17 months and nothing. No test, nothing. Called cic last week and was told ( my processing time is within the normal time frame! ) I told the call center agent it's pathetic. here reply was " thats your opinion and we have 8 months too set your test date after we sent it to your local office! We then have up to another 8 months to set your oath date. "
Sorry but if thats the best time frame CIC can offer then its a broken and $hitty system that in need of an overhaul to the procedures.
Seems to me that they should be able to process citizenship applications faster then they do, seems to me citizenship applications should be fairly simple to process and verify.
Yeah, they should, but unfortunately there's no real urgency. As a PR eligible for citizenship you can come and go from Canada, work, etc... except for voting and being exempt from the residency requirement not a great deal changes by getting citizenship, so of course CIC prioritises resources to other things.
I'm not defending them of course - almost all the processing times are appalling, and many are getting significantly worse:
http://carroll.org.uk/cic/
(09-20-2010 04:26 PM)matthewc Wrote: [ -> ]Yeah, they should, but unfortunately there's no real urgency. As a PR eligible for citizenship you can come and go from Canada, work, etc... except for voting and being exempt from the residency requirement not a great deal changes by getting citizenship, so of course CIC prioritises resources to other things.
I'm not defending them of course - almost all the processing times are appalling, and many are getting significantly worse:
http://carroll.org.uk/cic/
I think they just need to revamp and hire and redo the entire way things are processed, I dont have an answer as to what needs to be done, but I am sure the government could hire an outside company to come in and revamp the entire system to be more efficient then it is currently.
Oooh dont forget working for the federal government, its pretty near impossible to do so as a permanent resident.
You'd think the politicians would want some new voters, faster they get those applications out the faster people can vote...lol I guess it depends what party you are though...lol
Actually you're quite right. Funnily enough (since I forgot to mention it) opening up the possibility of working for the federal government down the line was one of the main reasons I decided to apply for citizenship as soon as I became eligible.
(09-21-2010 12:53 AM)matthewc Wrote: [ -> ]Actually you're quite right. Funnily enough (since I forgot to mention it) opening up the possibility of working for the federal government down the line was one of the main reasons I decided to apply for citizenship as soon as I became eligible.
Thats why I am kicking myself for not applying before, was gonna try and get a government job once I had it, but my move kind of delayed my citizenship another 3 years....Live and Learn.
What I find frustrating about the processing time being so outrageously long is that you can't pre-submit your application in anticipation of qualification. I mean, I understand why they do it that way, but I wish you could get the application in the queue, then have them contact you when they open it, to get the signed declaration of physical presence.
I think voting is such an important part of living in our society that it frustrates me when people kind of dismiss the notion of obtaining citizenship. I get a lot of "Why would you care when he gets it? It's not like citizenship changes anything" types of comments.
Funny story about the voting: we're coming up on municipal elections here in Ontario, and my husband is currently working from home, so he's home during the day when politicians drop by. One of the candidates for mayor stopped by to chat and drop off a leaflet. Hubby said "I'll tell you right now, I won't be voting for you." Guy, somewhat taken aback, says "Why? Have I done something wrong? I'd like to know what I can do to get your support." Hubby explains to him that he isn't a citizen, but he'll certainly pass the pamphlet off to his wife, who is a citizen. :)
You misunderstood me a bit - I wasn't saying voting doesn't matter, just that - in terms of CIC's theoretical priorities - enabling people to vote is lower down the list than reunifying families. Like I said, I'm not defending CIC. Voting is very important, although equally it's true that you can probably be more influential in politics if you're active and volunteer to get out the vote, support candidates you believe in, etc, as a PR who can't vote than most citizens who can ever will be.
Another funny story: I worked as a voting clerk in the BC provincial elections last time. I found it amusing that I could be entirely responsible for a ballot box, basically ensuring that democracy was following due process, and count hundreds and hundreds of votes, but not cast one myself.
(09-21-2010 03:21 PM)matthewc Wrote: [ -> ]You misunderstood me a bit - I wasn't saying voting doesn't matter, just that - in terms of CIC's theoretical priorities - enabling people to vote is lower down the list than reunifying families. Like I said, I'm not defending CIC. Voting is very important, although equally it's true that you can probably be more influential in politics if you're active and volunteer to get out the vote, support candidates you believe in, etc, as a PR who can't vote than most citizens who can ever will be.
Don't worry, I wasn't misunderstanding you, and I wasn't really replying to you directly. :) I totally get that you're not defending them, and I also totally get that reunifying families is a higher priority. I've just had other people in my day-to-day life dismiss my annoyance with the timeline.
(09-21-2010 03:21 PM)matthewc Wrote: [ -> ]Another funny story: I worked as a voting clerk in the BC provincial elections last time. I found it amusing that I could be entirely responsible for a ballot box, basically ensuring that democracy was following due process, and count hundreds and hundreds of votes, but not cast one myself.
It's a funny world, isn't it?
Check out how fast its processed in Australia! And Canada cant even do it in 18 months! This is from the Australian immigration website!
