April 2025 - Citizenship Applications

[moscatojuices]

Okay fair points guys. It just offends me when someone chooses to switch from an in-person ceremony that they could reasonably attend to a virtual ceremony because of insane reasons like "yeah, the thing is I'm an introvert" or "oh, why drive and pay for parking?"

@abff08f4813c:

I'm not sure its correct to say I "got it a bit faster" because I'm in Saskatchewan. I was pretty much in line with the 12 month processing time. I applied in 23 April 2025. I took the Oath on 9 March. I now have to wait couple of weeks for the passport. I don't think your province affects your processing time, but of course it is IRCC and they are an imperfect beast who frequently process people who applied later, faster.

There were people who APPLIED IN JULY 2025 and were GLOATING on Facebook that they got their Canadian passports on CHRISTMAS FREAKING EVE!!!!!

They also asked me for significant additional information. I spent 2-3 whole days photocopying 2 x passports, writing a letter of explanation about why I forgot to mention an expired one in my application, and finding certified translators and paying them $60 to translate 2 stupid welcome/goodbye stamps in Russian and Spanish.

The Saskatoon office also did not respond to my request to reschedule email for AGES. In fact I reckon they missed it, so I did the smart thing of sending it to the Centralised Intake Office and got a response and interview rescheduled within 24 hours.

Final tip: Go to staples and ask them to replicate your PR card double sided and laminate it. That's what I basically did.

 

[abff08f4813c]

I'm not sure its correct to say I "got it a bit faster" because I'm in Saskatchewan. I was pretty much in line with the 12 month processing time. I applied in 23 April 2025. I took the Oath on 9 March. I now have to wait couple of weeks for the passport. I don't think your province affects your processing time

The Saskatoon office also did not respond to my request to reschedule email for AGES. In fact I reckon they missed it, so I did the smart thing of sending it to the Centralised Intake Office and got a response and interview rescheduled within 24 hours.

This makes sense - I suppose IRCC is more centralized. I do recall the Montreal VO being involved in my PR case a few times, even though I never lived there.

it is IRCC and they are an imperfect beast who frequently process people who applied later, faster.

There were people who APPLIED IN JULY 2025 and were GLOATING on Facebook that they got their Canadian passports on CHRISTMAS FREAKING EVE!!!!!

They also asked me for significant additional information. I spent 2-3 whole days photocopying 2 x passports, writing a letter of explanation about why I forgot to mention an expired one in my application

Ouch. As someone who applied earlier than you but is still waiting longer than you - I totally get how you feel.

I do find myself wondering something though - it seems like this request added a significant amount of time to your case. But you still made it in under the typical processing time. If you had avoided the mistake at the beginning, perhaps you would have been one of the x-mas eve folks?

I guess we'll never know.

Okay fair points guys. It just offends me when someone chooses to switch from an in-person ceremony that they could reasonably attend to a virtual ceremony because of insane reasons like "yeah, the thing is I'm an introvert" or "oh, why drive and pay for parking?"

Ahh - I get now. Yeah, this is a big important ceremony and life event. Someone who choses based on irrelevant or trivial factors - which they might regret later in life - I can see where you are coming from on that.

My take: everyone here is an adult (since we're not discussing citizenship of minors in this part of this thread). Thus, everyone is old enough to make their own decision - and live with the consequences. If they have regrets later, too bad, but there's no one to blame but themselves.

Now, onward to what I consider the most important part of your post:

Final tip: Go to staples and ask them to replicate your PR card double sided and laminate it. That's what I basically did.

THANK YOU!!! I'll take care of that this weekend.

 

[onward28332]

Anyone still waiting for Background / LPP?

Processing time for April 2025 updated to 2 months now, but does that even mean anything to us, the leftovers?

 

[abff08f4813c]

Anyone still waiting for Background / LPP?

Yup, me.

Processing time for April 2025 updated to 2 months now, but does that even mean anything to us, the leftovers?

I sure hope so ... I mean, we're technically still within normal processing times...right? .... *crickets chirping* .... Right???

 

[bassamkaaki]

Anyone still waiting for Background / LPP?

Processing time for April 2025 updated to 2 months now, but does that even mean anything to us, the leftovers?

I think those dates mean nothing! Practically, we are in the normal processing time until end of June. After June that is a different case altogether. Hoping an update takes place soon.

 

[onward28332]

Received my GCMS notes, under Security sub activites, it said Type: CIT CSIS Screening, Status: Received, any thoughts?

 

[bassamkaaki]

Received my GCMS notes, under Security sub activites, it said Type: CIT CSIS Screening, Status: Received, any thoughts?

