October 2021 - Citizenship Applications

[rk2015]

THANK YOU!!!
Paper Application
Location: Toronto (This isn’t the immigration office right? Cause I don't know that yet.)
App: Family (2)
Physical Presence: 1,727
App Sent: Oct 21, 2021
App Delivered: October 23, 2021
App Filed: December 23, 2021
AOR: January 17, 2022
In Process: January 18, 2022
Background Check Complete: Feb 3, 2022

An officer sent an email asking for additional language proficiency proof.

I was so wrong to just submit a screenshot of the online test result of our IELTS (the one we took for our PR application before). It doesn’t show our names, but instead it shows our passport number and date of birth. We don’t have a copy of the original IELTS Test Report because we submitted the original our PR application and we didn’t have a photocopy.

In all of this, lesson learned - make sure you have photocopies of documents.

So we replied to the email with our diplomas and university transcripts that are all in English from our home country as proof of post-secondary education in English.

We certainly hope that is enough proof. What are your thoughts?

 

[JoacRy]

An officer sent an email asking for additional language proficiency proof.

I was so wrong to just submit a screenshot of the online test result of our IELTS (the one we took for our PR application before). It doesn’t show our names, but instead it shows our passport number and date of birth. We don’t have a copy of the original IELTS Test Report because we submitted the original our PR application and we didn’t have a photocopy.

In all of this, lesson learned - make sure you have photocopies of documents.

So we replied to the email with our diplomas and university transcripts that are all in English from our home country as proof of post-secondary education in English.

We certainly hope that is enough proof. What are your thoughts?

Hi this will not be accepted as 'Proof'. The reason that IRCC needs you to upload the 'Original' copy of the transcript is to 'crosscheck' the 'credentials' on the 'copy' you submitted against the 'actual' results (via a 'check' with IELTS). I think in this case you will be asked to upload a copy of your 'IELTS' results showing your details (ie Name, Address, Candidate # with IELTS, etc.).

Think you may want to contact IELTS and have a copy of your 'actual' transcript ready to be submitted.

 

[zeyneps]

Hi everyone,

I logged into ECAS today and saw that there was an update about the citizenship test, but I have not received an email. Should I wait for an email or can I just log in and do the test in the test window? I am copying the update below. Thank you.

• Feb 25, 2022
  
  
  Scheduled for citizenship test
  
  Citizenship test
  
  You've been scheduled to take citizenship test online between February 25, 2022 and March 17, 2022. Information and instructions will be sent to you.
• Feb 14, 2022
  
  
  Citizenship test activity status updated
  
  Citizenship test
  
  Citizenship test status has been updated to In progress

 

[vimal3134]

Hi everyone,

I logged into ECAS today and saw that there was an update about the citizenship test, but I have not received an email. Should I wait for an email or can I just log in and do the test in the test window? I am copying the update below. Thank you.

• Feb 25, 2022
  
  
  Scheduled for citizenship test
  
  Citizenship test
  
  You've been scheduled to take citizenship test online between February 25, 2022 and March 17, 2022. Information and instructions will be sent to you.
• Feb 14, 2022
  
  
  Citizenship test activity status updated
  
  Citizenship test
  
  Citizenship test status has been updated to In progress

Nice, you will get a email soon.
Question: When did you receive AOR, and when is your background check was completed ?

 

[ravalravig]

Hi,

I am December applicant but looking to know some timelines from previous trend and experience.

Application Sent/Received: 16 Dec 2021
AOR: Feb 18 2022

I am looking to know what would be time line for next step?

(1) Do they ask finger print for everyone? We never had submitted before during PR
(2) What is usual time frame for Finger print request after AOR


We are not in Canada between 1st March to 1st April.

 

[zeyneps]

Nice, you will get a email soon.
Question: When did you receive AOR, and when is your background check was completed ?

So this is my timeline

Application sent: 03 Oct 2021
Application received: 07 Oct 2021
AOR: 24 Dec 2021 (on the online tracker it says application filed on 07 Dec 2021)
In process: 22 Jan 2021
Background verification activity status updated: 25 Jan 2022
Physical presence: 1199
Urgent processing: No
Application format: Paper Application
Application type: Family (2)
City: Montreal

I'll sound like Carrie Mathison, but it looks like there is a pattern where Montreal applicants are invited to the test faster than other cities but the waiting time between the test and oath ceremony is longer. Or maybe they invite certain cities simultaneously, irrespective of the applicants' AORs. But they set an approximative 1-year deadline for every application, and then they process different steps at different speeds but still try to complete them in a somewhat uniform timeframe. So just because you receive your AOR, or test invitation earlier or later than others doesn't necessarily mean that your application will be completed before or after others. Unfortunately, this is very hard to verify because of the Covid backlog and the transition from paper-based to online.

