Can we move after Citizenship Test and Interview day?

[Anthony_nyc]

One friend of mine had the same situation as yours. He did not update his address at all. His friend was checking his mails. Once he called CIC anonymously and they had told him that change of address would delay the process as it needs relocation of documents to the new local office. He could easily get his citizenship within 2 months with no issues.

Yes, but what if my address update is only forwarded to one of my friends here, still a Montreal address? I could simply not forward it outside of Quebec period. I have my Montreal friends address as an option to use. He said he could do that for me to make sure my mail is safe.

 

[neutral]

Since you mention there is no risk and it's safe to just move and get my mail forwarded to an Ontario address, then I'll do it, since it's not doing anything wrong. But does Canada Post Mail Forwarding service actually apply to forwarding Citizenship government mail?

Yes, but what if my address update is only forwarded to one of my friends here, still a Montreal address? I could simply not forward it outside of Quebec period. I have my Montreal friends address as an option to use. He said he could do that for me to make sure my mail is safe.

CIC uses normal UNTRACKED mail. If you order Canada Post to forward your mail, they have to do it, with no exceptions. Moreover, nobody verifies who's the sender in untracked envelopes.

You could forward it to other address in Montreal too, it's up to you.

 

[MiriamT]

I'd be really careful with that. I paid for Canada Post's Mail Forwarding service when I went for a few week's vacation abroad (forwarding was to my friend's house) and they lost my NOA, MSFAA, CBSA report (that ended up being returned to CBSA)... None of my mail ever got to my friend, or to the house I had been living in (I know the people living there).

I find it easier to just inform CIC of the change, but sending to another office would cause delays. I don't think updating the address within the same office jurisdiction would cause any delays (I changed my address within the same city on the 24th of August, on the 26th it showed the change and on the 27th I received a notice to appear for the test, heh), so one option would be updating the address to the one you want the mail forwarded to, but then that might raise questions if the address there and the one on your IDs don't match.

Otherwise, I just agree with arambi. The most important thing is your improved health.

Take care, Anthony_nyc

 

[Anthony_nyc]

I'd be really careful with that. I paid for Canada Post's Mail Forwarding service when I went for a few week's vacation abroad (forwarding was to my friend's house) and they lost my NOA, MSFAA, CBSA report (that ended up being returned to CBSA)... None of my mail ever got to my friend, or to the house I had been living in (I know the people living there).

I find it easier to just inform CIC of the change, but sending to another office would cause delays. I don't think updating the address within the same office jurisdiction would cause any delays (I changed my address within the same city on the 24th of August, on the 26th it showed the change and on the 27th I received a notice to appear for the test, heh), so one option would be updating the address to the one you want the mail forwarded to, but then that might raise questions if the address there and the one on your IDs don't match.

Otherwise, I just agree with arambi. The most important thing is your improved health.

Take care, Anthony_nyc

Oh wow, thanks for the heads up! I didn't realize Canada Post Mail Forwarding was that unreliable. What province are you living in and did you forward the failed mail within the same province or somewhere else?

I think just changing my mailing address to my trusted friends address would be fine, as it's still within Montreal, it wouldn't make sense for there to be problems with the CIC. As far as matching mailing address to ID address (drivers license), my drivers ID address was never changed, it's still an Ontario license from when I originally changed my New York license to the Canadian Ontario one, even though my immigration was done in Montreal, Quebec. The Citizenship Officer might not have liked that during the interview, I really don't know what will happen at this point. I feel my interview was a massive failure, she gave off very bad energy and looked at me with suspicion. Maybe it's just their job to act like that to many applicants.

 

[MiriamT]

Oh wow, thanks for the heads up! I didn't realize Canada Post Mail Forwarding was that unreliable. What province are you living in and did you forward the failed mail within the same province or somewhere else?

I live in Vancouver, BC and forwarded my mail within the same city.

