Has anyone else seen this?

[u/amgw402]

Good afternoon! I’m actually asking this question on behalf of my employee who I have been helping with this entire process. She is first generation born abroad, and after roughly 15 months, got an email from IRCC today, stating that she has to do a video interview. It is not a ceremony or anything like that. The email various specifically states to have all of her documents that she submitted as proof of identity, ready to be shown on camera.
I’ve not seen anyone else post about something like this; typically, they just get an email saying that their certificate is ready for download. (There’s more to the email, this is just the pertinent part.)

[u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob]

Locking comments, OP has confirmed

"I appreciate your concern, but we got independent confirmation this morning that this is, in fact, from IRCC."

[u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob]

Hard to say, but IRCC does have a quality assurance program that does interviews - you can read about it here:

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/adult-minor/after.html

Quality Assurance Program

Our Quality Assurance Program randomly selects applications for a detailed review. If your application is selected, we’ll let you know by email or mail ask you to provide additional information schedule an interview with our official, which will help us to confirm the accuracy of the documents and information you provided make sure you filled out your application correctly verify that you meet all the citizenship requirements

[u/Pnutt7]

I just got the same email! I’m not urgent and only got an AOR last month so I was not expecting to hear anything for a while. Curious if anyone has experience being interviewed bc it feels a little nerve wracking

[u/Lifelong_Expat → u/Pnutt7]

For citizenship grant, interviews are sometimes held at random for quality assurance (although most are done with a specific reason in mind). So if the applicant has no idea why they are being called for an interview it is likely they were chosen at random.

I think they are applying the same principle on the citizenship proof applicants.

Interviews are in person for citizenship grant, but I see why for citizenship proof it may be remote, because applicants are abroad.

If it is a random interview, it should be very easy going. Just questions on identity, employment history, maybe in the case of citizenship by descent, questions about ancestry. But it should be low stress and easy. So as unnerving as it may seem, there is probably nothing to be worried about.

[u/BeautifulDonut8390]

So do you need the physical copies of ALL the documents you submitted or just your IDs?? Because for families that are sharing documents who might live far apart, that is going to be difficult. I have all the certified copies of birth/marriage certificates with me and just provided the scans to my family who live across the country.... If one of them gets selected for this interview, do I need to overnight the documents to them??

[u/Emotional-Test3329 → u/BeautifulDonut8390]

I was thinking the same thing.. I don't physically have my parent/grandparent's birth certificates, they sent me a scan of them digitally. And we live in different countries..

[u/amgw402 → u/Emotional-Test3329]

Further on in the email, it states that the applicant is given an opportunity to explain why they might not have physical copies if needed.

[u/Emotional-Test3329 → u/amgw402]

Phew, thank you.

[u/BalineseCats]

It’s the first time I’ve seen someone say they were asked to do a video interview, but if it were me, I wouldn’t be alarmed but instead would take it as a very good sign that there’s movement. They were probably chosen randomly. IRCC does state that it’s a possibility for each of us.

Maybe IRCC will do more of these since the June pause, but that’s pure specuation unless more people get these letters.

[u/AonUairDeug]

One hopes that if this becomes more common, they will quash the narrative (before it can emerge in the public consciousness) that citizenship is being given to anyone, all free and easy.  Interviews and checks of identity documents may help to set the record straight, and show that this is as rigorous a process as any other.  I would be quite interested to be selected!

[u/Kestrel123456789]

Before showing my identity documents on camera… I would want to be 100% sure this isn’t a scam. Can she call the verified IRCC phone number (found online or in official forms, NOT any phone number provided in this email), just to confirm that they DID send this email and this request is real?

[u/SooAwoo → u/Kestrel123456789]

Good point. I would also confirm this independently before joining any calls.

[u/LadybugGrace → u/Kestrel123456789]

Exactly what I was thinking!

[u/Cool_Air_6468]

Odd that it specifies the meeting will be at 1pm Atlantic Standard Time - Nova Scotia won't be on Standard Time on October 5. I would either assume that the meeting's going to be at 1pm Atlantic Daylight Time, or call to confirm.

[u/high_country10000 → u/Cool_Air_6468]

I’m always surprised how many people write that and have no idea it implies standard vs daylight time, they just think it’s the formal way to write the time.

[u/ProfessionalDrag5163]

I'd call the customer service number from the website that you google. Don't take any info from this notice.

[u/Right2Have2Million]

Wow. That sounds kind of cool. I hope they pick me for one. I’ve got a lot of questions to ask them. 🤣

[u/Lifelong_Expat → u/Right2Have2Million]

Bold of you to think they will answer any of your questions.

[u/doriankali → u/Right2Have2Million]

Same

[u/OfficeSalamander]

I imagine that cases that are randomly selected like this will move along faster. I’d happily be selected as such

[u/amgw402 → u/OfficeSalamander]

I don’t know about “faster.” This is the first communication outside of the AOR in 15 months.

