Citizenship test: Collective action required, or expect endless delays, years. Example of the effective lobbyng of people awaiting spousal sponsorship

[Lex2019]

Thank you so much for sharing this.

My read is : The start cycle will be for new applications from 1 April 2021. I think it impracticable for IRCC to apply these SLA retrospectively. However, it's good for future applicants.

Good move.

They won't apply retrospectively and I'm not looking to get the money out of it. I simply wish this torture has an end. My worries are that those who applied before April 1 2021 might be hugely neglected as the staff will work on new applications to meet all sorts of deadlines and the rest will be leftovers to deal with when they feel like it.

 

[adey786]

They won't apply retrospectively and I'm not looking to get the money out of it. I simply wish this torture has an end. My worries are that those who applied before April 1 2021 might be hugely neglected as the staff will work on new applications to meet all sorts of deadlines and the rest will be leftovers to deal with when they feel like it.

I fully agree. The mad rush will start soon. Perhaps this is the pre-text to quick processing by Scarborough (but doesn't make sense as rest of Canada wide IRCC offices are unusually very slow with tests, interviews and Oaths).

Reading this, I can sense a paradigm shift is coming and I really hope you ,me and everyone waiting get Oath (or test) invites this week.

 

[adey786]

I'm wondering if this is going to delay current applications as IRCC will be rushing towards meeting their SLA:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/service-fee-act-remissions-policy-2021.html

I am now dissecting this piece for everyone and drawing some conclusions:

1- This doesnt apply to Exceptional circumstances:

As quote below, pandemic period is already out of scope. So everything will be as usual even for applications being submitted after 1 April 2021.

*Exceptional circumstances are defined as circumstances outside IRCC’s control such as, but not limited to

• unforeseen system disruptions and/or failures
• natural disasters
• emergency situations that cause
  • a closure of an office
  • a reduction in the service offerings within the office, or
  • a surge of applications outside the department’s control that causes a disruption to the normal operation of an office
• unforeseen office closures
• labour disruption
• third-party service and/or service provider service interruptions or delays, where IRCC does not have a contractual agreement with the service provider
• major legislative and/or policy changes enacted by foreign governments*

2- Remission criteria for citizenship applications:

Based on below quote, the criteria for remission is only restricted to limited number of applicants (those who got DM but did not get ceremony invite in 4 months or more than 4 months). This means there will be only very few DM candidates who would fall under this criteria. Having said that, I believe this new remission policy will not affect IRCC current way of working and regardless of post or pre April 2021 applications, IRCC processing time will continue to be 18 months to 24 months.

*The Right of Citizenship service standard is a maximum of 4 months. The first invitation to attend a citizenship ceremony must be sent to the applicant within 4 months of the date of their positive grant decision.

The remission will be

• 25% of the fee for less than 4 months past the service standard, and
• 50% of the fee, if for more than 4 months past the service standard*

 

[adey786]

They won't apply retrospectively and I'm not looking to get the money out of it. I simply wish this torture has an end. My worries are that those who applied before April 1 2021 might be hugely neglected as the staff will work on new applications to meet all sorts of deadlines and the rest will be leftovers to deal with when they feel like it.

@Lex2019 I just read through again and have come to altogether different conclusion. See my above post. This criteria would only apply to DM cases so actually it is good for clearing older backlog.

But that also means, above ruling may apply retrospectively and also that may means older DM would get Oath invites first. But we would also be getting Oath invites in 4 months of DM or get some money back (or not even that citing *exceptional circumstances*).

 

[harirajmohan]

They won't apply retrospectively and I'm not looking to get the money out of it. I simply wish this torture has an end. My worries are that those who applied before April 1 2021 might be hugely neglected as the staff will work on new applications to meet all sorts of deadlines and the rest will be leftovers to deal with when they feel like it.

@Lex2019 I just read through again and have come to altogether different conclusion. See my above post. This criteria would only apply to DM cases so actually it is good for clearing older backlog.

