I sent an email to CIC inquiring whether processing times in MB, SK, AB and BC will be 'faster' due to the new amendments and below is the 'default' response I got after 4 days. Thought to share it with you folks.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) remains committed to finding ways to ensure timely processing of citizenship applications. Economic Action Plan 2013 allotted $44 million over two years to better tackle the growing demand for citizenship grants and proofs.
On June 19, 2014, Bill C-24, the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act, received Royal Assent. This Act contains important measures to increase efficiency in the Citizenship program to improve application processing times and help qualified applicants acquire citizenship faster. These measures, once implemented, combined with the additional funds, will reduce processing times and improve client service.
As part of these reforms to the Citizenship Act, Canada’s citizenship program is being improved by reducing the decision-making process from three steps to one. It is expected that, by 2015–2016, this change will bring the average processing time for citizenship applications down to under a year. It is also projected that by 2015-2016, the current backlog will be reduced by more than 80%.
In the meantime, the Government has taken other steps to improve processing. Since November 2012, applicants are required to provide objective evidence of their language ability when applying. Applicants who fail their first citizenship test can rewrite it rather than wait for an appointment with a citizenship judge and family members listed on one citizenship application no longer need to be approved at the same time.
CIC is also reducing citizenship grant wait times by decreasing its inventory of dormant applications. Applicants who do not show up for a citizenship test/interview will be given two opportunities over three months to provide a reasonable cause. Otherwise, their application
will be closed. For more information on the passage of reforms to the Citizenship Act, please visit: http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=859509.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) remains committed to finding ways to ensure timely processing of citizenship applications. Economic Action Plan 2013 allotted $44 million over two years to better tackle the growing demand for citizenship grants and proofs.
On June 19, 2014, Bill C-24, the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act, received Royal Assent. This Act contains important measures to increase efficiency in the Citizenship program to improve application processing times and help qualified applicants acquire citizenship faster. These measures, once implemented, combined with the additional funds, will reduce processing times and improve client service.
As part of these reforms to the Citizenship Act, Canada’s citizenship program is being improved by reducing the decision-making process from three steps to one. It is expected that, by 2015–2016, this change will bring the average processing time for citizenship applications down to under a year. It is also projected that by 2015-2016, the current backlog will be reduced by more than 80%.
In the meantime, the Government has taken other steps to improve processing. Since November 2012, applicants are required to provide objective evidence of their language ability when applying. Applicants who fail their first citizenship test can rewrite it rather than wait for an appointment with a citizenship judge and family members listed on one citizenship application no longer need to be approved at the same time.
CIC is also reducing citizenship grant wait times by decreasing its inventory of dormant applications. Applicants who do not show up for a citizenship test/interview will be given two opportunities over three months to provide a reasonable cause. Otherwise, their application
will be closed. For more information on the passage of reforms to the Citizenship Act, please visit: http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=859509.
