Interview for children too?

[Aspat]

I'd applied for citizenship with my 2 kids aged 15 and 12. I've got my test and interview on 5th August. Should I take the kids and and all relevant documents pertaining to them also on the 5th? I hope not because my son is away in the US doing a summer program at Yale and won't be back until a few days later. As it is, I had to postpone my vacation by a few days. Don't need another complication.

The test notice itself is addressed only to me and doesn't mention the kids at all.

 

[Aspat]

Spoke to CIC. The agent said he wasn't a 100% sure whether the kids' presence is required but it should not be a problem. If they want to see my son they will schedule a meeting sometime in the future.

Inputs?

 

[paw339]

I'd applied for citizenship with my 2 kids aged 15 and 12. I've got my test and interview on 5th August. Should I take the kids and and all relevant documents pertaining to them also on the 5th? I hope not because my son is away in the US doing a summer program at Yale and won't be back until a few days later. As it is, I had to postpone my vacation by a few days. Don't need another complication.

The test notice itself is addressed only to me and doesn't mention the kids at all.

We didn't take our children to the test which was the correct decision.

 

[Aspat]

We didn't take our children to the test which was the correct decision.

Thanks. Any questions about them? Were their documents checked?

 

[paw339]

Thanks. Any questions about them? Were their documents checked?

No they just checked our documents and said they had everything they needed from our children when I offered the children's passports and landing documents.

 

[Aspat]

No they just checked our documents and said they had everything they needed from our children when I offered the children's passports and landing documents.

Thank you. Appreciate your response.

 

[MiriamT]

"Who has to take the citizenship test?

Everyone between the ages of 14 and 64 at the time they apply for citizenship must take the citizenship test. We use the test to determine if you have adequate knowledge of Canada and the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship. It will also be used to determine if you have adequate knowledge of English or French.

If you are 65 or older when you apply, you do not have to take the test. If you turn 65 during the processing of your application, you still have to take the test since you were under 65 when you signed your application.

Children under 14 at the time of application do not have to take the test. Children who turn 14 during the processing of their application do not have to take the test because they were under 14 at the time of application."

Source: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=374&t=5

When did you apply? Was the 15 year old under 14 when you applied?

 

[MiriamT]

I now realize you had your timeline as your signature. The 15 year old couldn't have been 13 years old or younger back in February 2015, so according to the above he has to attend the test.

 

[MiriamT]

Now that I think about it, the old rules (I'm following according my AOR because I never saved the old instructions) state that "[t]o become a Canadian citizen, persons between 18 and 54 years of age must meet language and knowledge requirements" and you applied under the old rules and thus these are the ones that should apply, and according to this line your 15 year old son shouldn't need to take the test.

 

[Aspat]

I now realize you had your timeline as your signature. The 15 year old couldn't have been 13 years old or younger back in February 2015, so according to the above he has to attend the test.

Hi Miriam,

I applied in Feb this year when the new rule wasn't in effect. Under the old rule, the age range is 18 to 54. The test notice mentions it too. I'm quite sure my son doesn't have to take the test (also confirmed by the CIC agent on the phone this morning), it's the interview I am wondering about. All the same, there's not much I can do about it considering my son will not be in Canada on the 5th.

Thanks for responding.

 

[Aspat]

Now that I think about it, the old rules (I'm following according my AOR because I never saved the old instructions) state that "[t]o become a Canadian citizen, persons between 18 and 54 years of age must meet language and knowledge requirements" and you applied under the old rules and thus these are the ones that should apply, and according to this line your 15 year old son shouldn't need to take the test.

 

[Leon]

They don't have to take the test and therefore don't have to be there. If immigration wants to see them, they can schedule an interview with them later. I have heard of a child as young as 5 being asked in for an interview. The mother was somewhat concerned but it turned out they only wanted to see the child. There were no difficult interview questions to answer.

Your 15 yo. will have to attend the oath though if he was already 14 when you applied and actually you should bring both kids to the oath as it's a celebration of getting their Canadian citizenship and will be a happy memory for them.

 

[Aspat]

They don't have to take the test and therefore don't have to be there. If immigration wants to see them, they can schedule an interview with them later. I have heard of a child as young as 5 being asked in for an interview. The mother was somewhat concerned but it turned out they only wanted to see the child. There were no difficult interview questions to answer.

Your 15 yo. will have to attend the oath though if he was already 14 when you applied and actually you should bring both kids to the oath as it's a celebration of getting their Canadian citizenship and will be a happy memory for them.

Thank you, Leon.

My son is back in Canada on August 7th and I intend taking both my kids for the oath ceremony.