Translator for Citizenship Interview

My grandparents just received notice to attend an interview with a citizenship officer to verify their identity and original documents. They are over the age of 54 and hence do not need to take the citizenship test. Their grasp of the English language is close to nil. Would the interviewer allow me to accompany my grandparents to act as their translator during the interview?

Thanks in advance,

Ginger

Hello Ginger,

Thank you for sharing your grandparents’ situation with us. It is great that you are looking into this type of information on their behalf.

You can find some information on this topic in the CIC CP 13 – Administration Operations Manual.

According to the CIC CP 13 – Administration Operations Manual,

and

We suggest that you may also want to contact the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Call Centre directly for some information specific to these type of circumstances. If you want to find out information specific to your grandparents’ file, notice or interview with the citizenship officer, you will likely have to do this with your grandparents present. The Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Call Centre agent will likely ask you if they are there with you and have given you permission to ask information about their file.

I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation.

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Anna
Settlement.Org Content and Information/Referral Specialist, CIRS
Settlement.Org

Hi

  1. There is a good chance that the Grandparents will be refused for lack of English/French. From www,cic.gc.ca

“In order to become a Canadian citizen, you must have an adequate knowledge of English or French, Canada’s two official languages. Adequate knowledge of English or French means the ability to speak one of Canada’s official languages well enough to communicate with people. Citizenship applicants must attain Canadian Language Benchmark/Niveau de compétence linguistique canadien 4 to demonstrate adequate knowledge of English or French.”

If it is for their language ability, here is what CIC says in CP 13

Exception to language interpreters at a hearing with a citizenship judge
Language interpreters may not be used during the assessment of a client’s ability to speak one of
the official languages. An interpreter may be used during a hearing when assessing their
knowledge of Canada. While it is possible for applicants to have sufficient knowledge of English
or French to meet the language requirement, they may have difficulty either understanding or
expressing themselves in response to questions concerning knowledge of Canada and of the
responsibilities and privileges of citizenship. For this reason, applicants are permitted to rely on
the assistance of an interpreter in order to demonstrate that they satisfy the Citizenship Act’s
knowledge of Canada requirement."

PMM

Are you sure, PMM? http://www.cic.gc.ca/ENGLISH/information/applications/guides/CIT0002ETOC.asp says:

The OP said that her grandparents are over the age of 54.

Hi

If they said over 55 then the language wouldn’t apply, I assume that they are 54. But if they are over 55 the only other reason is that they don’t have sufficient days of residency.

PMM

Hi All,

Thanks for your replies. I just went with them to the interview today. They didn’t even ask for an ID from me. They had a room full of people that were of the age 55 and above and a lot of them were accompanied by a family member that acted as a translator. Very easy questions, very quick (~5 minute) interview (more like a friendly chat). The guy said they should receive a letter for them to take the oath within 2-3 months.

Thanks again for your help!

Ginger