October 2019 - Citizenship Applicants

[Macarad]

This was mentioned during the Oath ceremony.

Thanks! congrats on your oath.

That means that the number of grants increased for September and October (which is good news).

 

[Macarad]

i have begun preparing an online application from scratch... in case they are not satisfied with the evidence i sent to validate my residency requirements. =/

Does anyone know what happens if an application is rejected? Do you have to take the test again? Any experience on the matter?

 

[CaBeaver]

i have begun preparing an online application from scratch... in case they are not satisfied with the evidence i sent to validate my residency requirements. =/

Does anyone know what happens if an application is rejected? Do you have to take the test again? Any experience on the matter?

You can either apply again, or seek a judicial review, given that they didn't reject your application for misrepresentation or fraud, in which case you may not be able to apply again for 5 years [link] [link]

A refused applicant has 30 days after the day on which the decision is communicated to the applicant to file an application for leave for judicial review.

 

[Macarad]

You can either apply again, or seek a judicial review, given that they didn't reject your application for misrepresentation or fraud, in which case you may not be able to apply again for 5 years [link] [link]

Thanks! I'm still curious about what happens to the other steps in the process. Are the background checks/tests/prohibitions still valid? Common sense says they should be (i think), but then again, it's IRCC, I would not be surprised they had to redo absolutely everything. =/

Also, why the hell is the residency requirement the last thing they check?? Sounds super inefficient to waste the applicant and the staff's time to allow an application to go forward before checking that.

Hopefully it does not come to that anyway! but, it's best to be ready, I guess.

 

[CaBeaver]

Thanks! I'm still curious about what happens to the other steps in the process. Are the background checks/tests/prohibitions still valid? Common sense says they should be (i think), but then again, it's IRCC, I would not be surprised they had to redo absolutely everything. =/

Also, why the hell is the residency requirement the last thing they check?? Sounds super inefficient to waste the applicant and the staff's time to allow an application to go forward before checking that.

Hopefully it does not come to that anyway! but, it's best to be ready, I guess.

I think they would redo everything, unfortunately. But given that they are finishing new applications within 12 months, that shouldn't be a huge waste of time. As for why they don't start with the physical presence, I guess there is no logic behind it. It's just how they decided to do things.

 

[artcam]

After more than two years, tomorrow I’m becoming a Canadian Citizen (fingers crossed). I got my notice to take the Oath of Citizenship a couple weeks ago on Oct 21 and my oath is tomorrow Nov 5 at 9am. My status online never changed to anything other than in progress and on Oct 21 it had an update with the notice to appear and the Ceremony step changed from “not started” to “in progress”.

 

[justanotherguy28]

i have begun preparing an online application from scratch... in case they are not satisfied with the evidence i sent to validate my residency requirements. =/

If I'm understanding correctly, they're looking into stamps from 10+ years ago? And asking for specific questions (like Hong Kong travel) even though it doesn't apply to you. It's indeed very strange.

It doesn't easily fall into any category.
For example, if there's any issue with your security clearance, they'll just let the application collect dust and not make any progress at all.

May be they're suspecting you were removed/deported from another country? But that doesn't make a lot of sense either. They usually don't just assume things like that.

Do you have any records in the US that you know of like DUI or even reckless driving/excessive speeding?

I think there's definitely something wrong. Either you have a name and probably date of birth similar to someone already in their database or a US database.

Or they might have your documents mixed up with someone else's? (It's a remote possibility.)

Were you cutting too close to the 1095 day requirement when you filed the application?

Unless you are an American, all your entry/exit details since 2013 (iirc) should already be available in CBSA and US CBP database.

IMO, I don't think they can refuse your application just because they are dissatisfied with your residency information unless they can clearly show you went below the 1095 days.

It's extremely likely they're confusing your documents/data with someone else's or the agent is inexperienced. My guess is as soon as it is resolved, you'll get some positive news.

 

[Macarad]

If I'm understanding correctly, they're looking into stamps from 10+ years ago? And asking for specific questions (like Hong Kong travel) even though it doesn't apply to you. It's indeed very strange.

