Interview Scenario.

[Tamara_]

Hello all,

I did my test today. I got 19/20. The interview went so nicely at the beginning. But at the end the officer asked me about a visit to my country which I did last week and it was for one day. Bear in mind that I applied in August 2014 and the total of my physical presence in Canada when I applied was 1460 days. Here is the scenario.

Officer : When did you last visit your country?
Tamara: Last week. and it was for one day.
Officer : One day? How come ? What happened?
Tamara: My father was very sick and I wanted to see him and the same time I don't want to miss the citizenship test. So this is why I flew to my country for one day and came back to Canada.
Officer : If I were in you shoes, I will postpone the test and stay with my father. I don't know. Anyways I have the translation of your passport stamps. I will review them. If things are OK, you will hear form us within 2-3 months.

I went back home and still the conversation was going around in my head. What do you think? Am I doomed?

Tamara

 

[OP_POP]

Hello all,

I did my test today. I got 19/20. The interview went so nicely at the beginning. But at the end the officer asked me about a visit to my country which I did last week and it was for one day. Bear in mind that I applied in August 2014 and the total of my physical presence in Canada when I applied was 1460 days. Here is the scenario.

Officer : When did you last visit your country?
Tamara: Last week. and it was for one day.
Officer : One day? How come ? What happened?
Tamara: My father was very sick and I wanted to see him and the same time I don't want to miss the citizenship test. So this is why I flew to my country for one day and came back to Canada.
Officer : If I were in you shoes, I will postpone the test and stay with my father. I don't know. Anyways I have the translation of your passport stamps. I will review them. If things are OK, you will hear form us within 2-3 months.

I went back home and still the conversation was going around in my head. What do you think? Am I doomed?

Tamara

You should be okay. They are going to verify your exit / entries stamps in your passport and hopefully you will get your oath soon.

Congrats for passing your test

 

[Tamara_]

You should be okay. They are going to verify your exit / entries stamps in your passport and hopefully you will get your oath soon.

Congrats for passing your test

Thanks OP_POP. The same to you.

But she seemed unconvinced. Why do citizenship officers often make it hard for us to live the moments that should be happy and memorable . Why does she care about a visit that I did last week despite the fact that I applied in August 2014 and my physical presences total is 1460 days?

Tamara

 

[OP_POP]

Thanks OP_POP. The same to you.

But she seemed unconvinced. Why do citizenship officers often make it hard for us to live the moments that should be happy and memorable . Why does she care about a visit that I did last week despite the fact that I applied in August 2014 and my physical presences total is 1460 days?

Tamara

This is their job and you should respect that. They are like cops on random DUI checkpoints. They are doing their job to make sure no fraudulent applicants get citizenship.

Again, I wouldn't be worried about it.

 

[ItkExpert]

This is their job and you should respect that. They are like cops on random DUI checkpoints. They are doing their job to make sure no fraudulent applicants get citizenship.

Again, I wouldn't be worried about it.

I don't have an issue with them doing their job and preventing from fraudulent applicant to obtain citizenship. Whats unreasonable is the delays imposed on applicants in case CIC is suspecting their applications. For example in my case, I was supposed to have the oath in November 2013 after doing the test in October. However the officer was not satisfied and I was given an RQ and now its more 1.5 years and still no oath in sight. And trust me I am no fraudulent applicant. I mean , if the delay would have been just a couple of months it would have been reasonable. But imposing YEARS of delays just to clear out some issues is just not fair towards the applicant !

 

[OP_POP]

I don't have an issue with them doing their job and preventing from fraudulent applicant to obtain citizenship. Whats unreasonable is the delays imposed on applicants in case CIC is suspecting their applications. For example in my case, I was supposed to have the oath in November 2013 after doing the test in October. However the officer was not satisfied and I was given an RQ and now its more 1.5 years and still no oath in sight. And trust me I am no fraudulent applicant. I mean , if the delay would have been just a couple of months it would have been reasonable. But imposing YEARS of delays just to clear out some issues is just not fair towards the applicant !

I absolutely agree with you on your case. If there is no fishy about your applicant, you should talk to your MP to find out the reason behind the delay. I was just talking about OP's case which is based on a simple question officer asked her.

I hope you get your oath invite soon.

 

[ItkExpert]

I absolutely agree with you on your case. If there is no fishy about your applicant, you should talk to your MP to find out the reason behind the delay. I was just talking about OP's case which is based on a simple question officer asked her.

I hope you get your oath invite soon.

Being told at the test that all is fine, expecting the oath letter in the mail and receiving an RQ instead was certainly not a nice experience.

