In a not-too-positive development, from the Canada citizenship candidates’ viewpoints, the in-office Canada Citizenship and Immigration (CIC) minister has reportedly proclaimed an amendment to the laws meant for citizenship submissions. The petitions of those–who are unable to be present at a citizenship test or interview, minus offering a reasonably valid reason–will be cancelled. Allegedly, the same will increase the pace of citizenship decisions for those who take part.

As per Chris Alexander, the minister in question, for a long time, the petition course has been seriously marred by those who needlessly delay the procedure for others, by not taking it sincerely. The CIC has clarified that in situations wherein a candidate has been unable to be present at an appointment for a test or interview, to back his citizenship submission, Immigration Canada will write to the aspirant urging him to elucidate why he failed to arrive.

CIC will reschedule only if absence reason valid

In a situation wherein the candidate manages to furnish a satisfactorily good excuse, the immigration department will rearrange the interview or test—whatever the case could be. In case there is no response whatsoever to the 1st letter, the department will wait before writing once more. The candidate will be given three months time to act in response. However, in case he still fails to act, and/or offer a suitably good reason for his absence, the immigration department will revoke his submission, without thinking twice.