It doesn't easily fall into any category.
For example, if there's any issue with your security clearance, they'll just let the application collect dust and not make any progress at all.

Thanks for the input, and I sincerely appreciate your hypotheses.

Prohibitions and background check are done. In fact, everything on my tracker appears as completed (background was completed in january of 2020, actually...). My name is relatively rare, so I would be extremely surprised if there was someone else with a criminal background and my same name. Unfortunately, I think this is a combination of unlucky circumstances (as if we did not have enough of those already in this group). I think i signed at 1098 days or something.

They are unable to confirm 2 dates from my trips that do not appear on the internal ICES report, and so they looked into my passport stamps to try and find those. My passport was not stamped for those two trips (officers in many places do not stamp passports now, actually), so they are asking questions about some stamps that are not very legible (my guess is that they are doing this to check if they correspond to the 2 trips they are trying to verify). They are not legible because they are super old and the ink wears out. So i have tried to provide evidence with flight itineraries and boarding passes when available, both for the stamps and the 2 missing trips.

The hong kong thing.... my guess is that it is related to a trip to mainland China during my eligibility period. I did not visit Hong Kong, but I did visit Beijing. I definitely find the request strange, but my guess is that they ask the question since Hong Kong still has a border with China and check points still exist. So it's probably to add more info on that trip. Fortunately, I have an exit stamp from where I was before China, an entry stamp into China the same day, an exit stamp out of China some time later, and an entry stamp into Canada for that same day. Since there are no additional stamps from China anywhere on my passport, I think it is quite evident that I was never in hong kong (that would have implied more stamps, either leaving and returning to china, or additional trips from Canada directly to Hong Kong, which is not the case). I explained the whole situation, and hopefully it makes sense to them.

I honestly do not think there is anything wrong with my file or personal profile. I am unlucky that the two trips they wanted to verify do not have stamps and I got an extremely picky agent. =/
Why do those trips not appear in the system properly? No idea. They are both "half" there. For one trip, the departure date was missing, and for the other it was the return date. Go figure.

I have contacted my MP and the local visa office... we'll see if anything comes from that.

 

[David2736]

I got it from IRCC.DNCitMISScheduling-ConvocationMISCitRN.IRCC@cic.gc.ca

MIS in your email address twice, maybe it's Mississauga?

i have begun preparing an online application from scratch.

To add to an existing paper app? Please keep us informed fi you do! Would be interested to know what happens. Their website says not to do it but I wonder what happens exactly. I mean, how would they know?!

 

[Macarad]

To add to an existing paper app? Please keep us informed fi you do! Would be interested to know what happens. Their website says not to do it but I wonder what happens exactly. I mean, how would they know?!

Not yet... i would wait to see if I get a rejection (IF.....).
I want to do this by the book. I dont want to give them any excuse so that they can tell me "well, now there is confusion and problems with your application because we told you not to do this...".

Having said that, I have started preparing the application. it is quite simple, it is not even a platform where you upload the PDFs with the different parts of the application (although you do have to upload some stuff, obviously). The application itself is a form, actually, with a lot of fields to fill in and drop down menus and the sort...quite quick and simple.

 

[Johnny_0507]

I reached out to MP, last week got the reply which is the same as the IRCC web portal, Decision Made and Oath not Started

So I emailed the CIC Mississauga, yesterday and got the below reply today.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your application is in the queue to be scheduled for a ceremony. Once you have been scheduled, we will contact you by email.

Since the beginning of COVID-19, IRCC has been increasing its use of digital tools to process Citizenship grant applications. E-applications were implemented in November 2020 in a limited capacity, and other virtual tools have been implemented to move towards virtual processing to the extent possible.

Applications are processed utilizing a first-in first-out processing model, with a small number of the oldest e-applications being processed as well. This ensures that the oldest of paper applications are processed while also allowing the move towards online services. Service delivery and processing times may vary depending on the complexity of each individual case.

