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December 2021 - Citizenship Applicants

MChief117

Star Member
Aug 24, 2022
78
59
Hi guys,

I am an online applicant (applied on Dec 23rd and received AOR on Feb 18th). I got ghost update on 23rd August and my background check was completed yesterday (24th Aug). I am hoping to get test invite in the next few days. I wanted to hear from the people who have recently taken the test - How did you prepare, how much time did you spend on preparation, how many practice tests did you take and which practice tests/website did you find most relevant?

I have downloaded "Discover Canada" guide and I know there are are practice tests available on Apnatoronto.com but can you share other websites/practice tests that you used? I know those questions may have been asked many times but I was not able to find the information. Please share the link where this has been discussed and/or I can find a list of resources etc.

Thanks in advance for all the help!
Hi,

I thoroughly studied Discover Canada. I thought I would revise it a couple times just to be sure. But when I attempted practice tests, I flew through them (2-3 min per test). After which I just went ahead and gave the test and got 20/20. I practiced tests on free phone apps and it was enough.

All in all I would say the test is easy. May be doing lots of practice tests and attentively reading through Discover Canada would be sufficient as well? Some others can answer this? I was nervous and hence thoroughly studied Discover Canada.

Cheers & Good Luck mate.
 

surbee

Star Member
Mar 6, 2019
63
10
Got the email for test invite, details in signature!
Hello @eXodus11 , after fingerprints are taken by the agency and sent to RCMP electronically, does the fingerprint agency contact the citizenship office informing them that the client has submitted their fingerprints ? RCMP might take 3-4 weeks to process them and send them over to the concerned citizenship office and there is a deadline to submit fingerprints within 30 days. Did the fingerprint agency in your case contacted the citizenship office about it ?
 

esse

Hero Member
Jun 21, 2021
294
145
Hi guys,

I am an online applicant (applied on Dec 23rd and received AOR on Feb 18th). I got ghost update on 23rd August and my background check was completed yesterday (24th Aug). I am hoping to get test invite in the next few days. I wanted to hear from the people who have recently taken the test - How did you prepare, how much time did you spend on preparation, how many practice tests did you take and which practice tests/website did you find most relevant?

I have downloaded "Discover Canada" guide and I know there are are practice tests available on Apnatoronto.com but can you share other websites/practice tests that you used? I know those questions may have been asked many times but I was not able to find the information. Please share the link where this has been discussed and/or I can find a list of resources etc.

Thanks in advance for all the help!
This should be a good starting point.

https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/notes-from-discover-canada-preparation-for-the-citizenship-test.734507/
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/best-practice-tests-apps.614918/
https://www.yourlibrary.ca/citizenship/

Good luck with your test.
 

Matthewg

Full Member
Jul 12, 2018
35
11
Type: Online application
Location: Toronto, ON
Physical Presence Days: 1,115
Application: Single
Application submitted: December 5, 2021
Delivered: December 5, 2021
AOR: February 11,2022
Ghost update: 17 August

Nothing changed on my application after Ghost Update. Getting worried as everyone here has had some change since their ghost update!
I wouldn't worry about it. As far as I understand, Sydney does the BG checks and sends the file to Local office for test scheduling.Some local offices are ahead of Sydney and they send the test invite before BG is done .From what I see , in case they need FP to verify ,they ask the Local office to deal with it and the email comes from the local office...which may be the case for you. Assuming they started the BG and need Fp and delegated it to your local office.

Again this is just my theory, I may be wrong. The good news is that they actually started "processing" your file. I see people from even August whose files havent been touched at all. Keep positive, we will all get there
 

actntrl

Hero Member
Jan 21, 2017
310
102
I wouldn't worry about it. As far as I understand, Sydney does the BG checks and sends the file to Local office for test scheduling.Some local offices are ahead of Sydney and they send the test invite before BG is done .From what I see , in case they need FP to verify ,they ask the Local office to deal with it and the email comes from the local office...which may be the case for you. Assuming they started the BG and need Fp and delegated it to your local office.

Again this is just my theory, I may be wrong. The good news is that they actually started "processing" your file. I see people from even August whose files havent been touched at all. Keep positive, we will all get there
This is what I heard as well, but seems strange since all the tests are online now. Should be a bit more efficient.. sigh
 

esse

Hero Member
Jun 21, 2021
294
145
This is what I heard as well, but seems strange since all the tests are online now. Should be a bit more efficient.. sigh
I have a question about interview after the test. A friend who had paper application did not have an interview. A friend who applied online has an interview scheduled for September. His test was done March 2, 2022. Does everyone get an interview after the test?
 

PakiAccountant

Full Member
May 3, 2017
48
12
Hi guys,

I am an online applicant (applied on Dec 23rd and received AOR on Feb 18th). I got ghost update on 23rd August and my background check was completed yesterday (24th Aug). I am hoping to get test invite in the next few days. I wanted to hear from the people who have recently taken the test - How did you prepare, how much time did you spend on preparation, how many practice tests did you take and which practice tests/website did you find most relevant?

I have downloaded "Discover Canada" guide and I know there are are practice tests available on Apnatoronto.com but can you share other websites/practice tests that you used? I know those questions may have been asked many times but I was not able to find the information. Please share the link where this has been discussed and/or I can find a list of resources etc.

