"Notice to Prepare for your Citizenship Exam"?

[Halawala]

OK Citizenship Comrades, Update time

Gave my citizenship test today at St Clair. Reached there at 7.30 am to beat the down town traffic. The test went well : 20/20 . The interview was smooth and very informal (15 minutes). The officer was very friendly. The officer checked the ID, PR card and Passport originals. Tallied the entry/exit stamps in passport and verified with my application entries (declared absences). The particulars were checked off in the officers file. Asked questions about present job, career, criminal record etc, mostly simple conversation to know the candidates English skills as well as to check off the requirements for the citizenship file. Looks like, they already had verified the RQ and other documents (it was all there in front). At the end the officer informed that my application is good and will be forwarded to the judge. Oath can expected with in 2 to 4 months time (due to large number of candidates appearing for the test).

Time line: application sent Jan 2012
Acknowledgement: Feb 2012
RQ requested: Nov 2012
RQ sent Dec 2012
Notice to prepare for citizenship test letter received: first week Jan 2014
Notice to write the test/interview: Jan 4th week 2014
Test date/done: 24 Feb 2014

Congratulation.
What's you home office?

 

[Kakaji]

Scarborough office.

 

[toto1234]

kakajee give me idea where to practice for test based on your experience at St Clare

 

[Rqed2013]

Halawala My timeline for every document is just 1 month ahead of yours. Looking forward to more test invites soon. Not sure why they have stopped after January.

 

[Halawala]

Halawala My timeline for every document is just 1 month ahead of yours. Looking forward to more test invites soon. Not sure why they have stopped after January.

What's your home office?

 

[Kakaji]

kakajee give me idea where to practice for test based on your experience at St Clare

Hi: I used online practice quizzes from these websites:

yourlibrary.ca/citizenship/

v-soul.com/

canada-citizenship-test.aws.af.cm/

apnatoronto.com/canadian-citizenship-test-practice/

(removed the full address as they dont allow links)

I did lot of quizzes from these websites.


BUT go through the booklet provided, that is very important

The test is quite easy, but be well prepared... no point in appearing for it again or meeting judge if you fail !!!

good luck !

 

[Rqed2013]

Mississauga. RQ has been reviewed as per the call centre.

 

[toto1234]

Thanks Kakajee

Any special thing about RQ at Interview. Meaning have they asked any particular thing from RQ documents or want any additional document to see at interview like present job letter, etc. Did you travel between the period of filing application and this test/interview if yes did the ask about it or did they ask about your previous travels. What was the color of your test letter? mine is pink. Please give as much detail as possible as i am in same boat as yours.

 

[Kakaji]

Thanks Kakajee

Any special thing about RQ at Interview. Meaning have they asked any particular thing from RQ documents or want any additional document to see at interview like present job letter, etc. Did you travel between the period of filing application and this test/interview if yes did the ask about it or did they ask about your previous travels. What was the color of your test letter? mine is pink. Please give as much detail as possible as i am in same boat as yours.

Not exactly, no document were specifically asked for (I sent in a lot of documents in RQ itself). Only the two Photo ID's (driver and health), PR card, Passport and the landing document were asked in original at the beginning of the interview
Then, I was informed about the test score and asked to sign on the answer sheet. The officer asked about my job and I explained verbally, but was not asked for any letter or proof etc. I had the documents ready though. From my experience i think they are all looking for residence issues and verifying it thoroughly from passports and CBSA records. It makes sense as St Clair deals with RQ cases !! I had a lot of travel outside Canada but all were accounted for in the application. I had one very long absence due to business visit and I explained it briefly (I had sent the official documents supporting the absence in RQ earlier). Yes, I traveled between the application and test, I told the officer who was was checking the original passport on my own but again I was not specifically asked about it (also I had already sent a letter informing them of my travel outside Canada, as I was away for more than 2 weeks after applying for citizenship- you are required to inform them if away for 2 weeks or more according to their website).

Most of the time in the interview was spent on checking the entry/exit stamps in passport. Officer was checking the passport stamps and tallying it with my application residence calculator sheet where I had declared my absences. There was one stamp missing (Canadian entry) while coming in, but the officer understood the fact that sometimes it is not stamped in the smaller port of entry. There were some minor discrepancies of dates (1 day) in my residence calculator, but it was due to time zone and date differences (i.e. long distance travel from asia to north america and you have a single day difference due to time zones), but again it was understood by the officer. Anyways, I had all the physical presence requirements (more than 1150 days in last 4 years) I think I had a glimpse of my travel records from CBSA in my file but nothing was asked or verified. Officer asked about my family (parents and brothers) and their present residence.
The interview was very informal, more like a chat. Remember they are also checking for your English skills ! I am sure they had evaluated the RQ documents sent by the candidates ( I had sent it a lot of documents supporting my physical presence in Canada!!) and officer made notes of it in the cover sheet of the file. At the end i was told that my application is complete and will be sent to a judge and oath will be scheduled within 2 to 4 months.

The letter was pink, all the candidates were having the same colored letter that day.

So Relax toto1234, just carry the pertinent documents and keep it ready (if they ask) and you will be OK.

 

[Kakaji]

Thanks Kakajee

Any special thing about RQ at Interview. Meaning have they asked any particular thing from RQ documents or want any additional document to see at interview like present job letter, etc. Did you travel between the period of filing application and this test/interview if yes did the ask about it or did they ask about your previous travels. What was the color of your test letter? mine is pink. Please give as much detail as possible as i am in same boat as yours.

Hi again toto1234 . I remember the officer asking me about any criminal record or immigration issues. I think this is routine question for all.

 

[toto1234]

great thanks and need your prayer for the test and interview. Best of luck for an early oath.

 

[Horizon92]

Any news for oath ceremony from everyone who did the exam?

 

[bdutta]

No letter got yet, I had exam on February 10 at St Clair office.

 

[FL1040]

I just checked e-cas...I am scheduled for a citizenship test on March 18...at the Montreal CIC office

Aplication sent in April 2013

Processing started on July 7

RQ received on Oct 4, sent on Oct

RQ returned Nov 20

Notification to prepare for citizenship exam received Dec 22

We sent you a notice on February 27, 2014 to appear and write the citizenship test on March 18, 2014

 

[Horizon92]

I haird it takes only one month between exam and oath usually, but I informed at interview to wait between 3 and 4 months!!