December 2024 - Citizenship Applications

[armoured]

Yeah that's what I figured. I thought maybe there was a way but I guess not.

She also did not receive the email that gives you the instruction on how to download the e-certificate. Will this come later?

Two days is simply not enough. We were told three business days before using certificate to apply for passport. I can't say 100% that passport office wouldn't try, but way too risky if you already have a flight.

Yes, my understanding is email for downloading comes later, not to worry - although timing of exactly when seems to vary somewhat (by office doing the ceremony?).

 

[menaka_p]

Same timeline here - Family application
AOR Dec 10
Only Test Completed, BG and LPP still in progress
GU on March 5th and GCMS notes says “Grant Review Ready PM03”

Hi any updates? I have the same Grant Review Ready PM03 comment in my GCMS notes.

 

[ASAD1ASAD]

Is your background cleared?

yes, only language remaining only one update needed, i also submitted CELPIP but don't know.

 

[V23]

Hi any updates? I have the same Grant Review Ready PM03 comment in my GCMS notes.

I had a ghost update on November 1st, and IRCC said that an officer had been assigned to my file. I haven’t received any further updates since then

 

[elonmusk5]

Today marks the 1 year since I received AOR for my Citizenship application. I just got off phone with IRCC rep and I was told that Background verification is in Progress. As of now, the status is as below. Some of these pieces most likely be updated once BG Verification is complete.

Language skills: IN PROGRESS,
Physical presence: IN PROGRESS,
Citizenship test: COMPLETED
Background verification: IN PROGRESS,
Prohibitions: IN PROGRESS

 

[moman21]

Today marks the 1 year since I received AOR for my Citizenship application. I just got off phone with IRCC rep and I was told that Background verification is in Progress. As of now, the status is as below. Some of these pieces most likely be updated once BG Verification is complete.

Language skills: IN PROGRESS,
Physical presence: IN PROGRESS,
Citizenship test: COMPLETED
Background verification: IN PROGRESS,
Prohibitions: IN PROGRESS

A few of us have had background and criminality checks both completed since March and our file was even assigned to an officer to finalize but we are still waiting. There seems to be a deliberate effort to slow down immigration processing. For a majority of us, the 13 months deadline of the processing time is less than a month away. I'm curious to see what happens then. I've been super patient, but I'll be getting a lawyer once I'm past the processing time.

 

[elonmusk5]

A few of us have had background and criminality checks both completed since March and our file was even assigned to an officer to finalize but we are still waiting. There seems to be a deliberate effort to slow down immigration processing. For a majority of us, the 13 months deadline of the processing time is less than a month away. I'm curious to see what happens then. I've been super patient, but I'll be getting a lawyer once I'm past the processing time.

I was thinking I am the only one facing the issue as I moved back to the US more than 2 years ago. I felt that somehow IRCC thinks that I don't intend to stay in Canada but that doesn't seem to be the reason at all.

Sorry to hear your case got stuck. I hope you and others get their citizenship soon. Yep, there seems to be a deliberate effort but I feel like they are obstructing the wrong gate here.

If slowing down immigration is their intention then logically cutting down on refugees, student visas and temp work permits/PR cards should be their focus. I don't understand how holding up the citizenship applications would help slowing down immigration. The citizenship applicants would already have PR cards and them getting citizenship doesn't change a thing other than gaining voting rights. Very difficult to comprehend

 

[Chasechs]

While I am not sure if it is a deliberate effort but I know its clear that there is something wrong with the processing of December 2024 applications. I did my application in February and did my Oath in November 2025. The February group is not pretty much dormant because our applications were processed. December has had processing problems all the way back in March 2025 when I saw January 2025 applications flying out the door. So much so I told a friend two weeks ago not to apply in December and wait until January or February 2026.

 

[armoured]

If slowing down immigration is their intention then logically cutting down on refugees, student visas and temp work permits/PR cards should be their focus. I don't understand how holding up the citizenship applications would help slowing down immigration. The citizenship applicants would already have PR cards and them getting citizenship doesn't change a thing other than gaining voting rights. Very difficult to comprehend

I think there's very little likeilhood they are intentionally slowing down citizenship apps. Additional or more strict security checks (for a whole bunch of reasons incl dealing with US admin, change of Canadian govt, revised threat assessments, etc., ) are a more likely cause, reductions in staffing overall / cuts to some outsourcing, resources for various initiatives related to reduction in temp residents.

