Immigrants say their lives are in limbo as pandemic blocks their path to citizenship

Six months after the federal government cancelled citizenship tests due to COVID-19,many immigrants say they feara growing backlog in the citizenship queuewill delayindefinitely their goal of becoming Canadians.

Before thepandemic hit, the entire citizenship process took an average of 12 months. Now, applicants say they have no idea when in-person tests will resume and they're calling on the federal government to hold online or physically distanced exams.

Myrann Abainza came to Canada from the Philippines as a live-in caregiver in 2009 and was joined by her husband and two daughters six years later.

Her family was on track to obtain citizenship whenCOVID-19 struck. Frustrated by the delay and a lack of information from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), she said the government shouldfinda way of holding in-person tests thatrespect public health guidelines.

"If schools are reopening, why not?" she said.

"It is very important for me because I've been waiting for this for a very long time. It's my dream. It's my dream to become a Canadian citizen."

IRCC's website states that as of March 14, all citizenship tests,re-tests, hearings and interviews are cancelled due to the pandemic. Citizenship ceremonies were also halted at that timebut have resumed sinceas virtual events.

IRCC told CBC News it is looking at alternatives to provide citizenship testsbut offered no timeframe.

Immigration department 'considering options'

"The department is reviewing operations and considering options for resumption of services, which could include online citizenship tests," said departmentspokesperson Beatrice Fenelon.

Tests and interviews are critical steps that must becompleted before someone can become a Canadiancitizen. Citizenship allows a newcomer the right to vote and obtain a passport, and also gives many a sense of security and permanent belonging.

Basel Masri, who arrived in Canada as a refugee from Turkey after fleeing conflict in his home country of Syria, is one ofthose whose path to citizenship has beenstalled by the pandemic.

Like many of thecitizenship applicants CBCcontactedfor this story, Masri checks the status of his application through an online portal every day only to learn thathis file is still "in process."

Masri said much of his anxiety is due to alack of information comingfrom IRCC.

"Is it going to be for two years now, the processing time? Nobody knows," he said.

"All the time you think about your application, you think about your passports, you think about your citizenship, you think about so many things. You think about your family."

A push for online tests

Now that IRCC has started virtual oath-taking ceremonies, Masri said it should be able to securely administer online citizenship tests.

According to figures provided by IRCC, nearly 7,000 online oath ceremonies have beenconducted since the pandemic struck, with more than 17,500 people being sworn inas new citizens.

The department is now ramping the number of oath ceremonies and allowing multiple participants in each event, to reach a target of 2,000 new citizens per week. In 2019, anaverageof 4,738 new citizens weresworn in every week atin-person ceremonies, according to IRCC.

Vancouver-based immigration lawyer Zool Suleman said the global pandemic has slowed down immigration processing times across the board.

While in-person citizenship tests might be possible, he said, officials would have to take precautionsto keep the test-takers andthe staff administering the testssafe and comfortable.

But delivering a virtual test would be even more challenging, since IRCC would have toverifythe identity of the person taking the testand ensurethat the answers aren't being provided by a third party.

Many people have argued that if schools and universities can operate virtually,citizenship tests could also be held online. But Suleman said the stakes are particularlyhigh withthe citizenship test.

Risks with virtual tests

"I think an online test would be considered risky for Canada immigration because it leads to a very important right for people when they become citizens," he said. "So there would be some concern that there would be an abuse of any kind of non-secure process."

Ottawa-based immigration lawyer Julie Taub said the technology is there to conduct virtual tests, but agreed that IRCC would need to take steps to ensurethe integrity of the process.

"It's hard to find a foolproof way if you do it online to ensure they're not cheating," she said.

Taub said many of the delays in the immigration process are caused by staff working from home due to the pandemic. She said that's led tomuch frustration among immigrants attempting to access services.

Olga Lenchenko has been in Canada for six years. She arrivedfrom Ukraine when her husband accepted a job as an accountant.

Their citizenship test was scheduled for the end of March, then cancelled due to COVID-19.

She said she has mixed feelings about the situation. She said sheunderstands the health threat posed bythe coronavirus but shefeels the lack of movement on testing is unfair.

"It's been six months and we haven't received any updates. It is very hard emotionally to be in limbo," she said.

"We've been dreaming about the day we become citizens. Now, all the thrill is gone."