October 11th 2017 - Citizenship Applicants under 3/5 rule

[ersar]

I don’t wait anymore... whatever they do with my application I just no longer care

18 month its crazy! Why they just can’t make a decision what’s the big deal with being a CA citizen.

 

[sarafandee]

I don’t wait anymore... whatever they do with my application I just no longer care

I am 17 month now, right behind you. I wish I could act like I don't care anymore, it's not easy.

 

[nazam80]

Hi everyone,

I thought I should share this.
So in my case, its been almost 18 months since CIC received my application. It has been over 11 months since I had my test and interview.
I have made several calls and also GCMC notes. Finally a few months back I requested my CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Services) file regarding my background checks. I received the file from CSIS today which indicated that my background checks and screening were done a long time ago in fact about 12 months ago. Since then every time when I called, the CIC agent told me that it's under security and Background checks which was completely wrong information. I have forwarded the CSIS report to Minister of Immigration and ask for clarification why the CIC agents are telling the wrong information. I had the names of over 12 agents since my application is with CIC. I am not sure how much difference this will make but if worst come worst I will be happy at least I did my part.

Thanks,

 

[Afarp]

Hi everyone,

I thought I should share this.
So in my case, its been almost 18 months since CIC received my application. It has been over 11 months since I had my test and interview.
I have made several calls and also GCMC notes. Finally a few months back I requested my CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Services) file regarding my background checks. I received the file from CSIS today which indicated that my background checks and screening were done a long time ago in fact about 12 months ago. Since then every time when I called, the CIC agent told me that it's under security and Background checks which was completely wrong information. I have forwarded the CSIS report to Minister of Immigration and ask for clarification why the CIC agents are telling the wrong information. I had the names of over 12 agents since my application is with CIC. I am not sure how much difference this will make but if worst come worst I will be happy at least I did my part.

Thanks,

it is good to know , I am Oct 16th 2017 applicant , with out no test , since March 5th 2018 Inprocess ever time I call they tell me still in background check ?
so please if you can copy and paste for me the letter you sent to Csis , I don't know what to say
please send for me the copy of tge letter you sent , offcourse after you remove your personal info.
thank you

 

[Afarp]

including the csis mailing address too
thank you

 

[Mehran1]

Hi everyone,

I thought I should share this.
So in my case, its been almost 18 months since CIC received my application. It has been over 11 months since I had my test and interview.
I have made several calls and also GCMC notes. Finally a few months back I requested my CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Services) file regarding my background checks. I received the file from CSIS today which indicated that my background checks and screening were done a long time ago in fact about 12 months ago. Since then every time when I called, the CIC agent told me that it's under security and Background checks which was completely wrong information. I have forwarded the CSIS report to Minister of Immigration and ask for clarification why the CIC agents are telling the wrong information. I had the names of over 12 agents since my application is with CIC. I am not sure how much difference this will make but if worst come worst I will be happy at least I did my part.

Thanks,

Unfortunately there is no transparency. I am in the same boat too. Passed 19 months from beginning and 13 months from test. I talked to the MP last month and she told me your file has been done a few months ago and you are in queue for the oath . Unfortunately I am still process even I passed all steps !!!. I called several times that what's going on, my process has been done months a go ,why still showing in process. They indicate that all phase has been complete . But nothing change yet .

 

[itsmyid]

Hi everyone,

I thought I should share this.
So in my case, its been almost 18 months since CIC received my application. It has been over 11 months since I had my test and interview.
I have made several calls and also GCMC notes. Finally a few months back I requested my CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Services) file regarding my background checks. I received the file from CSIS today which indicated that my background checks and screening were done a long time ago in fact about 12 months ago. Since then every time when I called, the CIC agent told me that it's under security and Background checks which was completely wrong information. I have forwarded the CSIS report to Minister of Immigration and ask for clarification why the CIC agents are telling the wrong information. I had the names of over 12 agents since my application is with CIC. I am not sure how much difference this will make but if worst come worst I will be happy at least I did my part.

Thanks,

There’s no use - they’d tell you background check is not just CSIS, but also other agencies such as CBSA and RCMP, and just because it was done doesn’t mean they won’t need to do it again. I am getting a second round of check by RCMP myself

And good luck with contacting the minister - I did that too, only got the same generic copy/paste reply a month later - unless you are a refugee, there’s a good chance nobody from that office would look at your inquiry

 

[dpenabill]

Hi everyone,

I thought I should share this.
So in my case, its been almost 18 months since CIC received my application. It has been over 11 months since I had my test and interview.
I have made several calls and also GCMC notes. Finally a few months back I requested my CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Services) file regarding my background checks. I received the file from CSIS today which indicated that my background checks and screening were done a long time ago in fact about 12 months ago. Since then every time when I called, the CIC agent told me that it's under security and Background checks which was completely wrong information. I have forwarded the CSIS report to Minister of Immigration and ask for clarification why the CIC agents are telling the wrong information. I had the names of over 12 agents since my application is with CIC. I am not sure how much difference this will make but if worst come worst I will be happy at least I did my part.

