You could have taken the IELTS. That isn’t a huge stumbling block. You could have also asked for it to be waived if you have previous English studies.
Most people aren’t applying for high level government jobs and especially at the moment where covid has essentially frozen hiring. In general the majority of people will be unaffected if they have to wait a few months longer due to covid.
I think the major thing right now is potential elections coming up and the fact that any accident could mean your PR is revoked and you get deported. For example, if you are caught driving with some alcohol over the legal limit its grounds for revocation of your PR now. Obviously not advocating for breaking any laws but it just that nagging feeling in the back of your mind that one wrong step and it could all be over. I think the biggest fear for me is being involved in some freak car accident I get blamed for and losing my PR status and deported as a result. It's really the peace of mind and I think anyone who has gone through the hell of immigration and assimilating can vouch that it puts a BIG mental burden off your mind if you're always worrying about losing your status/deportation. You really can't enjoy life like most Canadians do knowing you have no safety net. I suppose I feel even more sorry for the folks in the states who have to wait years or over a decade (from backlogged countries like China) for a GC. Then another president comes in and starts changing the rules or cancelling them. You never know...and that's even happened in Canada.
I also think the reason why people in this forum are freaking out is the lack of communication. The website says all citizenship events are cancelled 'until further notice' which is anyone's guess. It could be 1 year, or 2 weeks no one knows and that introduces more uncertainty in these already troubling times. I think if IIRC gave more updates as to their current state with respect to how they're processing backlogs, plans for citizenship tests etc it would put more people's minds at least. I mean the only information we have was from an access for information request via Rebel Media (not exactly a reputable source and
we don't even know if its real). Communication is paramount I think lack of that makes people fear for the worst or at elevates their anxiety levels. Even when you don't know what to do in a situation, telling your clients what your expected strategy is and providing updates, alleviates a lot of stress and fear on their end. It actually goes a long way based on my experiences working in customer support for several years. If I told a client 'just be patient and I'll work on your case within the next few days/weeks/months/years' and went off on my way, they would probably ask to speak to my manager. Patience is one thing yes, obviously we need to all be patient but communication is also key so you can avoid unnecessary tension.
I'm at least glad IIRC is giving updates for those who applied for PRs and study permit and are being more flexible with regard to that than the US for example.