Thanks in advance for all the help!
Any advice/practice material for test preparation? Any recent test takers- can you please share your experience?
 

MChief117

Star Member
Aug 24, 2022
78
59
I have a question about interview after the test. A friend who had paper application did not have an interview. A friend who applied online has an interview scheduled for September. His test was done March 2, 2022. Does everyone get an interview after the test?
Hi,

My application was online. I did the test on 23rd Aug
Any advice/practice material for test preparation? Any recent test takers- can you please share your experience?
Hi,

I sent a reply but it's been put under moderation. Not sure why. It only had info on prep. Lets c if this msg gets through so I can copy paste the older one.

Cheers
 

MChief117

Star Member
Aug 24, 2022
78
59
Hi,

My application was online. I did the test on 23rd Aug

Hi,

I sent a reply but it's been put under moderation. Not sure why. It only had info on prep. Lets c if this msg gets through so I can copy paste the older one.

Cheers
I thoroughly studied Discover Canada. I thought I would revise it a couple times just to be sure. But when I attempted practice tests, I flew through them (2-3 min per test). After which I just went ahead and gave the test and got 20/20. I practiced tests on free phone apps and it was enough.

All in all I would say the test is easy. May be doing lots of practice tests and attentively reading through Discover Canada would be sufficient as well? Some others can answer this? I was nervous and hence thoroughly studied Discover Canada.

Cheers & Good Luck mate.
 
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esse

Hero Member
Jun 21, 2021
294
145
I thoroughly studied Discover Canada. I thought I would revise it a couple times just to be sure. But when I attempted practice tests, I flew through them (2-3 min per test). After which I just went ahead and gave the test and got 20/20. I practiced tests on free phone apps and it was enough.

All in all I would say the test is easy. May be doing lots of practice tests and attentively reading through Discover Canada would be sufficient as well? Some others can answer this? I was nervous and hence thoroughly studied Discover Canada.

Cheers & Good Luck mate.
I had also read Discover Canada, that is a must. But, I go through mock tests just to be sure. It is for reinforcement. Read questions carefully and the questions are straightforward. Good luck.
 
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eXodus11

Full Member
Dec 4, 2021
33
34
Hello @eXodus11 , after fingerprints are taken by the agency and sent to RCMP electronically, does the fingerprint agency contact the citizenship office informing them that the client has submitted their fingerprints ? RCMP might take 3-4 weeks to process them and send them over to the concerned citizenship office and there is a deadline to submit fingerprints within 30 days. Did the fingerprint agency in your case contacted the citizenship office about it ?
Hmm I don't think the agency does any contacting, it's just there to take fingerprints for RCMP. The deadline is to actually give your fingerprints within 30days of the letter.

Here's one of the agencies that describes the process well
https://www.f1fingerprint.ca/citizenship-application-process

"Fingerprint-based Background Check: This check is conducted by any agencies accredited by the RCMP (including some local police). It is done by capturing your fingerprints and submitting them to the RCMP for processing. Your unique fingerprints, along with your name and date of birth are checked against the National Criminal Repository Database. The RCMP will issue an official certificate indicating whether or not a criminal record was found. The normal processing time is 3 business days (up to 120 days if you ever had a criminal record) and the certificate will be mailed to your chosen address by regular mail. The mailing time could be between 1-2 weeks depending on Canada Post. Regardless of which agency or local police that you went to for your fingerprints, there is no exception to the process and mailing time."

So, the address here for me was the local IRCC office in Vancouver which the agency inputed when taking my fingerprints
 
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WhereAmIQc

Star Member
Jun 3, 2022
69
62
Hello @eXodus11 , after fingerprints are taken by the agency and sent to RCMP electronically, does the fingerprint agency contact the citizenship office informing them that the client has submitted their fingerprints ? RCMP might take 3-4 weeks to process them and send them over to the concerned citizenship office and there is a deadline to submit fingerprints within 30 days. Did the fingerprint agency in your case contacted the citizenship office about it ?
No the agency does not contact IRCC. They send the fingerprints to RCMP that's it.

If there is nothing wrong with your situation, RCMP will process the fingerprints they receive usually within 3 days. You can check this webpage https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/processing-times-and-fees

We had ours done on May 26th and got the results the following week (see signature). Our police service requested for the results to be mail to us instead of the IRCC office. We found that out AFTER receiving the letter. So we had an extra delay in us mailing the paperwork to IRCC. But by July 3rd, background check was marked as completed.

So make sure wherever you go to have your fingerprints taken they specify the address of the IRCC office requesting them. So its sent directly there and not to you.
 
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Jatt_warrior

Star Member
Jan 30, 2013
100
47
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PakiAccountant

Full Member
May 3, 2017
48
12
I thoroughly studied Discover Canada. I thought I would revise it a couple times just to be sure. But when I attempted practice tests, I flew through them (2-3 min per test). After which I just went ahead and gave the test and got 20/20. I practiced tests on free phone apps and it was enough.

All in all I would say the test is easy. May be doing lots of practice tests and attentively reading through Discover Canada would be sufficient as well? Some others can answer this? I was nervous and hence thoroughly studied Discover Canada.

Cheers & Good Luck mate.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience
 
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