Notifying CIC about planned absence while waiting for test date

[uzas]

I am planning to visit my home country for about a month this summer. I applied for citizenship in early June 2013, processing started in August 2013 and I found out from the call center that my file was transferred to Montreal in mid-January 2014.

When I called recently, the agent told me that the normal processing time is 2 years, and that if I want to make sure to not get the test invitation for the date when I am away, I should notify the CIC once I have my travel dates firm. He said that shouldn't affect the overall length of processing my application.

Other immigration applicants advise not to notify the CIC about a planned absence, as that may lead to an RQ. Some suggest to take the trip and, if test invitation comes, return in time for the test whatever the cost. Others say don't go. For the moment, I am not interested in the option of not going, because that means I might well wait another two years.

What to you guys think? What are your experiences?

 

[jjr20]

I went out of country basically for the whole month of Feb. while they were doing my application. I took my citizenship test this past Wed. and during the interview all I got asked was if I took a lot of day trips (he had the print out) and while he was flipping through my passport book I just briefly mentioned my in-laws live in Belize, my family in the States, so we have been traveling a lot. There were no questions about it, the guy doing the interview didn't think twice about it..he actually started chatting about how he used to camp nearby where I grew up, and had a friendly conversation about that.

I say go for the trip since it seems to be for family; I don't think they will question it as long as you show intent to still live in Canada after getting citizenship. If they do question it, it shouldn't be too bad since you have a valid reason for it.

 

[springtime]

I am planning to visit my home country for about a month this summer. I applied for citizenship in early June 2013, processing started in August 2013 and I found out from the call center that my file was transferred to Montreal in mid-January 2014.

When I called recently, the agent told me that the normal processing time is 2 years, and that if I want to make sure to not get the test invitation for the date when I am away, I should notify the CIC once I have my travel dates firm. He said that shouldn't affect the overall length of processing my application.

Other immigration applicants advise not to notify the CIC about a planned absence, as that may lead to an RQ. Some suggest to take the trip and, if test invitation comes, return in time for the test whatever the cost. Others say don't go. For the moment, I am not interested in the option of not going, because that means I might well wait another two years.

What to you guys think? What are your experiences?

How come they didn't invite you for the test? it that family or single application?

 

[uzas]

The fact that I didn't get a test date yet is, of course, getting suspicious. It's a single application.

 

[Michels]

Notify them as required, as rescheduling a test would drag your timelines.
Wife got RQd in feb, called them 2 weeks ago that we'll be out for 4 weeks on vacation, she got her test date 2 days ago set for three days after we get back..
Don't let an application ruin the joie de vivre!

 

[Desert Lion]