Thanks,

Notwithstanding a lot of noise and other interference in the forum (including a near continuous hum of venting from some forum participants), it is well understood that the majority of applications suffering slow processing are simply sitting in a queue waiting for a processing agent, or for those who have taken the test and interview, for either a processing agent or Citizenship Officer, to take the next step, whatever step is next for that applicant.

The applicant is waiting, waiting in line. Which these days tends to be a long line getting longer. That is it. No more complicated than that.

And Help Centre agents rarely have any more information than that. No matter how much the applicant pushes for more of an explanation.

While we do not know for sure what the Call Centre agents actually see when they access an applicant's GCMS records, it is very likely they see the same, or the same and not much more, than what the applicant will see in a copy of his or her GCMS obtained by ATIP request. NOT MUCH. NOT particularly informative. Generally (with some exceptions) obtaining GCMS records is NOT informative. (Probably makes some feel better that they are doing something, even if actually that is NOT doing anything that will help, but that is all it is.)

How many ways can Help Centre agents say sorry, it's a long line, be patient? Especially when many of those calling want or DEMAND something more than that?

It is well apparent that the Help Centre agents express this, basically "you need to wait," in various ways, and many times their stock responses tend to include something similar to "waiting for background check."

And technically this is probably true. NOT because a particular background clearance is not yet completed by the respective agency. Rather it is probably true because the processing agent or Citizenship Officer handling the application has not taken the step in the process which includes checking off completed background checks.

That is, often CSIS and RCMP have submitted their clearances, but those clearances have not been recorded as complete in the applicant's GCMS. And will not be until either a processing agent or Citizenship Officer takes that step. In the meantime, for most (again, not all, but most) that simply means waiting . . . and these days the wait appears to be getting longer and longer.

The status of the formal clearances (CSIS and RCMP) is often somewhat similar to the status of submitted applications prior to AOR. The application has arrived at CPC-Sydney. It is there. A complete application. BUT the applicant's record does NOT yet show it there. There is nothing to show the application is actually there until a processing agent opens the application and does the completeness check and enters the receipt of the application into GCMS. Often this timeline is two or three months, but at times it has been longer, several months long. Bottom-line, the application is received but NOT acknowledged as received.

It is often similar with the formal clearances. The respective agency has submitted it to the applicant's file, but the responsible processing agent may not acknowledge the clearance as received for some time after that, not until the next step is being taken with the application . . . which these days can be a long while, many applicants now seeing timelines going well beyond a year.

BUT EVEN if GCMS shows the formal clearances as completed, in a general sense there is ALWAYS A BACKGROUND CHECK which is not yet complete, because IRCC mandates a GCMS background check every time any substantive action is taken on the application. Thus, for example, even after all the steps in the application process have been completed, before the applicant is scheduled to take the oath, internal policy requires ANOTHER GCMS background check. Thus, until the applicant is actually scheduled to take the oath, a Help Centre agent can truthfully say that a background check still needs to be completed.

But (with some exceptions) overall it is simply what many in this forum remind the impatient again and again: you are in line, currently a rather slow line. Waiting, waiting and watching for notices from IRCC, is about all the applicant can do.

(In another topic I have suggested that for some applicants the timeline might be approaching reason to initiate formal demands which are preliminary steps toward pursuing Mandamus . . . but that is an expensive and in itself time-consuming process which offers no guarantees and typically will, AT BEST, and only sometimes, accelerate the outcome by a little. A lawyer is needed for this, even for just the formal demand step (which is a prerequisite to seeking a Mandamus Writ); in the past, at least, CIC/IRCC has tended to brush off or totally ignore formal demands unless they come from a lawyer. I am NOT suggesting it is time for anyone in particular to pursue Mandamus, as yet, but am noting that if inaction on an application is such that it amounts to a de facto denial, there are avenues in which to pursue a remedy.)

 

[cn2017]

Hi everyone,

I thought I should share this.
So in my case, its been almost 18 months since CIC received my application. It has been over 11 months since I had my test and interview.
I have made several calls and also GCMC notes. Finally a few months back I requested my CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Services) file regarding my background checks. I received the file from CSIS today which indicated that my background checks and screening were done a long time ago in fact about 12 months ago. Since then every time when I called, the CIC agent told me that it's under security and Background checks which was completely wrong information. I have forwarded the CSIS report to Minister of Immigration and ask for clarification why the CIC agents are telling the wrong information. I had the names of over 12 agents since my application is with CIC. I am not sure how much difference this will make but if worst come worst I will be happy at least I did my part.