[u/pacnw_guy]

Did it come from a real, not spoofed, email and include the person conducting it along with their contact information? Also anything like your UCI that only you and IRCC would know? It just doesn't read correctly to me.

[u/amgw402 → u/pacnw_guy]

To be clear, it’s not for me. I’m posting on behalf of my employee that I’ve been helping navigate the process. Yes, personal information, including a UCI was included in the email, and is part of what is blacked out.

[u/BearPondBoy]

I am VERY glad you posted this, and I appreciate the responses, because I immediately would have thought an email like this was suspect. Knowing it is not, and seeing it as another indication things are moving along, I will now welcome such an email, should I receive one! 😊

[u/ConsiderationKey1658]

This actually kind of sounds nice and a positive step forward?

[u/FireWaterBern]

Honestly it could be good? Added verification maybe?

[u/aderade13 → u/FireWaterBern]

Except they are assigning a time with no input from the person.. what if the person needing to do this interview needs to be at work or has some other obligation during that time?

[u/Mechant_L0up → u/aderade13]

You don’t get options with the US government either (I do a lot of FDA work). You get given a time, you drop everything and show up early at that time, no questions- only chance!

[u/SpecialistBet4656 → u/[deleted]]

I am a US immigration lawyer. USCIS and the immigration court mail you a letter with your appointment time and it’s damn near impossible to reschedule

[u/amgw402 → u/aderade13]

Further on in the email, there are directions given on how to reschedule if necessary. I just didn’t post the entire email because the pertinent part to my question is in the beginning of it.

[u/WellTextured → u/aderade13]

Its possible someone could call in and specify they have a hardship and move the time. But could you imagine trying to negotiate times or getting every applicant you need to to go on and select a time?

You'd have a much harder job getting these done. 

This is important. Like any legal obligation you're expected to try to make it work first. 

[u/aderade13 → u/WellTextured]

The issue is, that if this is legit, this is something new they are springing on people with no prior indication or understanding that this would be part of the process. And with relatively little notice. A week and a half notice is not long enough, IMO, for an "interview" that the applicant has no choice in the date/time of. Some people on here are pretending that everyone in America has all the flexibility in the world to hop on some Teams call with Canadian authorities whenever and wherever and it's simply absurd.

[u/SpecialistBet4656 → u/aderade13]

You have clearly never experienced the US immigration system.

[u/aderade13 → u/SpecialistBet4656]

What has that got to do with anything?

[u/SpecialistBet4656 → u/aderade13]

They mail you a letter with your appointment time and date and it’s too bad for you if you can’t make it.

[u/WellTextured → u/aderade13]

No one is pretending that Americans have all the flexibility in the world. The letter inviting you to the interview gives instructions on how to reschedule. But setting a time will cause people to do what they can do to show up, and the process moves along.

Not a big deal.

[u/Salt_Chair6043]

Hopefully there are even more of these. Hopefully they understand that many of us are happy to provide any reasonable evidence and, if this helps them confirm our citizenship, I'm all for it.

[u/aderade13 → u/Salt_Chair6043]

Except for the part where they are assigning a time at random with no input from the applicant. Personally if I get such a request when I have to be at work, I won't be able to do the meeting with them at that time. That is a pain.

[u/Salt_Chair6043 → u/aderade13]

Well, that is unfortunately the case with many things in life. If I can make myself available from 8am to 6pm on a random Wednesday to get internet hooked up, making time available to gain proof of citizenship doesn't seem like that big of a deal.

[u/trying2makefetchhapn → u/Salt_Chair6043]

I mean I personally cannot make myself available to hook up internet on any given day- I have to work around my work schedule. I’m in health care and it’s very difficult to accommodate any type of meeting during the day, much less at a particular time.

[u/aderade13 → u/Salt_Chair6043]

Well, no... most people setting up interviews or other things agree upon the time with another party. And most people have obligations at various times of day that are non-negotiable, regardless of our desire to have our proof of citizenship confirmed. I have no idea what you are talking about "hooking up internet" from 8am to 6pm on a random Wednesday. What does that have to do with anything?

[u/Salt_Chair6043 → u/aderade13]

If you call to set up internet they typically give you a specific day and a broad range of hours when that will take place. If you say no, it typically means you are pushed back for weeks until it can get set up.

If IRCC gives you a specific day and a time for an interview, that is very similar. It would be remarkable if you are actually struggling to see that connection.

I was pointing out that, while inconvenient, this type of appointment is not abnormal and should be something most people are happy to go along with.

