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Local office is just for quick review of file/test and ceremony ,that's all and then depends on each office if it is active or slow like (Mississauga)
that's why agent told me when i called CIC that if you like ,we can transfer your file to Winnipeg for test/ceremony since you live so far and Mississauga is so far from you OR you can wait our itinerary service , so agent means that once verification is completed,then my file will be transferred for test/ceremony to either Mississauga (take queue ) OR Winnipeg if i request this transfer
Correct. I believe Winnipeg is better option.
 
I told myself I won't call CIC hotline unless they take too long to process my application or have an update but I called them today as I wanted to verify how the process works. The agent confirmed that my file, which went into "in process" status last January 31, 2019, is still in Sydney. She said that they do some processing there and gave "background verification" as an example or guess(?). Once it is ready for test invite, that is the time it is transferred to the applicant's local office and the rest will processed there. She said there is no approximate time as to when my file will be transferred to my local office, which is Calgary. She said it could be in weeks or in months - no one knows but the officer, I guess. So let's hold tight and just review lol.

I remember she even said something defensive like "they do some processing in Sydney, it's not like they don't do anything there" lol she said it in a nice way but I can tell she probably got some calls from people who made it seem like Sydney is not doing their job that's why she got all defensive like that, haha.

Anyway, do you guys know what kind of "background verification" it is? Any idea? o_O
It should be the security checks from RCMP, International intelligence agencies. Also another very important verification is whether the person really living in Canada. As thr has been instances that people live abroad but show they were in Canada. Thr are many ways to identify that but that can take time.
 
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Correct. I believe Winnipeg is better option.
Yes,i already asked them to transfer my file to Winnipeg for Test/Ceremony since it is close to me( 5 hours driving by car),i sent them a letter ,so let's wait and see what will happen,hopefully everything will be ok for everyone .
 
Hi All,

My application is in process now. "We started processing your application on February 13, 2019."

Thank you.
 
Hope the same happens to everyone with applications in Mississauga soon.
 
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Security checks and its conducted by CSIS but initiated by someone at Sydney.

Now the question is: how do some applicants get test invitation before the completion of background checks? At what point Sydney transfer the documents?

My Idea: Sydney does not complete something and transfer the documents. It should be something like Local Office declares a cap then Sydney sends the documents on hold in some order. For example first the applicants with a completed background check. If the local office is very fast they might send applicants without having a complete background check.

If I am right, what is the bottleneck here? Room for the ceremony? Final check from the local office? or whatever these lazy people are doing?

It is too complicated.. I gave up.

They have to declare a clear and detailed procedure.
 
Now the question is: how do some applicants get test invitation before the completion of background checks? At what point Sydney transfer the documents?

My Idea: Sydney does not complete something and transfer the documents. It should be something like Local Office declares a cap then Sydney sends the documents on hold in some order. For example first the applicants with a completed background check. If the local office is very fast they might send applicants without having a complete background check.

If I am right, what is the bottleneck here? Room for the ceremony? Final check from the local office? or whatever these lazy people are doing?

It is too complicated.. I gave up.

They have to declare a clear and detailed procedure.
Exactly. The agent told me there is no set time as to when files are transferred to local office and that Syndey does process something - and when it's ready for test, then that's the time local office gets the file for the rest of the process. She said no one knows what's the deciding factor that would transfer the file to local office - only the officer knows. And I am aware that there are some who got test invite before bg check was completed and we'll never know the reason for that, I guess..
 
Hey All!!

Just wanna share good news for all November 2018 applicants!!

Received Test invite just a few minutes back. Both Myself and my spouse eligible for appearing for citizenship test received the emails...!!

Test Date : 16th April, 2019

Calgary office is quick!!

Admin - Kindly update the spreadsheet!! Good Luck to all !!

SMS2014
Congrats!!
 
Hi All,

My application is in process now. "We started processing your application on February 13, 2019."

Thank you.

Hi Admins, please update the spreadsheet. Thank you.
 
In process - Feb 14