Faster than expected: CIC working towards eliminating citizenship backlog

[jrjayl]

CIC updated their backlog infograph a few days ago, backlog has been reduced from 295,000 (end of June 2014) to 255,070 (end of September 2014).

Links are here:
http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=872799
http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=895599

Some might say it is propaganda but afterall, it is a good news for all applicants that are in the waiting list.
Good luck everybody.

 

[poushi24]

CIC updated their backlog infograph a few days ago, backlog has been reduced from 295,000 (end of June 2014) to 255,070 (end of September 2014).

Links are here:
http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=872799
http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=895599

Some might say it is propaganda but afterall, it is a good news for all applicants that are in the waiting list.
Good luck everybody.

Hope it is true

 

[Donvalley]

Early this year particularly during the first quarter things appeared to be very hopeful and speeding up positively, but by late April that trend is gone. Then it looked more like limited to only final steps of already open cases. It is still hopeful when looking back to last few years timelines but very hard to believe that back log reduced by 40,000 in just 90 days; taking count of additional tons of applications in June due to C-24 panic.
I am not aware of any decision to purge the backlog like they did in PR applications earlier.

Anyone who were here long enough, might have witnessed the citizenship process slowing down since 2007/2008 to a crawling and finally to a halt in 2012. The backlog pile up was the result of this catastrophe. See the following stats, numbers of new citizens from previous years:

2013 - 129,027
2012 - 113,111
2011 - 181,288
2010 - 143,595
2009 - 156,342
2008 - 176,567
2007 - 199,866

Source:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/statistics/data-release/2012-Q4/index.asp
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/statistics/data-release/2014-Q1/index.asp
Note: slight variation in final numbers are found in cic published data each year

If this backlog elimination is true, well and good; otherwise these number games will do nothing good, neither for CIC nor for applicants except creating another dossier pileup to deal with and never ending burden for tomorrow.


Update: I just came across this news. Minister Chris Alexander today announced that more than 200,000 people have joined the Canadian family since the start of 2014. If true really good.
http://www.newswire.ca/fr/story/1429408/improving-processing-times-welcoming-more-new-citizens

 

[slx]

Some might say it is propaganda but afterall, it is a good news for all applicants that are in the waiting list.
Good luck everybody.

Yes, it is propaganda, I've applied more than 37 months ago and still didn't even get my test scheduled, my application was marked "test ready" in april 2012, but no processing has been done till I contacted the call centre in june 2013, after that I got and RQ in august 2013, no further processing since then, called the call centre again, been told that my file is "in queue to be reviewed and no test has been scheduled yet" and asked not to call till 48 months passed.
Hey, I'm waiting for more than 3 years already and not even a test yet! Good news? I guess the only good news would be a liberal government and new immigration minister.

 

[look4d]

@slx, 48 months ?, it is way beyond the time line for non-routine application , what is their justification to wait for 48 Months?

 

[links18]

@ slx, 48 months ?, it is way beyond the time line for non-routine application , what is their justification to wait for 48 Months?

There is no justification. Six's case seems perfectly ripe for a mandamus, but of course that is not cheap.

 

[BLT]

Be careful when doing mandamus thing. If your application has nothing fishy and only because of a stupid form called Ridiculous Queue then you are being bullied by CIC, it's a good chance for mandamus.
But if you have these conditions for example :
- A refugee who went back to home country during PR status.
- Lost your original passport.
- Didn't have 1,095 days when applying.
- Ever being convicted with serious crime.
- Ever applied for citizenship before and withdrew when found fishy (cheating).
- Applying under a lawyer who is currently being investigated by CIC.
- Failed the citizenship test or language test.
Then you better don't file for mandamus, otherwise the decision could be worse than just being rejected citizenship, but ordered to pay CIC's costs in the court.

 

[jdjames123]

I would say they are working on it !

I was shocked by how quick they processed our app

Application received March 31, 2014
Started processing June 12, 2014
Test is booked for October 27, 2014

 

[newcomer]

I would say they are working on it !

I was shocked by how quick they processed our app

Application received March 31, 2014
Started processing June 12, 2014
Test is booked for October 27, 2014

Great ! Which is your local office ?

Thanks

 

[jdjames123]

Great ! Which is your local office ?

Thanks

We live in Toronto and applied to Sydney NS

 

[hoping_canadian]

We live in Toronto and applied to Sydney NS

my apps took 10mos and 16 days non routine with RQ, not bad ;D

 

[aarrow]

Be careful when doing mandamus thing. If your application has nothing fishy and only because of a stupid form called Ridiculous Queue then you are being bullied by CIC, it's a good chance for mandamus.
But if you have these conditions for example :
- A refugee who went back to home country during PR status.
- Lost your original passport.
- Didn't have 1,095 days when applying.
- Ever being convicted with serious crime.
- Ever applied for citizenship before and withdrew when found fishy (cheating).
- Applying under a lawyer who is currently being investigated by CIC.
- Failed the citizenship test or language test.
Then you better don't file for mandamus, otherwise the decision could be worse than just being rejected citizenship, but ordered to pay CIC's costs in the court.

Hi Link

I have one of those conditions that you speak off I had lost my passport do you think I should file the case for mandamus as its bee 55 months

Let me know you thoughts

 

[SinghLovCan]

I would say they are working on it !

I was shocked by how quick they processed our app

Application received March 31, 2014
Started processing June 12, 2014
Test is booked for October 27, 2014

Did you have any previous travels ? What was your application like?

 

[jdjames123]

yeah some travel but in 5-6 years maybe 20-30 days out of canada, took the test today and passed 20/20 and we are booked in the oath taking this monday coming !


the entire process was very smooth, they did ask for my fingerprints (not my wife, just me). I did this and within a month we got the notification for the test.