Note that it was needed urgently due to Covid 19
IRCC hosted a virtual citizenship ceremony!
- Thread starter callaway73
- Start date
This was a very unique situation. Assume this researcher needed access to a high level lab that required citizenship. Expect like things like school closures will be extended to May.
Obviously the virtual citizenship oath ceremony for a single individual was a special event and not indicative of how IRCC will be proceeding in the coming weeks, and beyond, with citizenship applications generally.
Any claim about what, when, or how IRCC will be handling grant citizenship events in general (that is, except for special cases) in the coming weeks and beyond, including in particular tests, interviews, hearings, or oath ceremonies, is NOT to be trusted . . . unless and until there is further information provided by official or otherwise reliable sources.
Earlier this week, and during the previous two weeks, IRCC published several new and modified Program Delivery Instructions (PDIs) regarding measures implemented in response to the unfolding Covid-19 pandemic. This includes one published Monday which is specifically in regards to "IRCC’s domestic video conference interviews and hearings," which can be seen here:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/interview/applicant/s-domestic-videoconference-interviews.html
While this was just published March 30, the PDI itself shows a last modified date of 2014. And obviously, of course IRCC has previously employed some video conferencing prior to recent events and had some formal guidelines for doing so. We can speculate this PDI was published now in anticipation of adapting procedures in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. BUT, as I have commented elsewhere, such speculation is no better than blind guessing. We really do NOT know and cannot predict how this situation is going to affect the processing of citizenship applications going forward. Assertions otherwise, again, should NOT be trusted.
We can anticipate, however, that it is NOT likely IRCC will resume these citizenship processing events for applicants in general anytime soon. Perhaps some time in May is possible, but even suggesting this let alone asserting that events might be scheduled and held in May, falls back into that wildly speculative range. Again, WE DO NOT KNOW and we cannot predict when tests, interviews, or oath ceremonies, might resume for applicants generally (that is, apart from special circumstances).
While many forum participants here well know where to find updates to IRCC PDIs, here are some links for those who might not be familiar with where to find this information:
There are links to updates of PDIs at this IRCC page:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals.html
(this web page also has links to the general processing PDIs for citizenship)
The PDI governing videoconferencing is, again, found here:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/interview/applicant/s-domestic-videoconference-interviews.html
For PDI titled "Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Program delivery instructions" see
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/service-delivery/coronavirus.html
(this PDI includes links to additional PDIs with more specific information)
For PDI titled "Citizenship: COVID-19 program delivery" see
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/service-delivery/coronavirus/citizenship.html
For recently issued PDI titled "Travel restriction measures: COVID-19 program delivery" see:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/service-delivery/coronavirus/travel-restrictions.html
There are, of course, many other IRCC web pages with information relevant to citizenship application processing and this situation, a number of which are referenced and linked in some of the pages linked above. While the IRCC website might not publish the most up-to-date information about what is or will be happening, it will NOT be far behind. Thus, unless the "news" is from a highly credible, reliable source, it will be prudent to NOT trust it unless and until it is published at the IRCC web site.
Also note, even though this falls under the otherwise obvious, perhaps even "duh" category, there are NO specific measures to facilitate any expedited processing generally (this encompasses IRCC processing for temporary and permanent resident applications as well as citizenship applications), recognizing (as usual) that managers of the responsible processing office retain discretion to expedite applications "due to special circumstances." See:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/service-delivery/coronavirus/general-measures.html
Another note: The PDI titled "Citizenship: COVID-19 program delivery" (see link above) also reiterates that days stuck abroad due to the virus outbreak will "not count as days in Canada. Applicant must meet the physical presence requirements as per normal procedure." (The PDI references PRs returning from specific countries, but obviously this will also apply to all PRs whose travel is disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.) This too falls under the category of what should be rather obvious, but I've seen some queries and received one personally which seem to suggest there is some thinking circulating that IRCC might somehow accommodate PRs who encounter special circumstances. To be clear, IRCC does NOT have discretion (with very limited, narrow exceptions) to grant citizenship to a PR who has not met the statutorily prescribed physical presence requirements. Regardless the impact of this crisis, IRCC has NO authority to waive the strict presence requirements. That would take an Act of Parliament, for which there is virtually no prospect, none at all, that the citizenship physical presence requirements will be modified to allow exceptions to PRs affected by this situation. There may be other sorts of accommodation for PRs affected, such as allowing relief from enforcement of the PR Residency Obligation, which does not require any amendment to the governing statutory provisions.
