Thank you for sharing your feedback. I couldn't disagree with you. We went through a similar painful process when we got our PR, and we went through security clearance which is fairly accepting because we are new. It's mandatory to ensure no security risk is associated with an applicant. Citizenship is one of the grimmest processes that I have ever experienced in my life. Going through the same level of security clearance takes unknown months, and my question is why, If I committed a crime, they could find out it in a minute because the data reside with RCMP/CBRA, and I am not sure why they have to traumatize applicants for so long. I understand that the individual cases are different. However, I still think they can set different criteria for different cases based on the complexity, and everybody does not necessarily has to go through a black hole. IRCC needs to work with their counterpart RCMP/CBRA and shorten the processing time for security clearance, and I am sure they can do a better job.
When I am reviewing the requirements for Background Verification and Prohibition, these are the same, but they put it as two separate requirements so that they have a more free hand to delay the applications. In my case, I had no travel, but as someone who had travelled, I had to wait and go through the same process. They have to define the case processing requirements for all the cases because one size shoe doesn't fit everyone.
The more they delay, the more they think they are successful, but they don't feel and understand the stress, anxiety, and pain that the unknown wait causes the applicants. They don't provide updates or communicate with the applicants. They have a tracker which, in most cases, provides inaccurate generic information. When you call IRCC's call centre after hours of attempts, they acknowledge the same incomplete information in the tracker and don't have access to updates. IRCC must develop a communication tool to provide direct access to information, so applicants should have access to the information about their applications.
There are more immigrants from certain countries than others, and they also have a strong political presence in the federal and provincial government and government institutions. Applicants from those counties are considered less risky than other counties and get processed relatively quickly. It's discrimination, and IRCC must treat all applicants the same.
I applied in December 2021, and my wife applied in December 2022. Our application status is currently the same, with one year difference, and we come with the same background. They completed my wife's background check in four months, and mine took 16 months. My question is, why.
Despite all problems that IRCC invites, hundred of thousand of immigrants into Canada annually, there are always delays and backlogs. IRCC is one of the essential ministries that brings the workforce and taxpayers to the country, which ultimately has a direct connection with the economy and prosperity of the country. They must invest more resources and develop tools and systems to boost efficiency, reduce wait time and develop achievable and measurable plans.
It's helpful that more citizenship applicants speak up and share their experiences with IRCC's bureaucracy so that our voice eventually reaches Sean Fraser. The citizenship application process directly impacts applicants, life, family, career, and future. Hence it's one of the essential processes in an applicant's life. The process is cumbersome and traumatizing, and we are confident that IRCC can become more responsive and efficient in doing a better job.
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