2023 Citizenship Applications

[dreamingmigrant]

Well here's the good and bad thing is everyone's situation is different. We can't know if those 2024 AORs are On Hold, already close to completion or stuck for different reasons and the mandamus may or may not have anything to do with the whole situation. The other side of the coin is who knows what's going on with my situation. I haven't had any of the flags that everyone seemed to have, heck, I haven't even got a fp request at all. The last time I did fingerprints was for PR. I passed the test one try, never been asked for interview or more information. Only now my status is on hold and under some kind of investigation? What gives? I've talked to a lawyer (again - she talked me out of doing mandamus) that IRCC won't disclose why are cases on hold until the court. So...I really think the money for first stage, second stage, however many stages, the court...I can buy happiness more than trying to fight for something that I didn't do wrong to start with.

I get your point, but with all due respect, what will you do if they don't process your file? What if another year goes by? You must have some sort of a mental limit on how long you're willing to wait it out? Personally speaking, I am way too anxious to have as much patience as you do; I would still do at least something if I was in your shoes. You didn't start this mess but you still got to deal with it. Maybe you have a strong passport that still allows you visa free access to different countries?

Because many -- if not most of us -- have passports that aren't even worth the paper they're printed on. Perhaps that changes things in the equation.

 

[Seym]

I get your point, but with all due respect, what will you do if they don't process your file? What if another year goes by? You must have some sort of a mental limit on how long you're willing to wait it out? Personally speaking, I am way too anxious to have as much patience as you do; I would still do at least something if I was in your shoes. You didn't start this mess but you still got to deal with it. Maybe you have a strong passport that still allows you visa free access to different countries?

Because many -- if not most of us -- have passports that aren't even worth the paper they're printed on. Perhaps that changes things in the equation.

While I understand the sentiment, it's not needed to tell others to spend good money while even a lawyer they spoke with told them not to.
Unless there's a very good reason to completely put an application aside (example : cessation proceedings that may take years and years), most applications get eventually finalized, and there's no reason to think @GFLiam application processing isn't ongoing, and will be finalized at some point that odds say is getting closer every day. I saw elsewhere a report of a person who got their oath ceremony after nearly 3 years of processing, and @GFLiam is getting close to that...
Mandamus is a personal decision to discuss with a lawyer and a lawyer only, and people on this forum just don't know the specifics of an application to form and educated opinion on what someone else should do.

 

[dreamingmigrant]

While I understand the sentiment, it's not needed to tell others to spend good money while even a lawyer they spoke with told them not to.
Unless there's a very good reason to completely put an application aside (example : cessation proceedings that may take years and years), most applications get eventually finalized, and there's no reason to think @GFLiam 's is ongoing, and will be finalized at some point that odds say is getting closer every day. I saw elsewhere a report of a person who got their oath ceremony after nearly 3 years of processing, and @GFLiam is getting close to that...
Mandamus is a personal decision to discuss with a lawyer and a lawyer only, and people on this forum just don't know the specifics of an application to form and educated opinion on what someone else should do.

It's a public forum where people come to get different opinions and viewpoints, so it's certainly "needed" that they get different opinions. It's a personal decision at the end of the day but people have seen (limited) results from it. You don't own this forum nor do you decide what can and can't be posted here.

 

[Seym]

Also, if someone is stuck due to 13.1, aka for "serious" reasons, and not the blanket "security checks are ongoing", the mandamus process isn't gonna help.

 

[Seym]

It's a public forum where people come to get different opinions and viewpoints, so it's certainly "needed" that they get different opinions. It's a personal decision at the end of the day but people have seen (limited) results from it. You don't own this forum nor do you decide what can and can't be posted here.

With all due respect : "At one point in time, if they do not process your app, you have no choice than to pay the blood sucking lawyers for the mandamus to get the justice you deserve." isn't an opinion, or at least isn't expressed as such, especially that there absolutely are people who got their citizenship in 3 years. It may be what works for you, but don't put the onus on others to do the same. Silent people read this and may overly stress...
You're right I don't own the forum, but I dont think contradicting a lawyer should be an opinion given so easily when there's good money in the balance. Feel free to say what you would do in a situation, not what others should do when the actual thing you're telling them to do is literally to sue the government.

