Processing times continue to improve..CIC update 19/08/14

[informatics]

Processing times continue the speedy trend ! Read below ..

http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=877369

"Recent changes to the Citizenship Act, which received Royal Assent on June 19, 2014, will allow for further improvements to the efficiency of the Citizenship program. The new streamlined decision-making process and other changes to the Citizenship Act are expected to bring the processing time for citizenship applications down to under one year, reduce the citizenship application backlog by more than 80 percent and achieve a working inventory of applications in fiscal year 2015-2016"

 

[chikloo]

Processing times continue the speedy trend ! Read below ..

http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=877369

"Recent changes to the Citizenship Act, which received Royal Assent on June 19, 2014, will allow for further improvements to the efficiency of the Citizenship program. The new streamlined decision-making process and other changes to the Citizenship Act are expected to bring the processing time for citizenship applications down to under one year, reduce the citizenship application backlog by more than 80 percent and achieve a working inventory of applications in fiscal year 2015-2016"

Called CIC and the agent checked if there was any note on the press release for the call center. He said the Citizenship Agents at the local office will now be able to make decision on files but this process may not start immediately. It seems they may need some to organize and equip themselves to make the three step process to one step. He also mentioned it applies to all the applications in process as the main goal of this process is to reduce backlogs. I asked him how long before they change the process and he did not have an answer. Even if they take 3 to 4 months to start it is a good sign and should reduce backlogs pretty soon.

 

[Rayan14]

Called CIC and the agent checked if there was any note on the press release for the call center. He said the Citizenship Agents at the local office will now be able to make decision on files but this process may not start immediately. It seems they may need some to organize and equip themselves to make the three step process to one step. He also mentioned it applies to all the applications in process as the main goal of this process is to reduce backlogs. I asked him how long before they change the process and he did not have an answer. Even if they take 3 to 4 months to start it is a good sign and should reduce backlogs pretty soon.

Did he say what kind of decisions they're able to make now??

 

[basharar]

I don't know, i applied for PR renewal in may, processing time went up from 92 days to 152 day, they have processed less than 2 weeks in 2 month! I hope that doesn't apply to citizenship...

 

[chikloo]

Did he say what kind of decisions they're able to make now??

He did not give any specifics.

 

[May2014]

Someone mentioned that in their interview the officer said as of August this month officers have been given the power to finalise the application as part of the new law change

 

[SenoritaBella]

Perhaps the call centre agents don't know all the information yet. I had my test yesterday and the officer told me she had no concerns and will sign off on my application(1 step process) since officers can now do that.

Called CIC and the agent checked if there was any note on the press release for the call center. He said the Citizenship Agents at the local office will now be able to make decision on files but this process may not start immediately. It seems they may need some to organize and equip themselves to make the three step process to one step. He also mentioned it applies to all the applications in process as the main goal of this process is to reduce backlogs. I asked him how long before they change the process and he did not have an answer. Even if they take 3 to 4 months to start it is a good sign and should reduce backlogs pretty soon.

 

[chikloo]

Perhaps the call centre agents don't know all the information yet. I had my test yesterday and the officer told me she had no concerns and will sign off on my application(1 step process) since officers can now do that.

May be you are right. I kept on asking him in different when can COs start approving applications. Probably just to shut me he may have said 3 or 4 months. Did your CO told that explicitly that there is no need for a judge after she signed off?

 

[SenoritaBella]

I just remember her saying that officers can now sign off on applications, so I took that to mean no need for a Judge.

This link confirms it (i.e. Judges will not be involved anymore): http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do;jsessionid=681b91475edf805a3400934119507e72de68c1eaebacb2315ab26f459d2e6a9b.e38RbhaLb3qNe38Kbxn0?crtr.sj1D=&crtr.mnthndVl=12&mthd=advSrch&crtr.dpt1D=6664&nid=872619&crtr.lc1D=&crtr.tp1D=930&crtr.yrStrtVl=2008&crtr.kw=&cr

May be you are right. I kept on asking him in different when can COs start approving applications. Probably just to shut me he may have said 3 or 4 months. Did your CO told that explicitly that there is no need for a judge after she signed off?

 

[Flocan]

Ok, but when will this new model be enforced, what is the official date of implementation?

 

[chikloo]

I just remember her saying that officers can now sign off on applications, so I took that to mean no need for a Judge.

This link confirms it (i.e. Judges will not be involved anymore): http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do;jsessionid=681b91475edf805a3400934119507e72de68c1eaebacb2315ab26f459d2e6a9b.e38RbhaLb3qNe38Kbxn0?crtr.sj1D=&crtr.mnthndVl=12&mthd=advSrch&crtr.dpt1D=6664&nid=872619&crtr.lc1D=&crtr.tp1D=930&crtr.yrStrtVl=2008&crtr.kw=&cr

If that is the case it good for everyone. Lets hope at least some good will come out of Bill C 24. I agree that when 4/6 years is implemented lot of people's qualification will be pushed a year or two out (Including my wife). I guess I'm trying to see the glass half full. I also hope by the time these people who will be pushed out become eligible the processing time may have reduced to 3 months. They can virtually think they applied got RQd and waited in line like many of us do today

 

[SenoritaBella]

The 1 step process came into effect on August 1st. No idea when the other parts of the new citizenship law will come into effect.

Ok, but when will this new model be enforced, what is the official date of implementation?

 

[Rayan14]

Just spoke to a CIC agent on the phone who told me the new law won't be effectively in place until June 2015 and the applications sent in before August 1, 2014 will be processed using the laws of their own time or the laws that were in place when these applications were sent. The new changes are more cosmetic.

 

[chikloo]

Just spoke to a CIC agent on the phone who told me the new law won't be effectively in place until June 2015 and the applications sent in before August 1, 2014 will be processed using the laws of their own time or the laws that were in place when these applications were sent. The new changes are more cosmetic.

I dont know what to believe anymore. Things will happen if it has to.

 

[screech339]

If that is the case it good for everyone. Lets hope at least some good will come out of Bill C 24. I agree that when 4/6 years is implemented lot of people's qualification will be pushed a year or two out (Including my wife). I guess I'm trying to see the glass half full. I also hope by the time these people who will be pushed out become eligible the processing time may have reduced to 3 months. They can virtually think they applied got RQd and waited in line like many of us do today

I would not hold my breath that the whole citizenship process would take 3 months to complete due to the new changes. I believe the goal of the change is to get it down to within 12 month process from the current 2-3 year process.

Screech339