 

[us2yow]

Thanks OP_POP. The same to you.

But she seemed unconvinced. Why do citizenship officers often make it hard for us to live the moments that should be happy and memorable . Why does she care about a visit that I did last week despite the fact that I applied in August 2014 and my physical presences total is 1460 days?

Tamara

Tamara_,

Did you do it in Ottawa ? Someone else on here made an observation about their officer being an immigrant herself and "seeming" tough and mean but maybe one reads too much. Where was your officer from ?

 

[cec2011]

I got a perfect score on my test, then the officer noticed my "many, many" absences (mostly day trips... or 2-3 day trips to see my family as my grandparents can't travel) and I got sent for a second interview. The immigration officer was much nicer but grilled me on my trips and said he would be contacting CBSA re: my absences to see if everything checked out. Sure enough, I missed ONE trip (which was not in my passport) and instead of having the required 1095 days, I had 1094. I got an RQ April 21st and have until May 21st to send it all this documentation. I have a novel ready to go to send on Monday. So annoying.

Really though, I am sure you'll be ok - worst comes to worse the RQ happens and you fill it out and send it back.

 

[OP_POP]

I got a perfect score on my test, then the officer noticed my "many, many" absences (mostly day trips... or 2-3 day trips to see my family as my grandparents can't travel) and I got sent for a second interview. The immigration officer was much nicer but grilled me on my trips and said he would be contacting CBSA re: my absences to see if everything checked out. Sure enough, I missed ONE trip (which was not in my passport) and instead of having the required 1095 days, I had 1094. I got an RQ April 21st and have until May 21st to send it all this documentation. I have a novel ready to go to send on Monday. So annoying.

Really though, I am sure you'll be ok - worst comes to worse the RQ happens and you fill it out and send it back.

It is recommended that for each trip, you give yourself a few days buffer. Hopefully it works out for you.

 

[OP_POP]

Being told at the test that all is fine, expecting the oath letter in the mail and receiving an RQ instead was certainly not a nice experience.

Absolutely.

Again, I suggest to talk to your MP. Find out exactly what is CIC's concern about your file.

 

[ItkExpert]

Absolutely.

Again, I suggest to talk to your MP. Find out exactly what is CIC's concern about your file.

I already talked to the MP and he said that it is still in process and to wait until the 36 months time is over (it's coming September for me so its not that far) . Before that time he can't do anything. The issue is that no matter what the concern is , big or small, once your applications is flagged it can wait for years for someone to even start looking at it.

 

[eileenf]

[quote author=Tamara_link=topic=282043.msg4261479#msg4261479 date=1430419097]

I went back home and still the conversation was going around in my head. What do you think? Am I doomed?
[/quote] You are fine.

Sometimes CIC officers say things to test your reaction and see if you quickly changed your story to admit to being in your home country for 3 months or something. It is not very nice to be on the receiving end of all these tests, but that is the nature of the beast.

Good luck. And do not worry about it too much.

 

[thecoolguysam]

Being told at the test that all is fine, expecting the oath letter in the mail and receiving an RQ instead was certainly not a nice experience.

I am sorry to know that. How was your experience during the interview? Was the officer seemed not convinced? Did he raise any concerns?
Also did he tell you that he is approving your file or something like that?

 

[thecoolguysam]

Hello all,

I did my test today. I got 19/20. The interview went so nicely at the beginning. But at the end the officer asked me about a visit to my country which I did last week and it was for one day. Bear in mind that I applied in August 2014 and the total of my physical presence in Canada when I applied was 1460 days. Here is the scenario.

Officer : When did you last visit your country?
Tamara: Last week. and it was for one day.
Officer : One day? How come ? What happened?
Tamara: My father was very sick and I wanted to see him and the same time I don't want to miss the citizenship test. So this is why I flew to my country for one day and came back to Canada.
Officer : If I were in you shoes, I will postpone the test and stay with my father. I don't know. Anyways I have the translation of your passport stamps. I will review them. If things are OK, you will hear form us within 2-3 months.

I went back home and still the conversation was going around in my head. What do you think? Am I doomed?

Tamara

Don't worry, you would be fine. He will verify the stamps and the dates and you will receive the oath letter soon.

I suppose you went to see your sick father after the application of citizenship, correct? I hope your father is doing well.
If yes, then how does it affect your citizenship application because 4 years preceding the date of application would be considered. Days spent outside canada after submitting citizenship application should not cause any trouble unless the officer has doubts that the person is not staying here and is here only for getting canadian passport.