Timeline test takers outside Canada.

[felipeoxavier]

Anyone else can share their experience after taking the test outside Canada?
I just got my test invite (window is Jan 20-Feb 9).
Seeing so many negative feedbacks after people took their test abroad, I'm wondering if I should return just to take the test.
Let me know what you think!

 

[Ese2014]

Anyone else can share their experience after taking the test outside Canada?
I just got my test invite (window is Jan 20-Feb 9).
Seeing so many negative feedbacks after people took their test abroad, I'm wondering if I should return just to take the test.
Let me know what you think!

No movement in my file after taking the test from outside.

 

[chanakyashah]

Did anyone of you'll were asked to submit travel details? I don't understand why would they stall applicants living outside of Canada.

 

[Sohaib89]

Anyone else can share their experience after taking the test outside Canada?
I just got my test invite (window is Jan 20-Feb 9).
Seeing so many negative feedbacks after people took their test abroad, I'm wondering if I should return just to take the test.
Let me know what you think!

DO NOT take it from outside Canada. Just go to Canada to take the test. Otherwise you will regret it. Period!

 

[naseryas]

45 months here

 

[mbv747]

Worst decision I have taken ; test in August 2021 !!! and no movement since then

 

[UKVAN]

Just to counter all the cases where there has been no movement, I haven't experienced comparable delays. I am just waiting on my oath now, and took both my test and the interview outside of Canada and sent fingerprints from outside Canada, too. I also have my correspondence address updated to be outside of Canada. In the interview, the officer said that this doesn't matter (but the oath will have to be inside of Canada) and that I will put in the waiting list for the next available oath date. No noticeable delays compared to many other postings on here.

Here's my timeline:

Application type: Online
Location: Vancouver
Physical presence: 1097
Application: Single
Applications sent: Jan 7th 2022
Application received: Feb 28th
Citizenship test invite: Sept 20th
FP request: Sept 22nd (sent Sept 27th from outside Canada)
Test completed: Sept 27th (outside Canada).
FP Received: October 27th
Background Check Completed: October 27th
Passport request: 3rd November.
Sent passport scans: 3rd November.
Interview request: 10th of December for an online interview on the 10th of Jan 2023.
Interview completed: 10th of January (from outside Canada)
Request for foreign police check: Completed and emailed 11th January 2023.
Prohibitions, Language, Presence: Completed 14th January 2022.
Oath: Not yet started.

 

[felipeoxavier]

Wh

No movement in my file after taking the test from outside.

When did you do the test?

 

[Dreamlad]

During the interview (after test), they asked me when I would return and I said I wasn't sure. So they put my file on hold for 6 months until I returned...Got DM right after I returned.

 

[UKVAN]

If you're clear that you can return and will be willing and able to do so, then they don't really have any reason to put it on hold. To be safe, in all communication do state you're willing and able to return, you just don't have a ticket or date yet, but if they asked you you will go. In my interview the officer did have some issues with me not being there, and asked "if I scheduled your oath for the next 3 days what would you do then?" to which I said I would return tomorrow and be there for the oath, it means that much to me, even though I appreciate it would be very expensive. He said that was all good, and he would schedule me for the next available oath, to which he joked would definitely not be in 3 days so that I shouldn't worry, but would most likely be in 4 - 6 weeks.

 

[felipeoxavier]

If you're clear that you can return and will be willing and able to do so, then they don't really have any reason to put it on hold. To be safe, in all communication do state you're willing and able to return, you just don't have a ticket or date yet, but if they asked you you will go. In my interview the officer did have some issues with me not being there, and asked "if I scheduled your oath for the next 3 days what would you do then?" to which I said I would return tomorrow and be there for the oath, it means that much to me, even though I appreciate it would be very expensive. He said that was all good, and he would schedule me for the next available oath, to which he joked would definitely not be in 3 days so that I shouldn't worry, but would most likely be in 4 - 6 weeks.

Thanks for sharing your experience! Much appreciated. Mainly I'm concerned if they decide to ask me when I'll move back to Canada, because it may be a while until then. Thinking I may just fly over and take the test there. Hopefully that will save me the trouble of having to do an interview and/or send in additional documents.

 

[UKVAN]

Thanks for sharing your experience! Much appreciated. Mainly I'm concerned if they decide to ask me when I'll move back to Canada, because it may be a while until then. Thinking I may just fly over and take the test there. Hopefully that will save me the trouble of having to do an interview and/or send in additional documents.

From previous years (pre pandemic) interview was standard, and it seems to be going back to that way now too. If you've been out of Canada more than 6 months you will need to do another criminal check from the country you've been in (they will ask for that at the prohibitions stage). It's perfectly fine to do it abroad (in my experience and others). Flying there to do a test wont necessarily mean you avoid an interview or further passport of fingerprint checks.

If you can easily afford it, sure, why not, but it won't necessarily make your experience smoother. If not, there's really no need to, it doesn't seem to delay processing at all and will just cost you money.

 

[felipeoxavier]

From previous years (pre pandemic) interview was standard, and it seems to be going back to that way now too. If you've been out of Canada more than 6 months you will need to do another criminal check from the country you've been in (they will ask for that at the prohibitions stage). It's perfectly fine to do it abroad (in my experience and others). Flying there to do a test wont necessarily mean you avoid an interview or further passport of fingerprint checks.

If you can easily afford it, sure, why not, but it won't necessarily make your experience smoother. If not, there's really no need to, it doesn't seem to delay processing at all and will just cost you money.

Yes, I'm aware of that. Just really hoping for the best here. They've already asked me for fingerprints and I provided them in Canada. Hopefully if they see I took the test there, after also providing FP, that will be proof that I am willing to return there any time when required to take my oath.
Is the online interview standard or did they just do it online because they knew you were abroad? Did you have to email them to let them know you'd be doing the interview abroad, same as test?

 

[UKVAN]

Yes, I'm aware of that. Just really hoping for the best here. They've already asked me for fingerprints and I provided them in Canada. Hopefully if they see I took the test there, after also providing FP, that will be proof that I am willing to return there any time when required to take my oath.
Is the online interview standard or did they just do it online because they knew you were abroad? Did you have to email them to let them know you'd be doing the interview abroad, same as test?

I think do whatever makes you feel comfortable. It's not essential to do the test in Canada, but if you think it is and it'll help you feel more relaxed then do that.

The interviews are a mix, most are online but some are in person as they try to clear the backlog of cases from the pandemic when things were on hold. Not everyone gets an interview, but they are becoming more common again (like they used to be).

 

[mahaan98]

I am also waiting for my test invite. Sep AOR. I moved to USA for work. Looks like I have to spend $2000 for family and time to get back to take the test. I do not have any urgency to get my citizenship, as I will work for at-least 2 years in usa. My PR is valid until sep 2024. So what should i do?