December 2023 - Citizenship Applications

[PSpharwaha]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post regarding my citizenship application which is still in progress after 24 months of it’s submission. I submitted my application in December 2023 with two dependents 14 and 18 years along with my wife. Gave fingerprints twice till date. Initially everything went smoothly from receiving AOR, Language test and then fingerprint request. It got stuck at background and prohibitions for me and my wife.

Requested GCMS for our applications. Everything looks good in GCMS notes. Says E-Grant clearance pending. This update is dated 19 Nov. 2024. We don’t have any background check issues. Still stuck.

Not sure what to do except waiting for their final decision.

 

[GS20]

Finally, my turn after nearly 28 months.
I sent multiple web forms, requested multiple GCMS notes, contacted MP almost a dozen times. I was stuck in the security check.
My details- Indian, Single application, became PR through CEC Express Entry. No mandamus filed. Just waited patiently.

It happens when it is supposed to happen.
Be patient everyone, your turn is coming right there. Don't lose hope. Good luck to you all.

Please find my timeline below-

Application Submitted- 27-Sept-2023
AOR- 28-Oct-2023
1st Fingerprint request- 15-Nov-2023
Fingerprints provided- 17-Nov-2023
Fingerprints received by IRCC- 11-Dec-2023
Citizenship Test Request- 12-Jan-2024
Citizenship Test completed- 15-Jan-2024
Language skills completed- 9-Apr-2024
Physical presence completed- 9-Apr-2024
2nd Fingerprint request- 7-Mar-2025
Fingerprints provided- 12-Mar-2025
Fingerprints received by IRCC- 16-Apr-2025
Background verifications completed- 7-Jan-2026
Prohibitions completed- 9-Jan-2026
Oath Invite updated in tracker- 12-Jan-2026
Oath scheduled for- 28-Jan-2026 (waiting for invite email)

 

[PSpharwaha]

Finally, my turn after nearly 28 months.
I sent multiple web forms, requested multiple GCMS notes, contacted MP almost a dozen times. I was stuck in the security check.
My details- Indian, Single application, became PR through CEC Express Entry. No mandamus filed. Just waited patiently.

It happens when it is supposed to happen.
Be patient everyone, your turn is coming right there. Don't lose hope. Good luck to you all.

Please find my timeline below-

Application Submitted- 27-Sept-2023
AOR- 28-Oct-2023
1st Fingerprint request- 15-Nov-2023
Fingerprints provided- 17-Nov-2023
Fingerprints received by IRCC- 11-Dec-2023
Citizenship Test Request- 12-Jan-2024
Citizenship Test completed- 15-Jan-2024
Language skills completed- 9-Apr-2024
Physical presence completed- 9-Apr-2024
2nd Fingerprint request- 7-Mar-2025
Fingerprints provided- 12-Mar-2025
Fingerprints received by IRCC- 16-Apr-2025
Background verifications completed- 7-Jan-2026
Prohibitions completed- 9-Jan-2026
Oath Invite updated in tracker- 12-Jan-2026
Oath scheduled for- 28-Jan-2026 (waiting for invite email)

Congratulations

 

[saeed289]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post regarding my citizenship application which is still in progress after 24 months of it’s submission. I submitted my application in December 2023 with two dependents 14 and 18 years along with my wife. Gave fingerprints twice till date. Initially everything went smoothly from receiving AOR, Language test and then fingerprint request. It got stuck at background and prohibitions for me and my wife.

Requested GCMS for our applications. Everything looks good in GCMS notes. Says E-Grant clearance pending. This update is dated 19 Nov. 2024. We don’t have any background check issues. Still stuck.

Not sure what to do except waiting for their final decision.

Man what a process. I mean in today's fast pace this is too much. I am stuck in same situation. Application filed in Dec 2023 and stuck in Security Clearance. No issue in GCMS notes , no help from MP requests either. So now just waiting

 

[PSpharwaha]

Man what a process. I mean in today's fast pace this is too much. I am stuck in same situation. Application filed in Dec 2023 and stuck in Security Clearance. No issue in GCMS notes , no help from MP requests either. So now just waiting

Same is the case with me. Requested GCMS twice. Everything is ok in notes. Just Showing EGrant approval pending. Waiting from last 25 months.

 

[armoured]

Same is the case with me. Requested GCMS twice. Everything is ok in notes. Just Showing EGrant approval pending. Waiting from last 25 months.