I think just changing my mailing address to my trusted friends address would be fine, as it's still within Montreal, it wouldn't make sense for there to be problems with the CIC. As far as matching mailing address to ID address (drivers license), my drivers ID address was never changed, it's still an Ontario license from when I originally changed my New York license to the Canadian Ontario one, even though my immigration was done in Montreal, Quebec. The Citizenship Officer might not have liked that during the interview, I really don't know what will happen at this point. I feel my interview was a massive failure, she gave off very bad energy and looked at me with suspicion. Maybe it's just their job to act like that to many applicants.

It sucks, but I understand both sides. It should be fine in the end, though.

 

[kimba409]

Hi! Sorry that i won't be of much help with the moving part
but i did want to give you a headsup about mail forwarding


all government letters (osap, health, cic) state clearly on the envelope - do not forward
now the lady at the counter (canadapost signing and stuff) may tell you that usually they dont even listen and forward it anyway


but thats NOT true! if it states no to forward, of course its very unlikely that they would (and you'd be taking a chance)

i've not experienced it myself but i went with a friend and the lady convincingly told her they'd forward it inspite of the 'do not forward' stamp; they didnt. Luckily she was only travelling for 2 weeks so not much damage done. but they did return back some mails to the sender.

i do wish you the very best of luck, though. i know how difficult this must be.
take care.

 

[Anthony_nyc]

Hi! Sorry that i won't be of much help with the moving part
but i did want to give you a headsup about mail forwarding


all government letters (osap, health, cic) state clearly on the envelope - do not forward
now the lady at the counter (canadapost signing and stuff) may tell you that usually they dont even listen and forward it anyway


but thats NOT true! if it states no to forward, of course its very unlikely that they would (and you'd be taking a chance)

i've not experienced it myself but i went with a friend and the lady convincingly told her they'd forward it inspite of the 'do not forward' stamp; they didnt. Luckily she was only travelling for 2 weeks so not much damage done. but they did return back some mails to the sender.

i do wish you the very best of luck, though. i know how difficult this must be.
take care.

Thank you for your great input. It seems this "mail forwarding" option isn't the safest method overall. I should just tell my trusted Montreal friend I'll just use his address when I update it onto the CIC website. I know it will reach safely for sure that way, before I leave towards Ontario for the employment offer. Either way, the Citizenship Officer mentioned I will get some sort of update within 4 to 6 weeks from the day I took the Citizenship Test and Interview, which was October 1st.

Thanks!

 

[kimba409]

Yes, that really does sound like the better option but something else i wanted to add and ofcourse you would already know this but

cic takes approximately 10-15 business days to accurately update - they do say 5 business days, but speaking from experience (not just mine) it could take slightly longer.
what you do want to do is call them (as tedious a task that maybe) and confirm that it has been updated, i'm not sure if depending solely on e-cas is the best way.

additionally, you could call them and find out if any letters have been sent during that time. that way need be (worst case scenario and i pray it doesnt come to that) you could go look for the letter at your old address as well. atleast you'll be well informed.

this whole process is so nerve wrecking!

 

[Anthony_nyc]

Yes, that really does sound like the better option but something else i wanted to add and ofcourse you would already know this but

cic takes approximately 10-15 business days to accurately update - they do say 5 business days, but speaking from experience (not just mine) it could take slightly longer.
what you do want to do is call them (as tedious a task that maybe) and confirm that it has been updated, i'm not sure if depending solely on e-cas is the best way.

additionally, you could call them and find out if any letters have been sent during that time. that way need be (worst case scenario and i pray it doesnt come to that) you could go look for the letter at your old address as well. atleast you'll be well informed.

this whole process is so nerve wrecking!

Oh wow, thanks for the heads up! I'll keep that 10-15 business day update in mind. I would have to figure out where I can use a phone to call the CIC, especially since the waiting time to get a customer service person takes 25+ minutes....

That's a great idea, asking them if any letter was sent out to me. Thanks!

 

[neutral]

Other option you have is instead of forward your email, you can hold it. But you'll need to check it up twice a month: https://www.canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/personal/productsservices/receive/holdmail.jsf?LOCALE=en&ecid=murl07001084