waiver for citizenship test because I had already done it in my withdrawn application.

The last time they updated the tracker was in april 2024.

Just wanted to hear from you guys, as I am worried that my application is treated as Non Routine, I don’t know what to do.

Any advice/ suggestions is greatly appreciated.

When did you apply for citizenship? And what was your reason for withdrawing your previous application?

 

[Johnn smith]

When did you apply for citizenship? And what was your reason for withdrawing your previous application?

I did reapply on february 16,2024. The reason for the withdrawal was being short of physical presence days. The new application has a buffer of 100+ days.

 

[forw.jane]

I did reapply on february 16,2024. The reason for the withdrawal was being short of physical presence days. The new application has a buffer of 100+ days.

The waiver request may have been forwarded to a higher officer, which could be causing delays in processing your application. You can contact IRCC to inquire if they can add a note for the officer or ask about the deadline for completing it.

 

[scylla]

Hey there,

My citizenship application has passed the standard processing time, and when my MP office followed up with IRCC on my behalf, He was told that the delay is due to the fact that i requested a waiver for citizenship test because I had already done it in my withdrawn application.

The last time they updated the tracker was in april 2024.

Just wanted to hear from you guys, as I am worried that my application is treated as Non Routine, I don’t know what to do.

Any advice/ suggestions is greatly appreciated.

There's really nothing you can do but wait. I think your application is most likely non routine because you requested the waiver.

IMO it was a mistake to ask for the waiver and it would have been better to just take the test, but what's done is done. Nothing you can do but wait at this point.

This is an unusual situation and I'm not sure we've seen anyone else here request the waiver for this reason. Please let us know what happens and good luck. Hopefully you hear something soon.

 

[Seym]

Is there a way to waive the waiver?
Send another webform telling them to forget everything about your previous request and please send you a new test date. That may (emphasis on may, not will) put your application on rails faster than the need to wait for IRCC to deal with a barely seen situation.

 

[Alalac]

Why would someone request to waive citizenship test when that is the easiest part of application?

 

[forw.jane]

Why would someone request to waive citizenship test when that is the easiest part of application?

Even if the test seems simple to some, others might experience test-related anxiety, making them seek a waiver if they have given it already. Additionally, requesting a waiver may create the impression that it will speed up the application process as you skipping a step, which now turns out to be mistaken assumption.

 

[Johnn smith]

Even if the test seems simple to some, others might experience test-related anxiety, making them seek a waiver if they have given it already. Additionally, requesting a waiver may create the impression that it will speed up the application process as you skipping a step, which now turns out to be mistaken assumption.

That’s what happens to me. It was impression that it would speed up the process but it caused the problem instead.

 

[scylla]

That’s what happens to me. It was impression that it would speed up the process but it caused the problem instead.

Anytime you are requesting an exception or exemption, this makes your application non standard and you can expect longer processing times. Unfortunately that's the situation you've put yourself in. Hopefully you hear back soon.

 

[Dalboy1980]

Well if the applicant has already passed the test in a previous application this should surely demonstrate that they have the relevant knowledge......however as stated by another user here....each to their own, meaning just because you find it easy others don't. I undertook my test and having 2 degrees, an educational background from the UK and generally a confident individual....I hated every single second of the test. So please put yourself in the shoes of others before offering advice which really isn't helpful at all.

Why would someone request to waive citizenship test when that is the easiest part of application?

 

[armoured]

Well if the applicant has already passed the test in a previous application this should surely demonstrate that they have the relevant knowledge......however as stated by another user here....each to their own, meaning just because you find it easy others don't.
...

Sure. It's your choice if you want to see if you can get it waived in this way.

The cost, as you see, is that your application is substantially delayed.

If you think that is preferable to taking a 20-question multiple choice online test, so be it.

Just because you find that a rational trade-off, it doesn't mean that anyone else does.

 

[dpenabill]

My citizenship application has passed the standard processing time, and when my MP office followed up with IRCC on my behalf, He was told that the delay is due to the fact that i requested a waiver for citizenship test because I had already done it in my withdrawn application.

As @scylla observed, it was likely (actually, almost certainly) a mistake to request the waiver since there is no waiver available based on having once demonstrated knowledge of Canada (there are waivers and exemptions, but none based on previous demonstrations) and since that in itself took the application out of a routine processing stream, into a non-routine processing stream. Guaranteeing at least a longer processing timeline to some extent.

However, just having previously applied and withdrawing the application is also a reason why an application can be diverted into a non-routine processing stream.

Neither of these, however, will necessarily result in lengthy non-routine processing.

Meanwhile, information obtained through MPs tends to not be the whole story and rather too often not the real story.

Well if the applicant has already passed the test in a previous application this should surely demonstrate that they have the relevant knowledge . . .

But it does not suffice to demonstrate knowledge of Canada meeting the requirements for a grant of citizenship.

While it is uncommon, applicants can be retested and some are indeed retested while the citizenship application is in process. The knowledge of Canada requirement, like the language requirement, and the requirement there be no-prohibitions, are continuing requirements right up to the taking of the oath.

 

[Dalboy1980]

Sure. It's your choice if you want to see if you can get it waived in this way.

The cost, as you see, is that your application is substantially delayed.

If you think that is preferable to taking a 20-question multiple choice online test, so be it.

Just because you find that a rational trade-off, it doesn't mean that anyone else does.

Forgive me because in my haste I didn't explain myself clearly....I'd still say that if you've completed it once then surely you've shown the adequate level required 'HOWEVER' yes I'd still advise to jump through the relevant hoops as really there is but little choice and as stated. by many users, asking for a delay could and will surely lead to a delay in the application

 

[ramz]

I totally understand how stressful this can be! I went through a similar wait with my citizenship application, and it felt like forever. When I hit a snag, my MP’s office helped a lot by keeping the pressure on IRCC. They can sometimes get more information than you can on your own. I’d recommend staying in touch with them and maybe reaching out to IRCC directly for updates, too.