Australian Citizenship Processing Times
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For standard adult applications - persons aged 16 or over - for Australian citizenship by conferral (also known as grant of citizenship, or formerly as naturalisation), there is a three stage process:
Application for Australian citizenship through a DIAC office;
Pass the Citizenship Test (unless aged 16-18, or 60+, in which case you are exempt, or you passed a test before 9 November 2009);
Following approval of the citizenship application, attend a citizenship ceremony at your local council where you become an Australian citizen (or occasionally, an alternative venue will be offered).
If you are applying for Australian citizenship by descent, resumption of citizenship, or a special grant of Australian citizenship (children of former Australian citizens or certain persons born in Papua), there is only a single stage to the process. No citizenship test or citizenship ceremony is required in these instances.
Avoiding Delays
There are a number of ways to avoid a delay in processing your citizenship application:
If you have spent time outside Australia since obtaining permanent residence (or if you are an "eligible" New Zealand citizen) then you may need an overseas police check. Police checks are normally valid for 12 months, so if you obtain one a few months in advance of your citizenship application, it should be in good time.
Make sure all documentation is up to date. If birth certificates, passports etc. have been lost - get new ones.
Do not apply for citizenship until you are residentially qualified. There are a few exceptions to this rule, but not many.
DIAC Processing Times
DIAC's Annual Report shows that in the 2007/08 year, 85% of applications were decided within 90 days, with 23% decided on the same day.
The main reasons for delay of applications are:
if it takes longer than usual for DIAC to do an Australian police check (this is a matter of luck, if your name coincides with a person with a criminal record, it will have to be checked more carefully);
if an overseas police check is required but not supplied;
certain documents are missing;
the application does not meet the standard residence requirement and has to wait for review at a senior level before it can be approved.
the applicant has to reschedule an appointment for testing or interview. Do not miss your appointment without advising DIAC in advance.
Before November 2009, most people who have supplied all documentation in advance are approved within 4-6 weeks. This is much quicker than in most comparable countries. The new requirement to sit the Citizenship Test after application may change this somewhat.
Citizenship Ceremonies
These are organised by local councils, mainly.
Some councils are very good at doing ceremonies, others are not.
DIAC policy, Chapter 6 of the Australian Citizenship Instructions states that the ceremony wait should be about 8 weeks. However, in reality, most people wait longer - about 3-6 months is usual.
Technically, again under DIAC policy, if your council cannot do a ceremony for you within 8 weeks, then you may be able to ask to attend a Department ceremony. In reality, DIAC will not usually offer a Department ceremony unless there is a good reason (in their opinion, not yours).
Department ceremonies are less "ceremonial" than those of local councils and it is usually not possible to bring guests.
If your council doesn't have enough ceremonies, you could try speaking to your local councillor.
You normally have to attend a citizenship ceremony within 12 months of approval of your application. If you don't, and you don't have a good reason, your approval can be cancelled. You almost certainly will be offered a ceremony date well before this time.
Your approval can also be cancelled (before the ceremony) for other reasons, such as criminal or security reasons, or if it comes to light that you were not eligible in the first place. You do not legally become an Australian citizen until you attend your ceremony.
Children aged under 16 become Australian citizens when the relevant responsible parent attends a ceremony. Such children do not have to attend a ceremony but are welcome to do so.
Travel Overseas after Application
You can travel overseas for a vacation after you apply.
However your application cannot be approved while you are outside Australia (unless certain exceptions, such as the spouse of an Australian citizen). You must advise DIAC of overseas travel in this period.
If you leave Australia permanently or on a long term basis, your approval could be cancelled if the Department believes you are no longer likely to live in Australia or maintain a "close and continuing association with Australia" (an Australian spouse may in some circumstances be acceptable).
Citizenship ceremonies are usually not available offshore, unless one has an acceptable reason to be overseas in the first place.
Overall Processing Time & Priority Consideration
Between processing time at DIAC and waiting for a citizenship ceremony, the average wait seems to be 6-9 months. This is still less than in most countries.
DIAC do not usually give priority processing to applications, except in compelling circumstances.
For example, if you need Australian citizenship for employment (with request from employer) or to represent Australia internationally. ** Needing to travel overseas or access HECS funding are not usually acceptable reasons.
Interesting. I wonder if we'll see citizenship timelines improve.
I actually feel more sorry for anyone sponsoring their parents. CPC-M is not even treading water with those apps at the moment. i.e. they're receiving them about 25% faster than they can process them, and the backlog is well over 3 years now.
http://carroll.org.uk/cic/class/1
I take it you're not tracking the citizenship processing timelines? I don't see them on
this page. It would be interesting to monitor and see if they go down in the next 6 months or so. I guess if they do go down, I'll at least find out because it would mean my husband's app won't be waiting until next November.
There's not really any way to do it in the same way as for the "inland" processing times, as they don't regularly process an "up to" date for citizenship apps. I wish they did.
It would be possible to record the (very general) times they do have recorded for citizenship, and see how those change, but wouldn't show anywhere near the same detail as the inland apps.
Same thing with overseas processing of apps at visa offices - they just give a vague range of months and only update it a few times a year.
If I get bored one afternoon I'll see about adding it.