“Type: CIT CSIS Screening, Status: Received” usually means the citizenship file has been referred to CSIS for a security screening request, and CSIS has acknowledged receiving it.

 

[afaisalnwo]

“Type: CIT CSIS Screening, Status: Received” usually means the citizenship file has been referred to CSIS for a security screening request, and CSIS has acknowledged receiving it.

I too have the same status. Lol
It looks like, waiting is only thing we can do,

 

[afaisalnwo]

Sad to see people are waiting since 2024... I pray, we don't face such delays.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ImmigrationCanada/comments/1l84x59/why_is_my_straightforward_citizenship_application

 

[dzx]

There is no guaranteed “straightforward application”. They can even randomly send some applications to detailed check for “quality control” purposes. Of course certain backgrounds are more likely to be checked but they are not the only cause.

Source: asked lawyer as I plan to go for mandamus at 24 month mark, currently at 12. The cost is considerable but not unbearable. For me getting it 5 months early would easily balance it out, it’s worthwhile to press them with litigation, and if enough people do it they may be forced to change their way.


The idea that they definitely need some suspicion to send your file to CSIS is plainly wrong. Per the citizenship act they can make everyone go through the detailed check until they are satisfied the applicant is not a threat. They chose not to based on a variety of factors, most importantly because it’s unnecessary and CSIS doesn’t have so much resources.

The idea that you should just wait is also IMO wrong, you should use every single way to press them. The lawyer suggested that if I move, I should also get the new place’s MP in the loop to maximize pressure on IRCC. It costs me nothing even if it’s unlikely to cause a movement, it also builds a case for mandamus. ATIP takes 2 minutes to apply, request one every 30 business days, if they ignore your request, don’t wait, apply again.

Before someone insists, acquiring citizenship as a foreigner is the privilege (but in practice treated more like a right for PRs, as IRCC doesn’t have much discretionary power). Having your application processed in a timely manner IS DEFINITELY A RIGHT, that’s why mandamus exists. You are entitled to constantly press them over this, and in my case I have strong interest to, because I now want to pursue other economic opportunities outside Canada

 

[abff08f4813c]

The idea that you should just wait is also IMO wrong, you should use every single way to press them. The lawyer suggested that if I move, I should also get the new place’s MP in the loop to maximize pressure on IRCC. It costs me nothing even if it’s unlikely to cause a movement, it also builds a case for mandamus. ATIP takes 2 minutes to apply, request one every 30 business days, if they ignore your request, don’t wait, apply again.

Before someone insists, acquiring citizenship as a foreigner is the privilege (but in practice treated more like a right for PRs, as IRCC doesn’t have much discretionary power). Having your application processed in a timely manner IS DEFINITELY A RIGHT, that’s why mandamus exists. You are entitled to constantly press them over this, and in my case I have strong interest to, because I now want to pursue other economic opportunities outside Canada

Agreed and well said. Even if one accepts for the sake of argument that citizenship is a privilege not a right, having your application processed in a timely manner is definitely a right separate from this.

It's not the first or last time I've seen garbage from spez's site. IC used to have really knowledge immigration lawyers and consultants back in the day (monalisa_gp or monalisa_gdp in particular) but since the blackout a couple of years ago they seem to have all left and the folks giving the most "advice" now don't really seem to know what they're talking about.

(To be more explicit, this is what I'm saying is completely off base:
> dan_marchant 1yr ago
>
> Applying for a writ of Mandamus won't help either because you can't force IRCC to do what they are supposed to... When they are already do it. You can't force them to stop a background check and make a decision and if you could they would just reject the application on the grounds that the background check wasn't completed.)

As you correctly point out mandamus (when properly timed and with the assistant of a competent and experienced lawyer) does indeed help - either they have to move the app forward or justify to a judge why they can't move it.

Also, I wanna say that there's no existing law to allow them to reject an app just because a background check did not come back and they are still waiting - rather if you push and ask they have to explain what they are waiting for, but to imply that asking for mandamus will result in your citizenship app being rejected ... completely nonsense. Now I am reminded why i don't visit that garbage website anymore.

Source: asked lawyer as I plan to go for mandamus at 24 month mark

Same here. Though, problem is I have too many ties to the wrong country (US of A), which I suspect is the true cause of all the holdups in my case... (like i wouldn't be surprised if their system is in such a shambles that they probably are essentially and basically just ignoring all bg checks or something from ircc nowadays). Still - worst case scenario, it'd be nice to at least get that on record.