For example, someone submitted their application online when the online citizenship application was first launched, and they became a citizen in less than 5 or 6 months. Probably their application was processed that fast because they wanted to test the system. This kind of case also makes it harder to understand the actual timeline and what IRCC is trying to do.

 

[vimal3134]

So this is my timeline

Application sent: 03 Oct 2021
Application received: 07 Oct 2021
AOR: 24 Dec 2021 (on the online tracker it says application filed on 07 Dec 2021)
In process: 22 Jan 2021
Background verification activity status updated: 25 Jan 2022
Physical presence: 1199
Urgent processing: No
Application format: Paper Application
Application type: Family (2)
City: Montreal

I'll sound like Carrie Mathison, but it looks like there is a pattern where Montreal applicants are invited to the test faster than other cities but the waiting time between the test and oath ceremony is longer. Or maybe they invite certain cities simultaneously, irrespective of the applicants' AORs. But they set an approximative 1-year deadline for every application, and then they process different steps at different speeds but still try to complete them in a somewhat uniform timeframe. So just because you receive your AOR, or test invitation earlier or later than others doesn't necessarily mean that your application will be completed before or after others. Unfortunately, this is very hard to verify because of the Covid backlog and the transition from paper-based to online.

For example, someone submitted their application online when the online citizenship application was first launched, and they became a citizen in less than 5 or 6 months. Probably their application was processed that fast because they wanted to test the system. This kind of case also makes it harder to understand the actual timeline and what IRCC is trying to do.

For sure, its difficult to see any pattern here, I think we shouldn't do any overthinking here, let IRCC do their work and lets prepare for test

 

[5Kent]

Here is something I do not understand. Everyone is saying that the next step after background verification is test invitation. Why is it not language skills verification, physical presence verification or prohibitions verification? Aren't these the logical next step after background verification?

 

[wksj]

Here is something I do not understand. Everyone is saying that the next step after background verification is test invitation. Why is it not language skills verification, physical presence verification or prohibitions verification? Aren't these the logical next step after background verification?

What makes you think there is any logic at IRCC?

 

[5Kent]

What makes you think there is any logic at IRCC?

I am sure there is some underlying logic to the process. The Canadian government and its processes are usually quite logical and straightforward. Things do not work as intended when there are complicating factors, and I was just wondering what those factors were in this particular case

 

[IndianBos]

I am sure there is some underlying logic to the process. The Canadian government and its processes are usually quite logical and straightforward. Things do not work as intended when there are complicating factors, and I was just wondering what those factors were in this particular case

While the process looks straight at a high level, each file is different. Even a small variation from standard might mean the file might go to a different group for review before it can rejoin the original process before it can move forward.

Given its govt, they might also need approvals before it goes ahead in the queue, and it don't think it is easy to map out all that for even those working in govt.

 

[5Kent]

While the process looks straight at a high level, each file is different. Even a small variation from standard might mean the file might go to a different group for review before it can rejoin the original process before it can move forward.

Given its govt, they might also need approvals before it goes ahead in the queue, and it don't think it is easy to map out all that for even those working in govt.

I think you are absolutely right. There may also be variations based on which processing centre and even which officer a specific file ends up with, as workloads tend to be uneven

 

[dalma11]

Application sent: Oct 2021
AOR: Jan 18 2022
Background completed : 27 Jan 2022
Urgent processing: No
Application format: Paper Application
Application type: Family (3)

 

[sara_bb]

Type: Paper application
Location: Ontario
Physical Presence Days: 1803
Application: Family(2)
Application sent: October 18,2021
Delivered: October 25, 2021
AOR: Jan 17, 2022
In Progress : Jan 18, 2022

Background verification completed: Feb 15, 2022

 

[JoacRy]

Background verification completed: Feb 15, 2022

Hi congratulations; in 1 sense I'm reply happy that things are moving for you. In another sense I'm frustrated @ the process. In hindsight I should have also applied via the 'Paper' system. I chose the 'online' method as I thought it would be faster than the 'Paper' method. It's not your fault (or the fault of anyone) who applied using the 'Paper' method but in general you would think (all things being equal):

(1) Applications 'should' be processed in 'chronological' receipt order; and
(2) 'Online' applications 'should' be 'faster' than 'Paper' applications

* Happy for you, just venting my frustrations.