Any claim about what, when, or how IRCC will be handling grant citizenship events in general (that is, except for special cases) in the coming weeks and beyond, including in particular tests, interviews, hearings, or oath ceremonies, is NOT to be trusted . . . unless and until there is further information provided by official or otherwise reliable sources.
Earlier this week, and during the previous two weeks, IRCC published several new and modified Program Delivery Instructions (PDIs) regarding measures implemented in response to the unfolding Covid-19 pandemic. This includes one published Monday which is specifically in regards to "IRCC’s domestic video conference interviews and hearings," which can be seen here:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/interview/applicant/s-domestic-videoconference-interviews.html
While this was just published March 30, the PDI itself shows a last modified date of 2014. And obviously, of course IRCC has previously employed some video conferencing prior to recent events and had some formal guidelines for doing so. We can speculate this PDI was published now in anticipation of adapting procedures in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. BUT, as I have commented elsewhere, such speculation is no better than blind guessing. We really do NOT know and cannot predict how this situation is going to affect the processing of citizenship applications going forward. Assertions otherwise, again, should NOT be trusted.
We can anticipate, however, that it is NOT likely IRCC will resume these citizenship processing events for applicants in general anytime soon. Perhaps some time in May is possible, but even suggesting this let alone asserting that events might be scheduled and held in May, falls back into that wildly speculative range. Again, WE DO NOT KNOW and we cannot predict when tests, interviews, or oath ceremonies, might resume for applicants generally (that is, apart from special circumstances).
While many forum participants here well know where to find updates to IRCC PDIs, here are some links for those who might not be familiar with where to find this information:
There are links to updates of PDIs at this IRCC page:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals.html
(this web page also has links to the general processing PDIs for citizenship)
The PDI governing videoconferencing is, again, found here:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/interview/applicant/s-domestic-videoconference-interviews.html
For PDI titled "Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Program delivery instructions" see
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/service-delivery/coronavirus.html
(this PDI includes links to additional PDIs with more specific information)
For PDI titled "Citizenship: COVID-19 program delivery" see
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/service-delivery/coronavirus/citizenship.html
For recently issued PDI titled "Travel restriction measures: COVID-19 program delivery" see:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/service-delivery/coronavirus/travel-restrictions.html
There are, of course, many other IRCC web pages with information relevant to citizenship application processing and this situation, a number of which are referenced and linked in some of the pages linked above. While the IRCC website might not publish the most up-to-date information about what is or will be happening, it will NOT be far behind. Thus, unless the "news" is from a highly credible, reliable source, it will be prudent to NOT trust it unless and until it is published at the IRCC web site.
Also note, even though this falls under the otherwise obvious, perhaps even "duh" category, there are NO specific measures to facilitate any expedited processing generally (this encompasses IRCC processing for temporary and permanent resident applications as well as citizenship applications), recognizing (as usual) that managers of the responsible processing office retain discretion to expedite applications "due to special circumstances." See:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/service-delivery/coronavirus/general-measures.html
Another note: The PDI titled "Citizenship: COVID-19 program delivery" (see link above) also reiterates that days stuck abroad due to the virus outbreak will "not count as days in Canada. Applicant must meet the physical presence requirements as per normal procedure." (The PDI references PRs returning from specific countries, but obviously this will also apply to all PRs whose travel is disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.) This too falls under the category of what should be rather obvious, but I've seen some queries and received one personally which seem to suggest there is some thinking circulating that IRCC might somehow accommodate PRs who encounter special circumstances. To be clear, IRCC does NOT have discretion (with very limited, narrow exceptions) to grant citizenship to a PR who has not met the statutorily prescribed physical presence requirements. Regardless the impact of this crisis, IRCC has NO authority to waive the strict presence requirements. That would take an Act of Parliament, for which there is virtually no prospect, none at all, that the citizenship physical presence requirements will be modified to allow exceptions to PRs affected by this situation. There may be other sorts of accommodation for PRs affected, such as allowing relief from enforcement of the PR Residency Obligation, which does not require any amendment to the governing statutory provisions.
Australia has now decided to conduct citizenship oath ceremonies via video link as published by SBS sbs.com.au/news/australian-citizenship-ceremonies-to-go-ahead-via-video-link-during-coronavirus-crisis in the news 85000 persons will take oath over video link. Let we see about decision of IRCC
"Let we see about decision of IRCC"
Well, that's it isn't it. We can only wait to see what IRCC does. Speculating about what is likely is no better than wild guessing. Notwithstanding what Australia has done.
My crystal ball has grown increasingly cloudy and was not particularly reliable before that.