Citizenship application
 

OK......so.....I've sent of my application for citizenship today:). I guess that, this time next year, I will be wondering just how long it can really take for the beaurocrats to process this!

Now, I know that they receive a large number of applications for citizenship, but I really find it hard to accept that it will take nearly 2 years!!!! Seems to me that they should attempt to staff their offices at a level appropriate to the task in hand.

I cannot see that a processing time of ....say....6 months is asking too much.

Re: Citizenship application
 

Depends where you are in the country, Ontario and BC are the worst. There's going to be a citizenship bill this year, one of the things they're planning on doing is raising the application fee and hiring more staff.

Re: Citizenship application
 

Ajax, Ontario was 7 months. Applied in May, test Dec 20, Oath on Jan 2nd 2014.

Re: Citizenship application
 

Ours was ok too, a few days shy of a year from mailing to ceremony, also Ontario. Do they still leave them on a desk in Sydney for 6 months? I was under the understanding that the forms had to be forwarded to the regional office that would be dealing with your application within 6 months, hence why I ask if they stay on a desk until then, we heard from our local office very quickly after that point.

Re: Citizenship application
 

We're still waiting after over 3 years...... test was in August, we passed but still no ceremony :( Our application was sent in Oct 2010.

Re: Citizenship application
 

That someone who has lived in Canada for the requisite three years and presumably, before that, went through the TWP/PR process with associated beauracracy and is still surprised that their Citizenship application will take two years, made me smile.:D

Re: Citizenship application
 

Accept it. You are dealing with the Government of Canada.

Besides why pay more taxes just so that CIC can staff up and process Citizenship Application faster. Definitely more pressing concerns out there.

Re: Citizenship application
 

Thanks for the input .... I didn't express any surprise....I was simply expressing my view that it shouldn't NEED to take such a long period of time.

Steve

Re: Citizenship application
 

Can't help but agree with you! I understand, and accept, that the whole immigration process is extremely bogged down. If the backlogs were able to be dealt with, then the processes would obviously take less time.

"Accept it"..... I have no choice....but I don't have to like it!

It isn't exactly rocket science .....it should be possible to process applications within a six month period. Just because it is the Government of Canada, doesn't make it acceptable.

Steve

Re: Citizenship application
 

I agree - if it was MPs expenses you can bet your life it wouldn't take that long. IT's not as if we're not already well and truly in the system.

Re: Citizenship application
 

Or if you owed taxes would it take them 3 years to process??

Re: Citizenship application
 

Hi,

I sent mine on New Years Eve - and also in BC!

I was eager to get mine in as I was worried they were going to change the pre-requisites.

Sarah

Re: Citizenship application
 

Spoke to someone I know who works at CIC. It's a total shambles the way they operate. They've hired a lot of short term staff but didn't give them proper training.
I think 2 years is being optimistic.

Re: Citizenship application
 

So how do you explain the speedy processing we had, May 2013 posted, Jan 2, 2014 Oath day :confused:

Re: Citizenship application
 

It depends on who processes your application, some can be strict whereas others can be more relaxed. It's all about luck.
I received an RQ and it was processed within 4 months whereas for most people it's taking 4 years. Because of the amount of backlog that they've accumulated and the number of RQs they are sending, it's going to quite some time to get the job done.

Re: Citizenship application
 

Thanks for your input......makes me feel so much better!;) Seriously, though.....these people are PLAYING with peoples lives.....they should be taking the whole matter very seriously indeed. There is, and can be, no excuse for the treatment they dish out. Problem is that the backlogs should never have been allowed to get out of control to this extent.

We all are only too aware that the Government of Canada wants something from us.....they want it in a timely fashion.........or else!!

Steve

Re: Citizenship application
 

It took you less than two months to get your Spousal PR, and you are moaning that it's guna take years for Citizenship even though you are only 4 days into this process ? Duhh !!

Re: Citizenship application
 

.....yes.......well duh to you too! I have no complaints about the process for getting my PR. I believe that this timeframe was very good. It goes to show that it IS possible to deal with these matters in a timely fashion. I would point out that my PR application was under Spousal Sponsorship.....almost certainly the easiest to process.

I guess that, if you were told tomorrow that you needed surgery to correct an annoying issue, but that it would be 2 years before they could undertake said surgery, you would simply wait for two years before complaining about the wait? .......I suspect NOT.

Either way.....I feel fully justified in commenting about this issue which is very important TO ME. I know that it is possible to deal with these issues more rapidly than is currently the case.

I appreciate your input.....even if I don't accept what you have to say!

Steve

Re: Citizenship application
 

Hopefully it will be processed as fast as mine and many others who were processed via Mississauga. They may surprise you yet again ? Good luck

Re: Citizenship application
 

Surgery is probably a little more critical to ones health. The two are in completely different contexts.

Why is citizenship so important to you? It's just another passport and a vote in the most irrelevant election in the Western World. The benefits are not that significant.

You didn't do much to earn your PR and it came quickly so why not be happy you are here. There are people in the immigration section who for some bizarre reason would love to swap places with you.

Re: Citizenship application
 

+ 1

Re: Citizenship application
 

Thanks,JM.....I tried to make a point....that's all...no suggestion that the contexts are in any way similar.

As for your second paragraph....I simply don't accept your views. You may well see it that way....I most certainly do not!

I did what I had to do to get my PR......no more....no less. Yes, I may be fortunate that it took so little time....and I am VERY HAPPY that I'm here. But that is not my issue. I will be very proud when I am able to think of myself as a Canadian...and to suggest that it is hardly of importance may well be true for you....but not for me!

Steve

Re: Citizenship application
 

What's the goddam hurry? You're already a PR, the only differences between that and being a citizen is that you can vote, that you're no longer subject to 2 out of 5 years residency requirement and that if you commit a heinous criminal offence you don't get deported.

Which is it that you're so keen to do?

Re: Citizenship application
 

Welcome to the new Canadian Government and their priorities.
With CIC being literally swamped with applications for citizenship, temporary resident visas, work permits, study permits, PR applications and a host of others you are seriously not suggesting that CIC hire more workers are you?
They have just laid off over 1000 CIC employees over the last 2 years and you wonder why applications come to a standstill.

Re: Citizenship application
 

I guess that's for me to know .....and you to figure out!

Re: Citizenship application
 

No.....I understand all of that! It's not that I'm not aware......it's that I don't wish to accept the way things are going. It seems that you are not happy too.....albeit from a different perspective.

If the government wishes to solicit immigrants to this country, then they should make sure that they have the systems and people in place to ensure that they can cope with the demands placed upon them.

Per se, in so many ways, it really makes no difference to me.....but the system is clearly broken and should be repaired.

Steve

Re: Citizenship application
 

Well give me a clue please.

Re: Citizenship application
 

Does the government wish to solicit immigrants?

It needs to address skills shortages. It can do this by work permits and PR cards and it does have systems in place.

Citizenship and spousal sponsorships don't solve it.

Re: Citizenship application
 

It seems that it was your partner/wife who solicited you to immigrate?

And you can't start a sentence with "Per se".