postpone citizenship exam

[ayncdn]

Hi,

I'm currently studying in the states as an international student. I am a canadian resident, and my PR card expires in Oct 2014. I've been notified to write my exam on April 23rd. But I'm going to ask CIC to postpone my exam. If I ask them in a letter to schedule in a 2 week window, would the be able to do so?

Details: The reason for such a tight schedule (2 week window) is because last summer I went back to Canada and I got stuck there for 4 months because my US visa took a long time to be issued. So my grad school + research got delayed a lot. In December again I had to go back to Canada because my mom was diagnosed with cancer (well, she had been diagnosed before, but they kept the news from me) and her cancer got very bad. So after I was informed that has only a few months left, I finished some work at school and went back to Canada and stayed for 3 months. So now, I can't leave school again because research has been delayed a lot and I don't feel I can ask my advisor to allow me go back to Canada again and come back ... who knows when, or however long the US visa takes. So I feel I can ask my advisor to leave in December.

So if I asked CIC to schedule my exam in the last 2 or 3 weeks in December, is it doable? Would a lawyer be helpful? Any chance with my case they'd be willing to allow me write my exam in a consulate or embassy here in the states?

I know if I want to write my exam in December, I should renew my PR first to be able to go back to Canada, which I can do because I meat all the requirements both regarding the time in Canada and required documents. Although I do still have to file the last tax.

It's been very difficult recently. I would appreciate any advise or comments.
Best

 

[scylla]

Yes - you can ask to postpone your exam. No - you certainly can't ask that they schedule your exam in a 2 week window. They will completely ignore any such request. Citizenship doesn't work at your convenience no matter what the circumstances.

I would make arrangements to write the exam on April 23rd if you can. That's the best course of action.

You can ask them to postpone if you have a good reason. But keep in mind that you definitely will not have the luxury of picking whichever replacement test date you want. They will pick it randomly. For all you know it will be three weeks later or in right in the middle of an even more critical period in your studies. And you may once again get very little notice to attend.

Postponing the exam because you are studying outside of the country could also very well trigger the RQ process and delay your citizienship processing times by years.

No - a lawyer won't help.

 

[scylla]

Any chance with my case they'd be willing to allow me write my exam in a consulate or embassy here in the states?

Sorry - missed this question.

No - zero chance this will happen. Don't even ask unless you want to give yourself a short cut to receiving an RQ.

 

[Suin]

As far as I remember one the CIC allowed to reschedule exam a month prior the scheduled date of exam. If you do not show up, they might reschedule it for you themselves, but you need to produce them the strong reason why. As you definitely don't wont to have your citizenship application be closed, I would suggest you to contact the CIC call centre and ask the agents about possible solution of your situation.

 

[PMM]

Hi

As far as I remember one the CIC allowed to reschedule exam a month prior the scheduled date of exam. If you do not show up, they might reschedule it for you themselves, but you need to produce them the strong reason why. As you definitely don't wont to have your citizenship application be closed, I would suggest you to contact the CIC call centre and ask the agents about possible solution of your situation.

No longer, without a valid excuse, you miss the test or oath CIC cancels the application. Read:http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/bulletins/2013/ob476B.asp

 

[keesio]

No longer, without a valid excuse, you miss the test or oath CIC cancels the application. Read:http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/bulletins/2013/ob476B.asp

And I'm not sure the OP has a valid excuse... I don't think CIC will consider highly that you want to postpone the exam to finish grad school in the US. Even the fact that you are not currently in Canada may cause issues.

 

[ayncdn]

Thanks for all the responses.

What if I'm a teaching assistant (TA) this quarter for a course in my department? I have a contract with my department that I have to fulfill the duties as a TA and there are no other TAs or replacements. This lasts until June 9th. If I get e letter from my department and the instructor for that course, would CIC accept that as a valid reason to postpone my exam to a date after June 9th?

 

[scylla]

I don't think any of us can say for certain what CIC will and won't accept. You can certainly give it a try.

But again, be aware that if you are successful in postponing your test date - all this will mean is that you won't have to write the test on the day it was originally scheduled. You will have no say as to how long they postpone the test for or when you are asked to write it a second time. For all you know it might be rescheduled to a date before June 9th. You will have no control over this or say in it.

 

[keesio]

Thanks for all the responses.

What if I'm a teaching assistant (TA) this quarter for a course in my department? I have a contract with my department that I have to fulfill the duties as a TA and there are no other TAs or replacements. This lasts until June 9th. If I get e letter from my department and the instructor for that course, would CIC accept that as a valid reason to postpone my exam to a date after June 9th?

Most likely that reasoning will not fly with CIC.

 

[newtone]

By postponing citizenship exam that tells the government that you are not interested in Canadian citizenship. With so many applications on file already they'll push your file all the way back and it could take years before you get this opportunity again.