Thanks,

Great job my friend, I did the same thing and complained, you know what, if IRSS does whatever they want and lie or give BS answers to people and no one says anything then they will never get fixed. If more people question thier unprofessionalism they will have to improve.

 

[itsmyid]

Great job my friend, I did the same thing and complained, you know what, if IRSS does whatever they want and lie or give BS answers to people and no one says anything then they will never get fixed. If more people question thier unprofessionalism they will have to improve.

Lol, no they won’t

 

[sameday2019]

I am too have been waiting for 16 months because of this nonsense security clearance.

 

[cn2017]

Lol, no they won’t

It may not help us now, but making more noise will help people in the future or at least it's better than sitting and not doing anything when you see something wrong, I choose to say something and do my portion! Good luck to all.

 

[cn2017]

I have a question, is there any female still waiting for test or oath for a long time or all males?

 

[sameday2019]

I would not be surprised if there are females.

 

[sarafandee]

Notwithstanding a lot of noise and other interference in the forum (including a near continuous hum of venting from some forum participants), it is well understood that the majority of applications suffering slow processing are simply sitting in a queue waiting for a processing agent, or for those who have taken the test and interview, for either a processing agent or Citizenship Officer, to take the next step, whatever step is next for that applicant.

The applicant is waiting, waiting in line. Which these days tends to be a long line getting longer. That is it. No more complicated than that.

And Help Centre agents rarely have any more information than that. No matter how much the applicant pushes for more of an explanation.

While we do not know for sure what the Call Centre agents actually see when they access an applicant's GCMS records, it is very likely they see the same, or the same and not much more, than what the applicant will see in a copy of his or her GCMS obtained by ATIP request. NOT MUCH. NOT particularly informative. Generally (with some exceptions) obtaining GCMS records is NOT informative. (Probably makes some feel better that they are doing something, even if actually that is NOT doing anything that will help, but that is all it is.)

How many ways can Help Centre agents say sorry, it's a long line, be patient? Especially when many of those calling want or DEMAND something more than that?

It is well apparent that the Help Centre agents express this, basically "you need to wait," in various ways, and many times their stock responses tend to include something similar to "waiting for background check."

And technically this is probably true. NOT because a particular background clearance is not yet completed by the respective agency. Rather it is probably true because the processing agent or Citizenship Officer handling the application has not taken the step in the process which includes checking off completed background checks.

That is, often CSIS and RCMP have submitted their clearances, but those clearances have not been recorded as complete in the applicant's GCMS. And will not be until either a processing agent or Citizenship Officer takes that step. In the meantime, for most (again, not all, but most) that simply means waiting . . . and these days the wait appears to be getting longer and longer.

The status of the formal clearances (CSIS and RCMP) is often somewhat similar to the status of submitted applications prior to AOR. The application has arrived at CPC-Sydney. It is there. A complete application. BUT the applicant's record does NOT yet show it there. There is nothing to show the application is actually there until a processing agent opens the application and does the completeness check and enters the receipt of the application into GCMS. Often this timeline is two or three months, but at times it has been longer, several months long. Bottom-line, the application is received but NOT acknowledged as received.

It is often similar with the formal clearances. The respective agency has submitted it to the applicant's file, but the responsible processing agent may not acknowledge the clearance as received for some time after that, not until the next step is being taken with the application . . . which these days can be a long while, many applicants now seeing timelines going well beyond a year.

BUT EVEN if GCMS shows the formal clearances as completed, in a general sense there is ALWAYS A BACKGROUND CHECK which is not yet complete, because IRCC mandates a GCMS background check every time any substantive action is taken on the application. Thus, for example, even after all the steps in the application process have been completed, before the applicant is scheduled to take the oath, internal policy requires ANOTHER GCMS background check. Thus, until the applicant is actually scheduled to take the oath, a Help Centre agent can truthfully say that a background check still needs to be completed.

But (with some exceptions) overall it is simply what many in this forum remind the impatient again and again: you are in line, currently a rather slow line. Waiting, waiting and watching for notices from IRCC, is about all the applicant can do.

(In another topic I have suggested that for some applicants the timeline might be approaching reason to initiate formal demands which are preliminary steps toward pursuing Mandamus . . . but that is an expensive and in itself time-consuming process which offers no guarantees and typically will, AT BEST, and only sometimes, accelerate the outcome by a little. A lawyer is needed for this, even for just the formal demand step (which is a prerequisite to seeking a Mandamus Writ); in the past, at least, CIC/IRCC has tended to brush off or totally ignore formal demands unless they come from a lawyer. I am NOT suggesting it is time for anyone in particular to pursue Mandamus, as yet, but am noting that if inaction on an application is such that it amounts to a de facto denial, there are avenues in which to pursue a remedy.)

I have a better summarized version of your long essay: Some agents are not doing their job, period.