How long after fingerprints?

gdywg wrote: Hello!  Has anybody had to do fingerprints after the test?  If so, how long after the fingerprints did you get your ceremony letter? I applied in Winnipeg back in January 2011, test in April 2013, fingerprints in June 2013.  Still waiting . . .   Thanks for the info.

gdywg wrote: Has anybody had to do fingerprints after the test? If so, how long after the fingerprints did you get your ceremony letter? I applied in Winnipeg back in January 2011, test in April 2013, fingerprints in June 2013. Still waiting . . .

I do not specifically recall seeing reports here of this but the sample size of applicants reporting here is miniscule so even if no one here has reported experiencing this, that does not mean much.

My vague recollection is that we have seen reports of this, but again I cannot recall them specifically. I doubt this is all that unusual.

How long it will take to the next step, hopefully the notice to attend the oath ceremony (but, unfortunately, not necessarily), is unknown. There is no way to even offer a guess. A lot has to do with why they made the fingerprint request, which can range from matters of total coincidence so that fingerprints are formally requested for verification purposes (example: similar name and date of birth triggers hit in a name-records check, so fingerprints are simply to verify identity distinguishable from who is the real subject of the hit), to specific concerns about the applicant's identity or matters related to security or criminality issues (such as to conduct a thorough RCMP check based on fingerprints in addition to name-records). That is, the reason for the request can range from minimal concern to a substantial concern.

The timeline can vary greatly. The timeline will usually (we think) be related to the nature of the underlying concerns and inquiry, as in if there is a minimal concern and it is merely a verification of identity then a shorter timeline, but if there is a focused and substantial concern regarding a security matter that may tend to take a lot longer.

But at this stage of things it is impossible to so much as guess how it will go in practice for any given individual.

While there is no way of anyone here guessing what is underlying the request in your case, if you know why there was the long timeline between application and test, that might similarly illuminate at least something about why the fingerprint request has been made and what concerns there might be.

CyberHawk wrote: Do they ask for fingerprints before taking the oath? I thought you get an invitation to take oath after writing the test.

After writing the test there are a variety of next steps which can take place, ranging from a request for additional information and documentation (RQ) to a request for fingerprints, from being scheduled for a retest to being scheduled for a hearing with the Citizenship Judge, and some wait for a long while in queue waiting for CIC to conduct further inquiries or for CIC to receive the results of referrals to other agencies (referrals for inquiries or investigation). The formal background clearances may have to be updated at any time prior to the applicant's case being reviewed by the Citizenship Judge or being scheduled for the oath as well, and sometimes this can take a long time.

In particular, after the test all applications must still be reviewed by a Citizenship Judge. Thus, after the test the next step for any applicant can depend on the Citizenship Judge's determination (which can range from approval based on a file review to requests for additional information and documentation and/or a hearing with the applicant).

Thank you all for the posts.  I called the CIC, they told me everything was ok, there's nothing wrong with my process.  They received my fingerprints the day after I took them.  Obviously there's nothing wrong with me.  The process has taken all this long because the Winnipeg offices takes forever since they are severely understaffed.  They told me I should get my Oath letter in the coming months.  Can't wait! :)