ABW

According to this website:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/informa...processing.asp
It will take 5 months to JUST get some sort of conformation.
I am in Ottawa. I sent my application back in August 6, 2009 to Sydney, NS. No news no nothing. Any idea how long does it take? I am just curious. Thank you

iaink

Short answer...It depends.

The whole process takes about a year give or take. but each local office will have different processing times, so everyone has different experiences.

I would think you will get confirmation soon, but the 5 months is really only just passed.

JAJ

Did you send it by a secure method? Or was the payment taken? If you have no proof of delivery, it may be lost ...

ABW

I sent it by a secure method (the Canada Post tracking said it arrived in Sydney, NS on August 9, 2009). I don't know what happens next.
The payment hasn't been taken out of my credit card but I have that online payment proof.
I don't know what else to do.

Tuppence

We applied in June. We are in NS, sent it to Sydney like you. Only just got confirmation last week. Says it will take another 12-18 months, but based on everyone we know, probably more like 6 months till the test now.

fledermaus

It's crap really. You have to live here for longer as a PR and without the "right and privileges" of citizenship. Another example of incompetent Canadiana.

JAJ

Day to day, assuming you are living in Canada and not planning to leave immediately, does it really matter how long it takes to process the application?

ABW

My situation is rather unique. My job requires me to become a Canadian citizen.
DND gives me 1 year to show it starting August 2009. Now that it's already 2010, getting nervous....

JAJ

Talk to your superiors in DND ... either they will be happy to wait as long as you have an application in the system. Or if not, perhaps they could use official channels to ask CIC to prioritise your application.

fledermaus

Yes, because I would like to vote, to be able to have a say in who is in government. Seems reasonable to me, and rather important.

JAJ

It's reasonable ... once you are a citizen.

The reason for the waiting period is to ensure that people have a real commitment to Canada, and an understanding of Canada, before being permitted the full rights of citizenship.

In the meantime, you are still a permanent resident and not deprived of anything day to day.

PMM

Hi

To add one point, it used to be 5 years residency before you could apply for Citizenship and you couldn't count visitor time prior to PR as 1/2 time

fledermaus

I'm aware of the reasons for the waiting period and I will have passed that waiting period in April but will have to wait at least another 12 months before I can get that status and vote. They don't need 12 months to do all the checks they need to do. It's just badly managed crud as usual.

BTW voting affects day to day life, it's called democracy and I would like to to part in it in the country I live in.

JAJ

It's part of Canadian life, by all accounts. A lot of things take a long time to get processed. That said, they probably know many citizenship applicants really want to leave, so it may suit them to effectively add another 12-18 months to the residence requirement.

All in good time ... in the meantime, recommended to enjoy your life in Canada.