The pandemic has had a considerable impact on overall processing times and they may vary from location to location depending on local inventories. IRCC is closely monitoring processing times and is working towards decreasing them as quickly as possible

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[JuCW]

I reached out to MP, last week got the reply which is the same as the IRCC web portal, Decision Made and Oath not Started

So I emailed the CIC Mississauga, yesterday and got the below reply today.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your application is in the queue to be scheduled for a ceremony. Once you have been scheduled, we will contact you by email.

Since the beginning of COVID-19, IRCC has been increasing its use of digital tools to process Citizenship grant applications. E-applications were implemented in November 2020 in a limited capacity, and other virtual tools have been implemented to move towards virtual processing to the extent possible.

Applications are processed utilizing a first-in first-out processing model, with a small number of the oldest e-applications being processed as well. This ensures that the oldest of paper applications are processed while also allowing the move towards online services. Service delivery and processing times may vary depending on the complexity of each individual case.

The pandemic has had a considerable impact on overall processing times and they may vary from location to location depending on local inventories. IRCC is closely monitoring processing times and is working towards decreasing them as quickly as possible

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mississauga office didn’t reply to my request. What email address did you use?

 

[justanotherguy28]

Why do those trips not appear in the system properly? No idea. They are both "half" there. For one trip, the departure date was missing, and for the other it was the return date. Go figure.

All indications are they want to finalize your application and move on, it doesn't look like they want to deny the application. I wouldn't give up hope easily. Even if they come back with more requests, I'd try to keep responding and try to salvage the current application.

If you have a habit of using credit/debit cards instead of cash, you might be able to get high quality evidence from the bank statements from back then. You might not see older statements online but banks usually keep several years worth of records archived. They might charge you a "research fee" (typically $50 or so, not sure about Canadian banks) but that could be one option.

There could be other evidence like online hotel bookings in your email inbox etc. If you think for sometime, you might some more.

Since you have only 3 or so days of buffer over the 1095 requirement, I'd try to gather as much document as possible. Especially if you were traveling with a partner, you can always find some breadcrumbs.

Good luck!

 

[David2736]

I give in, I've already applied for PR card renewal last week (feb expiry) after waiting 4 months for an update on a 25 month application.

I don't even have half of the areas completed, even though they've been done for over a year - see above.

• Language skills was done July 2019 - maybe it's expired by now ffs!!!!!
• Physical presence was done at time of application and was almost a full year over the requirements!
• Prohibitions I've had absolutely no change to my circumstances the ENTIRE 8 years I've been in Canada. In the same city. Absolutely no contact with police or RCMP.
  • I've even had maybe 5 police checks for various reasons since being here. Volunteer at a school, take a job involving vulnerable people, etc. I've had turn arounds on that within days.... why can't a federal office get this together at least?!

I will not hope or expect this to arrive any time soon but at least I'll have a PR card also on its way, just in case.

I'm deleting my bookmarks for CIC pages and will just forget it ever happened. If it comes, it comes. I'll just stay a permanent resident and be happy with it even if I never hear anything ever again.

Disgusting.

 

[Macarad]

All indications are they want to finalize your application and move on, it doesn't look like they want to deny the application. I wouldn't give up hope easily. Even if they come back with more requests, I'd try to keep responding and try to salvage the current application.

If you have a habit of using credit/debit cards instead of cash, you might be able to get high quality evidence from the bank statements from back then. You might not see older statements online but banks usually keep several years worth of records archived. They might charge you a "research fee" (typically $50 or so, not sure about Canadian banks) but that could be one option.

There could be other evidence like online hotel bookings in your email inbox etc. If you think for sometime, you might some more.

Since you have only 3 or so days of buffer over the 1095 requirement, I'd try to gather as much document as possible. Especially if you were traveling with a partner, you can always find some breadcrumbs.

Good luck!

Indeed, thank you very much!

At the moment I submitted travel evidence since that is what they asked for, and I did mention that people travelled with me and their passports could be checked if necessary. I'll see about bank statements. I can definitely show that I was back at some point, but i'll have to check if there are purchases for the exact dates.

I want to stay positive... but man, this year has been hard on so many levels...

Thanks for your reply!