But that also means, above ruling may apply retrospectively and also that may means older DM would get Oath invites first. But we would also be getting Oath invites in 4 months of DM or get some money back (or not even that citing *exceptional circumstances*).

As they mentioned exemptions like emergency office closures etc, i doubt that this would do anything good even for Apr2021 candidates. This rule might be the rule for just namesake.
Who cares about refund, we need timely service, at least delayed service.

 

[dpenabill]

SORRY to be the bearer of news that . . .

The Right of Citizenship Service Standard is NOT about how long citizenship application processing takes.

Note: This topic is about delays in processing applications, especially in conducting tests and interviews. Also note: Right of Citizenship Fee is separate from the application fee.

The Right of Citizenship Service Standard is NOT about how long it takes IRCC to schedule an applicant for the test or interview.

It is NOT about how long IRCC takes to make a decision after the test.

It is ONLY about how long it takes "between the date [IRCC] grant(s) citizenship and the date [IRCC] first send(s) the invitation to the citizenship ceremony" AND the "Exclusions" are numerous and broad.

My read is : The start cycle will be for new applications from 1 April 2021. I think it impracticable for IRCC to apply these SLA retrospectively. However, it's good for future applicants.

They won't apply retrospectively . . .

The mad rush will start soon. Perhaps this is the pre-text to quick processing by Scarborough . . .

Reading this, I can sense a paradigm shift is coming . . .

So, first and foremost, relative to grant citizenship applicants, there are two relevant "service standards" which have NOT changed recently. For full list of service standards see https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/service-declaration/service-standards.html

Service Standard for Right of Citizenship:

Standard: "issue the Right of Citizenship within 4 months (between the date we grant citizenship and the date we first send the invitation to the citizenship ceremony)" Same standard since June 2018​

Policy for issuing refunds, pursuant to Services Fees Act, revised effective April 1, 2021 (as discussed in previous posts here)​

Policy statement in PDIs generally refers to some exceptions or exclusions, but full list in Appendix D indicates a big open door of excuses for not having to refund fees​

Service Standard for processing grant citizenship applications:

"process applications within 12 months" Same standard since November 2015​

processing/application fees for citizenship are EXEMPT from the Services Fees Act​

BOTTOM-LINE: Not much if anything to read from the implementation of the policy for remission of Right of Citizenship fee. There is NO enforcement policy, practice, or mechanism overtly encouraging IRCC to meet the 12 month service standard for processing grant citizenship applications. No sign of one coming anytime soon. If anything, most signs still point to lengthy processing timelines continuing and potentially worsening for some time to come.

Even as to the Service Standard for scheduling the oath, given the contingencies outstanding after there is a "Decision Made," it is not clear precisely when that four month time period commences.

Sorry.

edit to note: intermediary posts acknowledge much of this

 

[BOYX]

I am now dissecting this piece for everyone and drawing some conclusions:

1- This doesnt apply to Exceptional circumstances:

As quote below, pandemic period is already out of scope. So everything will be as usual even for applications being submitted after 1 April 2021.

*Exceptional circumstances are defined as circumstances outside IRCC’s control such as, but not limited to

• unforeseen system disruptions and/or failures
• natural disasters
• emergency situations that cause
  • a closure of an office
  • a reduction in the service offerings within the office, or
  • a surge of applications outside the department’s control that causes a disruption to the normal operation of an office
• unforeseen office closures
• labour disruption
• third-party service and/or service provider service interruptions or delays, where IRCC does not have a contractual agreement with the service provider
• major legislative and/or policy changes enacted by foreign governments*

2- Remission criteria for citizenship applications:

Based on below quote, the criteria for remission is only restricted to limited number of applicants (those who got DM but did not get ceremony invite in 4 months or more than 4 months). This means there will be only very few DM candidates who would fall under this criteria. Having said that, I believe this new remission policy will not affect IRCC current way of working and regardless of post or pre April 2021 applications, IRCC processing time will continue to be 18 months to 24 months.

