5/29/2014
Topic:
Is a valid PR Card required to take the Oath?
sharprajat
|
Hi
My Citizenship application processing is in final stage. I have been asked to provide Fingerprints and a CIC rep. told me that I may get the letter of invitation to the Oath taking ceremony once my background check is complete. Submitting fingerprints today and expecting an invitation by late June.
I have applied for my US born daughter (7 years) with me. Her PR Card will be expiring June 25, 2014.
Should I go ahead and renew her PR Card in order for her to be accepted as a Canadian citizen or it does not matter.
Please advice.
Regards
Rajat |
6/5/2014
Topic:
Is a valid PR Card required to take the Oath?
sharprajat
|
Thanks PMM. |
8/12/2014
Topic:
Citizenship Scam - IOC Registration - Warning!
sharprajat
|
Hi
A Citizenship scam is going on for some time to which I became a victim recently. I would like to share this with everyone. This is especially important for Indian citizens who are living in Canada and applied for Canadian citizenship.
The scammers call you on your home phone and ask for your personal details - name, date of birth, phone number, email and tell you that you have a citizenship application with immigration Canada and that it has been temporarily put on hold due to an IOC Registration process which you have not completed. IOC - Indian Overseas Citizen. They tell you that they are calling from Department of Immigration, Ottawa.
According to them, an IOC number is required by the Indian authorities from all Indian citizens who have applied for Canadian Citizenship. They tell you that there are two ways to complete the IOC Registration process:
1. either you go to India within next 10 days and complete the process there
2. or Immigration Canada will help you to complete the process from Canada.
Option 2 sounds more viable. So, I opted for that. In this option an immigration officer would be working in the Canadian Consulate in New Delhi on your behalf and complete the process there. The hold on your application will be removed only if this process is complete.
And then they ask you to pay a fee of CAD $735.00 per applicant in your family. The fee must be paid at a Canada Post location via MoneyGram and transferred to India. I ended up paying $3000.00 and by the time I realized it is a scam it was too late. After the first transaction they transfer you to their Validation Department and that department tells you that the receiver's name is not correct so you have to re-do the transfer. They also offer you a full refund and ask for your bank account number. Fortunately, I did not provide mine.
I found at least one person in another forum who became a victim of this scam in the exactly same manner. I am willing to but not sure if I can share the link from that forum here.
Guys, do not become a victim.
Be extra vigilant.
In case you do get a call like this ask the caller for a phone number and extension where you can call them back.
There is no IOC Registration process required by India or Immigration Canada.
Do not provide your File Number or ClientId.
Do not engage yourself in lengthy discussions and arguments.
Try to finish the call as soon as you can.
If in doubt, ask a family member or friend to call Immigration Canada at 1-888-242-2100 while you are talking to the caller.
You can also use Google to verify the facts given by the caller.
Some key words to watch for:
1. IOC Registration
2. Verification
3. Validation
4. Canada Post
5. Money Gram
6. Bank Name
7. Bank Account Number
8. Debit or Cash
9. Family Member Details (Name, Date of birth)
10. File Number
11. Legal Department
12. Validation Department
13. Accounts Department
14. Immigration Officer will visit you at your home
15. Whole Family
Please exercise caution while dealing with someone over phone and discussing your Citizenship Application.
Make it a point that you do not entertain callers who want to talk about your immigration status, citizenship, family status, family and kids, income tax, bank accounts, insurance etc.
I have reported this to Immigration Canada, Police, Fraud Bureau and my Bank. To be on the safer side, got new bank cards even though I did not tell them the card number and PIN. Just trying keep everyone informed so that you don't loose your vital information and money.
Good Luck!
Rajat
Rajat |
8/14/2014
Topic:
Citizenship Application over 36 months
sharprajat
|
So are you really going to re-submit the application. I am in the same boat. My 36 months will be over on Aug 31, 2014. Called CIC several times. All they say is that everything is complete - Test, RQ, Finger Printing, Background Check. They have asked me to call them after labor day weekend if I do not hear anything from CIC by Aug 31st.
I will not re-submit the application and go through the same tedious process again. Since they say everything is complete I would prefer to wait.
Rajat |
8/27/2014
Topic:
What is the Timeframe after Citizenship Test & RQ?
sharprajat
|
I got RQ on the day of test before taking the test. My time line is below:
1. We received your application for Canadian citizenship (grant of citizenship) on August 31, 2011.
2. We sent you a letter acknowledging receipt of your application(s), and a study book called Discover Canada on August 31, 2011. Please consider delays in mail delivery before contacting us.
3. We started processing your application on March 6, 2012.
4. We sent you a letter on April 2, 2012. If you have not yet provided the information or the requested documents, please do so as soon as possible. Please wait until you receive the letter before sending us additional information, as the letter will outline all information that is required. Please consider delays in mail delivery before contacting us.
5. We sent you a notice on July 18, 2012 to appear and write the citizenship test on August 14, 2012 at 1:00 PM. The notice you will receive by mail will be your official confirmation of your appointment. If you have not received this notice prior to the date of your scheduled appointment, please contact us.
