LOCATION:
IRCC Mississauga
APPOINTMENT TIME:
9:00 AM (September-26th, 2018)
OUT OF BUILDING:
11:10 AM
TOTAL TIME SPENT AT VENUE:
2h 10m
DURATION OF ACTUAL OATH CEREMONY:
1h 10m
This is how it went...
Drove from Brampton at 8:00 AM, reached IRCC-Mississauga at 8:26 AM. Drive time 26 minutes, minimum traffic.
There is enough parking space at IRCC complex, especially at the rear. Remember, entrance to the IRCC building for oath / test is from the
rear.
Parking charges are a mere $9 for the full day till 11 PM. However, we parked at the adjacent location which is right behind, touching the IRCC car park with a common divider (no barrier in between).
NOTE: Parking space GPS spot:
Spirit Of Math Schools, 2170 Dunwin Dr 1 & 2, Mississauga, ON L7M 5B3
Crossed over to the IRCC complex by foot. It is a shallow climb, as the IRCC complex is at a slightly higher elevation than the “vantage point”. Crossing point is marked by the three neon arrows.
NOTE: And if you park anywhere else*, it'd be quite a considerable walk, especially if you've time constraints. And the IRCC complex is fenced at both sides (except for front and back), which makes you walk the entire property before reaching the rear door.
*The next best parking spot is a “strip mall” to the left, about 6-7 minutes walk on the Dundas St. / Glen Erin Dr. Intersection. GPS spot “Pizza Pizza”.
We entered IRCC building at 8:40 AM. There is a security desk right in front. We announced that we have come for the citizenship Oath. The security officer was a pleasant fella. He directed towards the location behind him where the ceremony hall was and asked us to hang-in there till 9:00 AM when someone would be approaching us for ushering everyone inside. And that we should keep our (A)invite letter, (B)media form and (C)PR cards ready.
The waiting hall was already getting filled-up fast. It is a common area where both test/interview folks as well as the oath takers were being accommodated. Where we waited – the opposite side of it was where the test/interview folks were waiting. Seating arrangements were sparse – and most folks ended up standing, which further compacted the space.
9:00 AM, Ceremony Commencement
At dot 9:00 AM a Citizenship Officer (Ms. Ellie, name announced later) entered the waiting area from the ceremony hall and informed us the procedure to be followed. Whereafter, both the doors were opened (A & B in the picture above).
From door #A the guests entered. Guests who accompanied the applicants – and they were asked to sit at the two longer sides of the ceremony hall – keeping the centre space vacant for the oath takers.
We all lined-up at door #B. It was indeed a long line. However, it took just about 20-25 minutes for everyone to complete their registration and be seated.
The Registration Process
Up ahead of door #B, near the dais, was a desk with Ms. Ellie seated checking our documentation. She welcomed us, took the media form (minors are NOT REQUIRED to fill these) and returned back the invite letter as well as PR cards and directed us to proceed to the next desk, towards the left of the dais.
Here another lady was seated, who again welcomed us, rechecked the Oath Invite Letter, marked / circled the “seat numbers” over it. For the first time I noticed that there indeed was a # pre-printed on the letter, inside the box which told us where to go for the oath. We were three (self and two minors) and all of us had our seat numbers pre-printed.
She kept our PR cards but returned back the invite letters. She also handed us a large (quarter poster sized) “Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms” paper and couple of lapel-pins (Canadian Flag). We can pick-up as many of them as we want. She asked us to be seated and wished us all the best.
Seating arrangements were ordinary. Regular cushioned chairs with seat numbers on their right armrest. And there was a “goodies booklet” on every seat aptly called “Our Citizenship” and a Canadian paper flag. The contents of which are:
- a message from the IRCC Minister
- a pamphlet containing the Oath transcript, meaning of the Crown, Allegiance to the Queen and Laws and Duties of Citizenship
- a Free “cultural access pass”, valid for one year. Details at: https://www.icc-icc.ca/site/program/cultural-access-pass/
- a Parks Canada Free Admission pass, valid for one year
- a pamphlet containing our National Anthem transcript
9:30 AM, Announcement by Ceremony Clerk
Around 9:30 AM, when we all were seated, the Ceremony Clerk took the stage. She welcomed everyone, did some small talks and advised us on the ceremony process, viz.:
- a total of 192 applicants were taking the oath today
- a mix nationality from 124 countries were among the oath takers
- kids' are welcome, however they need to remain quiet, else a family member needs to accompany them out of the hall (she gave a valid reasoning for it tho)
- everyone should repeat the oath 'loud and clear', else s/he will not be offered the citizenship certificate – and would need to get another appointment
- the line-up procedure to receive the certificates and photography method
- silencing the cellphones
- the fun / details of the “free cultural access pass”
- apply for passport after 48 hrs.
- a 5-minutes break for washroom, water, infants' arrangement etc. after the video show
Two screens rolled down from the ceiling and we watched a Discover Canada type short video. Then there was a 5-mins break.
Continued...