For example: I think it's obvious that a LOT of temp residents (esp students, temp foreign workers, pgwp, some visitors, super visa holders, etc) who wish to stay in Canada apply for extensions or other programs, or for visitor records - and if I understand correctly, those who have pending applications may often benefit from implied status - basically until they get the final refusal, they can remain. So I would assume (guess) that they are devoting some resources to speeding up processing of some of these applications so that the 'tail' of implied status or miscellaneous extension requests (for example) are kept to a minimum and applicants get the refusals quickly. (Separate topic of course how effective that might be etc - but the recent immigration data release had big drops in population, seemingly/mostly due to students and temp foreign workers leaving when their status expired.)

Other simple point: as a given month's cohort / application group 'ages' through the system, there'll be fewer and fewer applicants left (and more of those remaining who are effectively complex apps/non-routine/problem cases delayed in security). Of course it feels slower, there's less activity and comments. The number left is falling every month.

 

[nikunjnagalia]

I don't think it's the timing of the application that should be questioned here. IRCC has reduced it's workforce by half. Processing times to generate the AOR has gone up to almost a month now, which used to be 15 days.
While some applications will be processed faster than others, that's solely because the application does not require a higher level case officer to review. Unfortunately there will be a few applications that will be held for reasons unknown and be taken to further review.

 

[roversdiverse]

Today marks the 1 year since I received AOR for my Citizenship application. I just got off phone with IRCC rep and I was told that Background verification is in Progress. As of now, the status is as below. Some of these pieces most likely be updated once BG Verification is complete.

Language skills: IN PROGRESS,
Physical presence: IN PROGRESS,
Citizenship test: COMPLETED
Background verification: IN PROGRESS,
Prohibitions: IN PROGRESS

Your file will move forward once your CSIS check is cleared. Many of us from Dec AOR is stuck like this. I am stuck too.
My background is pending because of security clearance. I checked with ircc and they say it's with a 3rd party so they can't do anything. 13 months deadline do not apply to us sadly.

Mandamus is the only option.

 

[moman21]

I appreciate all the different perspectives and they do make sense. However, for some of us that have everything ready to be reviewed since March, we seem to be stuck because of low staffing levels. My case is routine but because I have been a PR for a very long time, and with some years in/out of Canada over the last 16 years, I knew it would be flagged for an officer review. Although I always maintained the residency obligations, i knew ot would still require a higher level officer to grant the citizenship. Anyway, an officer was assigned on Sept 25 with an Oct 25 deadline, but yet, there has been no movement to date. It is kind of comical. They need more higher level officers to process the applications on time.

 

[roversdiverse]

I appreciate all the different perspectives and they do make sense. However, for some of us that have everything ready to be reviewed since March, we seem to be stuck because of low staffing levels. My case is routine but because I have been a PR for a very long time, and with some years in/out of Canada over the last 16 years, I knew it would be flagged for an officer review. Although I always maintained the residency obligations, i knew ot would still require a higher level officer to grant the citizenship. Anyway, an officer was assigned on Sept 25 with an Oct 25 deadline, but yet, there has been no movement to date. It is kind of comical. They need more higher level officers to process the applications on time.

What does your GCMS notes say?

 

[Basitaally]

Jan 2025 applicant here:

Application Submitted: Jan 05, 2025
AOR: Jan 15, 2025
Background Verification Completed: Feb 12, 2025
Citizenship Test Completed: Mar 03, 2025
LPP: Dec 01, 2025
Citizenship Oath (virtual): Dec 19, 2025
E-Certificate available: Dec 20, 2025

As per GCMS notes dated 20 Sep 2025 File location was: Grant Review Ready - PM03

 

[Walle_007]

I had a ghost update on November 1st, and IRCC said that an officer had been assigned to my file. I haven’t received any further updates since then

My wife’s portal also shows a ghost update on Dec 18, but nothing actually changed.
She has a very similar timeline to yours: AOR Dec 1, background and test completed, LPP pending.
The last real update was March 1, then NOW after 9 months ,a ghost update on Dec 18.

We received GCMS notes, which mention PM03- grant review.

Is this ghost update likely related to an officer being assigned? And usually, how long do PM03 cases take after such a ghost update?