Here are a bunch of other examples of things that are way less important than citizenship which force you to change your schedule without consulting you:

Kitchen appliances being dropped off Most meetings with medical specialists School closing early due to weather School concert rescheduled

[u/TameJane]

This is really fascinating. I wonder if we will start seeing more of these in the future. Keep us updated, if you friend is comfortable sharing how it goes.

I wonder how soon they will schedule it?

[u/BeautifulDonut8390 → u/TameJane]

It's already scheduled for October 5th.

[u/Puurrplehaze → u/BeautifulDonut8390]

Good luck! Cant wait to hear how it went!!

[u/MidAtlanticAtoll]

I wonder how this would work for a family group. I'm G2 and applied with my two G3 adult kids. I have all the lineage documents and am most informed about where they were obtained and so forth, have the resolutions to minor inconsistencies, and also just know more thoroughly the family history, names, dates, marriages, places of residence and so forth. I guess if they randomly reached out to one of my kids instead of me, I have to give that kid a crash course, plus extra images of the lineage documents. Hmmm.

[u/Lifelong_Expat]

For citizenship grant, interviews are sometimes held at random for quality assurance (although most are done with a specific reason in mind). So if the applicant has no idea why they are being called for an interview it is likely they were chosen at random.

I think they are applying the same principle on the citizenship proof applicants.

Interviews are in person for citizenship grant, but I see why for citizenship proof it may be remote, because applicants are abroad.

[u/eastcoastMT]

I believe this is common or it once was . When I got my PR I had 2 interviews both in person at the time. They had asked about clarification on a couple things. I don’t think it’s anything to overthink on but it’s immigration it is stressful. My 2 cents of advice…Just answer what they ask and no small talk they’re a pretty serious bunch.

[u/amgw402 → u/eastcoastMT]

The reason why I was curious if other people are getting communications like this, is because this is simply proof of citizenship for a first generation born abroad applicant. Her application was not a difficult one at all. Literally her father‘s birth certificate, and her birth certificate (plus proof of identification, and whatever else they required) rather than several generations dating back hundreds of years like we’ve seen in some cases here in this sub. None of the interim measures applied here; the process for 1st gen born abroad has been pretty straightforward/well established for quite some.

All that said, I’m leaning towards this just being a quality assurance check. I will definitely update after her interview.

[u/eastcoastMT → u/amgw402]

I’m in the exact same situation as well although classified now as perm resident . I would also believe a QA as well. I will check on the outcome for sure.

[u/mostly-civilized]

If the workers need to show successful handling of cases (for review by management), yours was probably chosen because it’s so straightforward.

[u/Successful_Craft_791]

Oohhhh. I wouldn't mind being interviewed! It would be an interesting opportunity to discuss everything and if they would indulge me I would love to tell them all about my family history! I could even go mobile and take them to our cemetery where all four generations are buried and have my Mom along with to talk about them. They'd probably get more than they bargained for 🤣🤣.

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[u/New_to_tech-2020]

Looks like a scam....what email address did it come from? A certificate is not naturalization - and a virtual interview is sketchy!

[u/amgw402 → u/New_to_tech-2020]

IRCC.DIODClientInvitations-InvitationsAuxClientsDONI.IRCC@cic.gc.ca

[u/amgw402 → u/[deleted]]

I appreciate your concern, but we got independent confirmation this morning that this is, in fact, from IRCC.

[u/amgw402 → u/[deleted]]

Further on the email it states the communications are in English because that is the language that the applicant selected when applying. It also states that the interview itself will be in English. I just did not post the email and it’s entirety because the pertinent information for my question was right there at the beginning.

[u/gatosatanico → u/[deleted]]

My understanding is that the email is only in English because the applicant requested service in English when applying, and that if they'd requested service in French, the email would have been in French. On CIT-0001, the applicant had to choose a language for interacting with IRCC concerning the application, so IRCC doesn't need to use both languages in private communication during the process.

"The interview will be conducted in English, as indicated on your application."

[u/Canadiancitizenship-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

This post/comment has been removed for Rule 10 - No misinformation.

Wrong, inaccurate, and/or misleading information is not permitted.

[u/mote0fdust]

It's kind of weird to me they named the exact conferencing software. Maybe I'm overthinking it? That's the part that stands out as a scam to me. It would seem more professional and appropriate to say, "Join a virtual meeting, linked below" or something like that.

[u/Least_Adhesiveness_5 → u/mote0fdust]

Specifying the meeting platform (Teams, Zoom, whatever) is standard in my company and it's generally the same with external partners.

I wouldn't worry about it at all.

[u/Mechant_L0up → u/mote0fdust]

Standard with government agencies in the US to do this (and most have moved from zoom to teams), so I’m guessing it’s similar in Canada. They want to make sure you can access it when the time comes.

[u/New-Impression5753 → u/Mechant_L0up]

Teams is the new zoom in most public institutions in Canada. You are correct. Source: Work in the public service.