*The Right of Citizenship service standard is a maximum of 4 months. The first invitation to attend a citizenship ceremony must be sent to the applicant within 4 months of the date of their positive grant decision.

The remission will be

• 25% of the fee for less than 4 months past the service standard, and
• 50% of the fee, if for more than 4 months past the service standard*

What's the point of this remission service then? IRCC has been under exceptional circumstances since well before the pandemic. Were people eligible for remissions during IRCC's 12 month timeline prior to the pandemic? I suppose not because their exceptional circumstances are evidently not mutually exclusive with their regular circumstances; IRCC seems to have a surge of applications 24/7.

I feel like I am understanding it all wrong. What is the point of this remission service?

 

[Mercedes++]

Montreal seems to be pretty glacial as well. I hear lots of other places are moving faster, but perhaps it's the "faster checkout line at the store" syndrome; every other line seems to be moving faster than yours.

Glad to see I'm not the only one from Montreal. This is a serious joke, I don't get it, I see people who didn't received test invite before, getting it now. My test was scheduled for March 25th 2020 and got cancelled, since then nothing. I called IRCC, no useful answer, sent a webform, got a general useless answer. Don't know what else to do. My application was received and approved on October 2019.

 

[adey786]

SORRY to be the bearer of news that . . .

The Right of Citizenship Service Standard is NOT about how long citizenship application processing takes.

Note: This topic is about delays in processing applications, especially in conducting tests and interviews. Also note: Right of Citizenship Fee is separate from the application fee.

The Right of Citizenship Service Standard is NOT about how long it takes IRCC to schedule an applicant for the test or interview.

It is NOT about how long IRCC takes to make a decision after the test.

It is ONLY about how long it takes "between the date [IRCC] grant(s) citizenship and the date [IRCC] first send(s) the invitation to the citizenship ceremony" AND the "Exclusions" are numerous and broad.








So, first and foremost, relative to grant citizenship applicants, there are two relevant "service standards" which have NOT changed recently. For full list of service standards see https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/service-declaration/service-standards.html

Service Standard for Right of Citizenship:

Standard: "issue the Right of Citizenship within 4 months (between the date we grant citizenship and the date we first send the invitation to the citizenship ceremony)" Same standard since June 2018​

Policy for issuing refunds, pursuant to Services Fees Act, revised effective April 1, 2021 (as discussed in previous posts here)​

Policy statement in PDIs generally refers to some exceptions or exclusions, but full list in Appendix D indicates a big open door of excuses for not having to refund fees​

Service Standard for processing grant citizenship applications:

"process applications within 12 months" Same standard since November 2015​

processing/application fees for citizenship are EXEMPT from the Services Fees Act​

BOTTOM-LINE: Not much if anything to read from the implementation of the policy for remission of Right of Citizenship fee. There is NO enforcement policy, practice, or mechanism overtly encouraging IRCC to meet the 12 month service standard for processing grant citizenship applications. No sign of one coming anytime soon. If anything, most signs still point to lengthy processing timelines continuing and potentially worsening for some time to come.

Even as to the Service Standard for scheduling the oath, given the contingencies outstanding after there is a "Decision Made," it is not clear precisely when that four month time period commences.

Sorry.

edit to note: intermediary posts acknowledge much of this

Thank you for enlightening with your expert views.

All in all, this announcement would do little to alleviate delayed processing.

I am even thinking the sole purpose of this announcement may be to protect IRCC aginst any legal proceedings in regards to absence of clearly laid out service standards.

 

[rafzy]

Well, no one should be forced to take the vaccine. But, not taking the vaccine shouldn't allow you stay home indefinitely. Why do they keep looking for loopholes?

Because they are used to get Free Tax Payer's Money.

 

[his*marty]

Because they are used to get Free Tax Payer's Money

Governments and their unions - this will never change.

 

[chs]

Glad to see I'm not the only one from Montreal. This is a serious joke, I don't get it, I see people who didn't received test invite before, getting it now. My test was scheduled for March 25th 2020 and got cancelled, since then nothing. I called IRCC, no useful answer, sent a webform, got a general useless answer. Don't know what else to do. My application was received and approved on October 2019.