 

[dreamingmigrant]

With all due respect : "At one point in time, if they do not process your app, you have no choice than to pay the blood sucking lawyers for the mandamus to get the justice you deserve." isn't an opinion, or at least isn't expressed as such, especially that there absolutely are people who got their citizenship in 3 years. It may be what works for you, but don't put the onus on others to do the same. Silent people read this and may overly stress...
You're right I don't own the forum, but I dont think contradicting a lawyer should be an opinion given so easily when there's good money in the balance. Feel free to say what you would do in a situation, not what others should do when the actual thing you're telling them to do is literally to sue the government.

It is an opinion; I was empathizing with what the guy is going through. it's not like he's gonna make a decision to do what he needs to do after listening to me. I'm not holding his hand. Are you serious lol.

And you're not a moderator. If I didn't say anything vulgar, rude or violent, I have a right to express that opinion. Don't act like you own the place.

 

[armoured]

it's not like he's gonna make a decision to do what he needs to do after listening to me.

True that.

 

[stuckinsec]

You know, folks—I wouldn’t have an issue if someone chooses not to file a Mandamus application because they prefer a more mind peaceful route (like in my case), or because their situation isn’t urgent (as I believe is the case for GFLiam).

While it’s ultimately none of my business, I’ve noticed that many 2024 applicants have filed Mandamus applications to push their cases forward. As a result, even the initial response timelines have shifted from 30 to 75 days. It’s frustrating, but at the end of the day, everyone is free to make their own decisions and is aware of their options.

We can suggest and advise, but this is a deeply personal choice.

 

[Seym]

There is no arrogance in saying that, if someone actually spoke to a lawyer, it's better to take the backseat and not tell them that what the lawyer suggested is wrong. You may have that opinion but it's based on what, a hunch?

Obviously, no "opinion" on the internet should sway an adult one direction or the other, but the only worthy opinion on mandamus is to potentially invite people to maybe speak to a lawyer, which he did already, and may do again in the future. "Go for mandamus" in itself is pointless if you have no idea whether someone actually meets the Apotex criteria...

And the irrational fear is literally your own message. Given the very good odds that everything goes smoothly (and I wish you a smooth process!) there's no point dreading something that didn't happen yet you know.

 

[dreamingmigrant]

There is no arrogance in saying that, if someone actually spoke to a lawyer, it's better to take the backseat and not tell them that what the lawyer suggested is wrong. You may have that opinion but it's based on what, a hunch?

Obviously, no "opinion" on the internet should sway an adult one direction or the other, but the only worthy opinion on mandamus is to potentially invite people to maybe speak to a lawyer, which he did already, and may do again in the future. "Go for mandamus" in itself is pointless if you have no idea whether someone actually meets the Apotex criteria...

And the irrational fear is literally your own message. Given the very good odds that everything goes smoothly (and I wish you a smooth process!) there's no point dreading something that didn't happen yet you know.

You went from being a mind reader back to the forum moderator. Are you looking for cheap thrills with your trolling?

The whole purpose of public forums is to get opinions on things. GFLiam is not bound by my opinion—or yours! He'll do what he wants.

But if I see some 2024 AORs making progress and I tell him " hey perhaps you should try to get a second opinion" on a public forum, you're not the one who's going to dictate what should and shouldn't be posted here. Hope you get that in your head.

 

[Seym]

But if I see some 2024 AORs making progress and I tell him " hey perhaps you should try to get a second opinion" on a public forum, you're not the one who's going to dictate what should and shouldn't be posted here. Hope you get that in your head.

Fair enough... And 2nd opinion of a professional is a far cry from "go for mandamus" after all. That we can agree on.
To be perfectly honest, for every "mandamus success story", there is also a counterbalance anecdotal story of people who just stayed put and got their oath in 2 3 years, and I'm not saying that for a particular member, it's something I'm struggling with myself. The reason I'm lurking on this specific thread is that my own spouse is a 2023 applicant stuck in SS for god knows what reason, and still on the fence over whether it's just gonna happen or whether a costly push may help what's gonna happen to happen potentially earlier (or potentially exactly at the same time, but with a lighter wallet, we never really know). Both doing absolutely nothing and lawyering up are potentially wise options, given that both led to oath ceremonies...
It's a complicated subject, and it's exactly because it's a complicated subject that I avoid the "you should advices", especially when good money is on the line. Sorry if I came as cold or insensitive, but I found your messages kinda "pushy" and it struck a chord . Doesn't really matter I suppose, nothing said in this forum really does anyway.
Anyway, done hijacking this. Wishing everyone here to, well, stop coming here...