Check your GCMS notes. If there are notations s.21 (or other similar like s.##), esp if any obvious blank spaces, the notes have redacted sections (exemptions from the privacy act), and that's what the delay likely is.

That said: if it says egrant approval pending, can't hurt to contact MP. My understanding - one example - is that 'the agencies' (the security side) do not themselves do approval (they might be only recommendations or comments), it requires action from IRCC, and any point where a human needs to make a decision can be a delay point.

 

[GFLiam]

Check your GCMS notes. If there are notations s.21 (or other similar like s.##), esp if any obvious blank spaces, the notes have redacted sections (exemptions from the privacy act), and that's what the delay likely is.

That said: if it says egrant approval pending, can't hurt to contact MP. My understanding - one example - is that 'the agencies' (the security side) do not themselves do approval (they might be only recommendations or comments), it requires action from IRCC, and any point where a human needs to make a decision can be a delay point.

I concur if you see odd blank spaces that take up a big portion of a page in the GCMS notes, something is in there and it could be anything from legitimate concerns or process to someone at IRCC messed up and just don't want to admit to it

 

[armoured]

I concur if you see odd blank spaces that take up a big portion of a page in the GCMS notes, something is in there and it could be anything from legitimate concerns or process to someone at IRCC messed up and just don't want to admit to it

By law only specific exemptions are allowed - they're outlined here:
https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-b...ormation-privacy/pa-plain-language-guide.html

Mostly the exemptions are in S.21 and S.22(1) (international affairs and defence, and law enforcement investigations the latter usually the 'reveal techniques used to gather and analyze evidence or intelligence' part, although may not be specified.)

They also exempt under S.21 info received from foreign governments and agencies (if I have it right). I believe for a lot of applicants this is where things can get held up - if they have info from foreign agencies that matches in any way the prohibitions etc they will have to look into it, and that can take a while.

Using it to hide things they don't want to admit is NOT allowed. That doesn't mean it's impossible but let's say at least unlikely it would be hidden in notes (where other people would see it internally). I'm not saying they don't hide things they're embarrassed about, but the idea they're just stupidly putting that info in GCMS notes and relying on privacy exemptions to keep it confidential as a matter of course is ... simplistic.

 

[saeed289]

What if there is no such thing in GCMS notes and no blanks and it is still stuck in SS what can be the reason?

 

[GFLiam]

By law only specific exemptions are allowed - they're outlined here:
https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-b...ormation-privacy/pa-plain-language-guide.html

Mostly the exemptions are in S.21 and S.22(1) (international affairs and defence, and law enforcement investigations the latter usually the 'reveal techniques used to gather and analyze evidence or intelligence' part, although may not be specified.)

They also exempt under S.21 info received from foreign governments and agencies (if I have it right). I believe for a lot of applicants this is where things can get held up - if they have info from foreign agencies that matches in any way the prohibitions etc they will have to look into it, and that can take a while.

Using it to hide things they don't want to admit is NOT allowed. That doesn't mean it's impossible but let's say at least unlikely it would be hidden in notes (where other people would see it internally). I'm not saying they don't hide things they're embarrassed about, but the idea they're just stupidly putting that info in GCMS notes and relying on privacy exemptions to keep it confidential as a matter of course is ... simplistic.

hmm....that's quite interesting. Again, I am not going to disclose what I've found on my GCMS notes until I have done my oath, but I do have proof that they have redacted information that I don't believe fall under the 2 sections you highlighted. UNLESS they wanted to stretch that as something related to criminal or prosecutions, in such case I think everyone would laugh them out of the door when I let the info out.

 

[armoured]

hmm....that's quite interesting. Again, I am not going to disclose what I've found on my GCMS notes until I have done my oath, but I do have proof that they have redacted information that I don't believe fall under the 2 sections you highlighted. UNLESS they wanted to stretch that as something related to criminal or prosecutions, in such case I think everyone would laugh them out of the door when I let the info out.

Note there are other sections - I just mentioned two (where I /think/ they have to note it in the gcms notes as released eg S.21 or similar).

But by all means if you have info that they're redacting things to hide their own errors - complain to the privacy ombudsman.

I've mentioned before but in very small but noticeable ways - different parts of government can be more or less zealous about what they edit out. I've noticed minor differences in what IRCC edits out and what CBSA does: CBSA left in a little bit more information. Not super significant but useful in a way.