Exact. Same. Boat. Filled out the webform, only to get boilerplate "We'll get to it when we get to it, COVID is bad, therefore everything slow, please don't write or call us as you'll get the same answer" song and dance. Beyond unhappy now and it's not a good look for an administration to lag TWO YEARS on their processing. If I lagged delivery on my projects by two years, I would have been canned ages ago.

 

[harirajmohan]

If I lagged delivery on my projects by two years, I would have been canned ages ago.

I know. We would never have jobs and would be sitting at home. But these cic guys dont have any obligation and 699 made it easier for them to use it hence they work in their own dead speed.

I am even thinking the sole purpose of this announcement may be to protect IRCC aginst any legal proceedings in regards to absence of clearly laid out service standards.

Exactly. During last year when the reiterated 699 code usage, some members here were thinking that they started to restrict it but still cic included same/some clauses which was allowing employees to use it such as "if no one is available for day care" etc. So this is just to protect the agency from lawsuit in which cic employees enjoy.

 

[Lex2019]

Been trying to find some stats on new citizens and an interesting observation that I've found through the Open Government Portal says that IRCC in fact hasn't speeded up new citizenship at all (data available through January 2021 inclusive). Au contraire they we've been showing some slo-mo signs towards the end of 2020 through early 2021. The highest month for newly sworn in citizens after the pandemic started was September 2020 with as many as 13,844 new Canadians (not quite on par with pre-pandemic months at all, but somewhat much closer to them, e.g. Jan and Feb 2020 were 25-27K per month) and then significantly slowing down towards the end of the year and through January too with approximately 2.5K new citizens in December and January. Would be interesting to look at a refreshed data set including Feb and Mar 2021. Whereas they've been definitely picking up speed on tests and interviews, but are they actually getting back on track with Oaths is the big question

2020 / 01

2020 / 02

2020 / 03

2020 / 04

2020 / 05

2020 / 06

2020 / 07

2020 / 08

2020 / 09

2020 / 10

2020 / 11

2020 / 12

2021 / 01

24,945​

27,036​

9,697​

17​

65​

1,721​

7,025​

10,351​

13,844​

9,275​

3,502​

2,514​

2,689​

 

[prash42]

It would not surprise me to see the pace of online tests and virtual oaths being a discussion point between the union and IRCC. The reason is simple - what starts as a remote-working solution during COVID, has the potential to gradually increase automation and reduce the number of IRCC employees required to process a given number of applications.

Unions of all stripes (not just government employee unions) have increasingly been adding automation to collective bargaining agreements. They see automation as a bad thing that should be resisted, similar to offshoring. See here for example How Unions Can Protect the Workers Vulnerable to Automation (uniontrack.com).

Been trying to find some stats on new citizens and an interesting observation that I've found through the Open Government Portal says that IRCC in fact hasn't speeded up new citizenship at all (data available through January 2021 inclusive). Au contraire they we've been showing some slo-mo signs towards the end of 2020 through early 2021. The highest month for newly sworn in citizens after the pandemic started was September 2020 with as many as 13,844 new Canadians (not quite on par with pre-pandemic months at all, but somewhat much closer to them, e.g. Jan and Feb 2020 were 25-27K per month) and then significantly slowing down towards the end of the year and through January too with approximately 2.5K new citizens in December and January. Would be interesting to look at a refreshed data set including Feb and Mar 2021. Whereas they've been definitely picking up speed on tests and interviews, but are they actually getting back on track with Oaths is the big question

2020 / 01

2020 / 02

2020 / 03

2020 / 04

2020 / 05

2020 / 06

2020 / 07

2020 / 08

2020 / 09

2020 / 10

2020 / 11

2020 / 12

2021 / 01

24,945​

27,036​

9,697​

17​

65​

1,721​

7,025​

10,351​

13,844​

9,275​

3,502​

2,514​

2,689​