 

[GFLiam]

It's certainly interesting to hear what everyone has to say about my situation and possibly a few others. For me specifically, the chat I had with that lawyer I kept bringing up was really eye opening. When I talked to her I had already talked on the phone with 2 other firms and both wanted some money ($1500-2000) for "initial consultation". This lawyer was the third firm that I talked to and if I was told bring $2000 or the call ends here, I may have already put up $2000. But this firm actually got a lawyer to spend 15min on the phone with me without charging a penny AND talked me out of spending any money because her recent experience told her nothing is moving with Mandamus. I am not a lawyer, but I am a professional with a license issued by a Canadian professional association, so I tend to take words from a person who has a professional license with more weight. Could that be a mistake? May be, but that's my choice. I haven't disclosed this, but as many people here do, I have a family and a child who has special needs. Spending thousands of dollars on some unknown is a big amount of money to consider and I've just been working for over 2 years without even going on a small vacation. Would I rather spend the couple of thousands to go on a small vacation to relief my stress that way? Absolutely. And again, that's my choice.

 

[armoured]

And again, that's my choice.

I fully understand your choice - I think it's a hard call with mandamus. I'm all for people trying, but it is hard to have visibility on whether it will serve any purpose.

For what it's worth, I shared some info on a recent podcast - Borderlines - where practicing immigration lawyers were discussing exaclty what you noted, that recently they have not been getting traction from mandamus demands, govt simply letting the applicants go to the court process. (I'm not arguing this point either way ... )

Good luck. While MPs can't directly affect anything, I still think worthwhile for them to be asked - sometimes that may work, if not, they should know. And it's free.

 

[mlh]

It's certainly interesting to hear what everyone has to say about my situation and possibly a few others. For me specifically, the chat I had with that lawyer I kept bringing up was really eye opening. When I talked to her I had already talked on the phone with 2 other firms and both wanted some money ($1500-2000) for "initial consultation". This lawyer was the third firm that I talk to and if I was told bring $2000 or the call ends here, I may have already put up $2000. But this firm actually got a lawyer to spend 15min on the phone with me without charging a penny AND talked me out of spending any money because her recent experience told her nothing is moving with Mandamus. I am not a lawyer, but I am a professional with a license issued by a Canadian professional association, I tend to take words from a person who has a professional license with more weight. Could that be a mistake? May be, but that's my choice. I haven't disclosed this, but as many people here do, I have a family and a child who has special needs. Spending thousands of dollars on some unknown is a big amount of money to consider and I've just been working for over 2 years without even going on a small vacation. Would I rather spend the couple of thousands to go on a small vacation to relief my stress that way? Absolutely. And again, that's my choice.

I have been following this forum for a while and wanted to share some information which might be helpful. I applied for my citizenship on June 2023 and my application was stuck in security screening for about 2 years. My application status was NOT on hold though. I finally decided to file for mandamus without a lawyer following the instruction in the following website

I had to pay $50 for submitting the Application for Leave and for Judicial Review (initial step for mandamus) in federal court online portal at the end of Apr 2025. After about 1 month I started the second step of mandamus following the instruction in the above link. I had no idea what I was doing and after submitting the documents for the second step of mandamus the federal court rejected my submission. As part of the second step of mandamus you need to submit documents to IRCC, IRCC lawyers and then federal court. Anyway, my security screening was completed on June 18 and my prohibition the next day.

I had my oath yesterday and I am going to apply for my passport today. I know how frustrating it is to postpone all your plans waiting for the result of your citizenship application. Just wanted to share my experience, I hope it would help.

 

[alex_under]

I have been following this forum for a while and wanted to share some information which might be helpful. I applied for my citizenship on June 2023 and my application was stuck in security screening for about 2 years. My application status was NOT on hold though. I finally decided to file for mandamus without a lawyer following the instruction in the following website

I had to pay $50 for submitting the Application for Leave and for Judicial Review (initial step for mandamus) in federal court online portal at the end of Apr 2025. After about 1 month I started the second step of mandamus following the instruction in the above link. I had no idea what I was doing and after submitting the documents for the second step of mandamus the federal court rejected my submission. As part of the second step of mandamus you need to submit documents to IRCC, IRCC lawyers and then federal court. Anyway, my security screening was completed on June 18 and my prohibition the next day.

I had my oath yesterday and I am going to apply for my passport today. I know how frustrating it is to postpone all your plans waiting for the result of your citizenship application. Just wanted to share my experience, I hope it would help.

Thanks for sharing. I'm just curious is that 24 month term starts from the SS beginning or from the AOR date?
Everyone is welcome to share their thoughts. Thanks.