Called CIC several times. They confirmed that I passed the test.
Provided all relevant documents required in the RQ.
I recently received a letter to do my fingerprints again which I did immediately. However, this information is not updated on the website. A message similar to #4 above should be there.
CIC agents confirmed they have received it and that every thing looks OK. RQ, Finger Prints and Background check is complete and they are waiting for a decision.
My 36 months will end on Aug 31, 2014. CIC agents have asked me to call them after Labor Day weekend. Will call them and see what they have to say.
Any idea how much more time it is going to take. Or, what happens if the 36 months waiting period is over and you are still waiting.
Any one else in a similar situation please share your experiences.
Rajat
Rajat |
9/2/2014
Topic:
Citizenship Timeline
sharprajat
|
And here is mine
1. We received your application for Canadian citizenship (grant of citizenship) on August 31, 2011.
2. We sent you a letter acknowledging receipt of your application(s), and a study book called Discover Canada on August 31, 2011. Please consider delays in mail delivery before contacting us.
3. We started processing your application on March 6, 2012.
4. We sent you a letter on April 2, 2012. If you have not yet provided the information or the requested documents, please do so as soon as possible. Please wait until you receive the letter before sending us additional information, as the letter will outline all information that is required. Please consider delays in mail delivery before contacting us.
5. We sent you a notice on July 18, 2012 to appear and write the citizenship test on August 14, 2012 at 1:00 PM. The notice you will receive by mail will be your official confirmation of your appointment. If you have not received this notice prior to the date of your scheduled appointment, please contact us.
Still waiting :(
Rajat |
9/2/2014
Topic:
What is the Timeframe after Citizenship Test & RQ?
sharprajat
|
Called CIC today. The agent told me that there is no new update in my file. The file is in Mississauga and that he is sending a message to Mississauga office to look into the matter. It may take 3 months for some action to be taken, though that not necessarily mean that it will take that long.
And asked me to call again if I do not hear anything by the beginning of November.
Any idea what is taking them so long to make a decision when every thing else is fine.
Rajat |
9/16/2014
Topic:
Citizenship Scam - IOC Registration - Warning!
sharprajat
|
Got another call again from someone saying he is from CIC. It was a male voice with a different accent.
The guy asked if I am from India, I said Yes.
Then he asked if I have applied for anything with immigration recently and I told him that he should know about it if he is from CIC.
He then said he just want a Yes or No from me. I said yes.
And then I asked him to provide a phone number with extension where I can call him back.
At this he said this conversation is on a recorded line and he cannot provide his personal number.
I told him I am not asking for his personal number but the work number with extension. And that I know we can call CIC agents.
He then provided me this number - 12044805445 and asked me to call him back immediately and hung up the phone.
I did not try to call on this number.
Just want to share that a scam is still on so please be very careful and do not reveal any personal information.
Good Luck!
Rajat |
10/7/2014
Topic:
Citizenship Scam - IOC Registration - Warning!
sharprajat
|
Glad I was able to help you. I was wondering how come no one else is getting calls regarding IOC when there are so many people waiting to become citizens.
Did you report this to Immigration? Please do, so that they know the scammers are active and trying to victimize people.
Also, spread the word in whatever way you can. This is the only way to make people aware of such a scam.
Stay vigilant!
Rajat
Rajat |
12/5/2014
Topic:
Citizenship Timeline
sharprajat
|
I also got a letter (finally) in the mail to attend the Oath Ceremony on Dec. 12.
sdvend91, looks like you have almost the same timeline as mine. Well, Congratulations! Its worth the wait.
Excited and looking forward to Dec. 12.
Good Luck to everyone. Just keep patience.
Rajat |
12/5/2014
Topic:
Questions about the New Citizenship Rules
sharprajat
|
New rule or Old rule my suggestion would be to first complete the number of days required. 30 days is not too long a time to wait.
Rajat |
12/9/2014
Topic:
Citizenship Timeline
sharprajat
|
What documents do I need to carry to the Oath ceremony. The letter says bring all documents in original that you submitted with your application.
Rajat |
12/15/2014
Topic:
Citizenship Timeline
sharprajat
|
Writing this as a Canadian Citizen.
Took my Oath on Dec. 12. Everything went smoothly as described in the video in this page http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/cit-ceremony.asp
Just went there with my Passport, PR Card, Driving Licence and Health Card. They only asked for my PR Card.
Went in at 1:00 PM and came out with the Citizenship Certificate at 2:40 PM and a very proud feeling.
Rajat
|
1/26/2015
Topic:
Citizenship Timeline
sharprajat
|
Jan.5, 2015 - Got my Canadian Passport.
Rajat |
5/28/2015
Topic:
Updating Immigration/Citizenship Status?
sharprajat
|
Hi
I remember Service Ontario telling me to update my resident status when I went to renew my driving license. The lady at the counter asked me what is my status in Canada. I told her that I am a Citizen. And she said I should get my status updated. She asked me to come back later with proof of citizenship (Passport or Citizenship Certificate).
I have not done that yet but I think I should get that updated.
Rajat |