Citizenship interview for seniors

[indicann]

Hi, my parents got a notice interview/verification of identity and documents. It's been almost a year after we applied for their citizenship. Is this common to receive this type of request?
They are seniors so they have passed the age of writing the test, and I'm not sure why they are being called for an interview at the Mississauga office. If anyone has any insight on (1) what kind of questions the officer will ask, (2) any tips on how to prepare them (3) their experience at the CIC Mississauga office, please let me know. Your prompt response will be greatly appreciated, thank you.

-R

 

[charmainefrances]

The interview is to verify their identity. That's it. Your parents will be asked to bring like PR card, health card or any valid id issued by your province (driver's license).

IO will probably ask them to sign a document. (asking if they were convicted or something, so they just need to click no and sign).



After this process, if everything's good then the oath invite will be next.

 

[JPBless]

Hi, my parents got a notice interview/verification of identity and documents. It's been almost a year after we applied for their citizenship. Is this common to receive this type of request? They are seniors so they have passed the age of writing the test, and I'm not sure why they are being called for an interview at the Mississauga office. If anyone has any insight on what they will ask or how to prepare them, please let me know. Your prompt response will be greatly appreciated, thank you.

-R

This is normal. The normal process is applicants take the test and next proceed to interview after they pass the written test. However, for applicants like your parents who are not required to take and pass knowledge test, they proceed straight to interview which is brief discussion with an officer. The originals of the documents your parents used to file the application are verified by the officer. This normally takes a few minutes and if all good the next step is invitation to oath. This is actually good news for your parents, it means they are inching closer to citizenship grant. Congrats to your parents.

 

[indicann]

The interview is to verify their identity. That's it. Your parents will be asked to bring like PR card, health card or any valid id issued by your province (driver's license).

IO will probably ask them to sign a document. (asking if they were convicted or something, so they just need to click no and sign).



After this process, if everything's good then the oath invite will be next.

The interview is to verify their identity. That's it. Your parents will be asked to bring like PR card, health card or any valid id issued by your province (driver's license).

IO will probably ask them to sign a document. (asking if they were convicted or something, so they just need to click no and sign).



After this process, if everything's good then the oath invite will be next.

Thank you for your reply. Do you know what kind of questions do they ask?

 

[indicann]

This is normal. The normal process is applicants take the test and next proceed to interview after they pass the written test. However, for applicants like your parents who are not required to take and pass knowledge test, they proceed straight to interview which is brief discussion with an officer. The originals of the documents your parents used to file the application are verified by the officer. This normally takes a few minutes and if all good the next step is invitation to oath. This is actually good news for your parents, it means they are inching closer to citizenship grant. Congrats to your parents.

Thank you for your reply. Do you know what kind of questions do they ask?

 

[charmainefrances]

Thank you for your reply. Do you know what kind of questions do they ask?

It could be anything. There are IO that's really chatty. It could be anything under the sun.. But most definitely it's just to verify their identity. It could last for like 5 minutes. It's really not a hard "interview".

 

[JPBless]

Thank you for your reply. Do you know what kind of questions do they ask?

Nothing serious... some people get asked... how did you get here? Followed by document verification. If you can imagine a 5-minute interview. Just don't worry about it, your parents will be fine (as long as the stamps in their passports match the physical presence calculator).

 

[pintu4]

By the way, you can accompany your parents and answer on their behalf if you feel that they can't answer. Can you please share their timeline?

 

[zardoz]

By the way, you can accompany your parents and answer on their behalf if you feel that they can't answer. Can you please share their timeline?

That's not entirely accurate. You can be there but it's them that are being interviewed. If the accompanying person is too involved, they may be asked to leave the interview.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/canadian-citizenship/admininistration/decisions/interviewing-adult-applicants.html

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/interview/interpreter/officers-accompanying-persons-instructions-case-processing-agents.html

During the proceedings
When to cease the use of an accompanying person
Citizenship officers and case processing agents have the discretion to end the participation of an accompanying person at any time. The following situations may be grounds for the officer or case processing agent to ask an accompanying person to leave the proceedings:

• the accompanying person is assisting an applicant and seems to be providing the answers to or on behalf of the applicant;
• the accompanying person is disruptive;
• the accompanying person takes notes;
• the citizenship officer or the case processing agent becomes aware that the accompanying person has a citizenship application in progress. In these instances, the officer or the case processing agent may wish to assess if asking the accompanying person to leave the interview or hearing session would cause any hardship to the applicant.

If the citizenship officer or the case processing agent ends the participation of the accompanying person, the officer or the case processing agent may ask the applicant if they would like to

• proceed without the accompanying person; or
• have the proceedings rescheduled and bring a different accompanying person.

The officer’s or the case processing agent’s notes should be placed on the applicant’s file and in GCMS to document what has transpired.

 

[pintu4]

No, anyone can be accompanying person and interpreter depending on the need except the person whose application is now on the process. If you act as an interpreter for someone you don't need to disruptive as you are explaining everything in your mother tongue to the person you are accompanying and convey his/her message in English to the interviewer.Only a problem if you sign the oath only as an accompanying person and not as an interpreter then you can't talk.