A Gatineau resident can’t wait to get her Canadian citizenship. Especially since in his case these delays prevent him from traveling to Africa to visit his parents, whose health continues to deteriorate. She hopes her heartfelt cry will be heard.

Fatou Bamba, who immigrated to Gatineau in 2012, says she applied for Canadian citizenship in 2020 and passed the exam in 2021. She emphasizes that she received confirmation that this would be granted to her, but regrets that she has never been summoned to the swearing-in since then.

She is therefore applying to be sworn in to obtain her citizenship, especially since the mother of three children has an expired permanent residence card and cannot obtain her passport.

My father and mother don’t know my children. I promised my children that I would travel to Africa in August. […] I saw the sadness in my children’s eyes.

-Gatineau resident Fatou Bamba is waiting for her Canadian citizenship

The auxiliary nurse is afraid of never seeing her parents again, who she hasn’t seen in a long time, mainly because of the pandemic, which she spent on the front lines in a CHSLD.

I feel like a prisoner in my host country, Canada, because administrative files are just lying around for no reason.

-Gatineau resident Fatou Bamba is waiting for her Canadian citizenship

Ms. Bamba also addressed Support for immigrant women in Outaouais (AFIO) and MP Greg Fergus to get things going. He wanted to express his sympathy in writing, but made it clear that he could not accelerate this process as deputy.

The waiting times at immigration are inhumane.

-Julie Koskinen, social worker supporting immigrant women in Outaouais

Reached for comment, Immigration and Citizenship Canada says it cannot comment on this specific case, but citizenship ceremonies typically take place 4 to 6 months after passing the exam. However, we add that the complexity of a file and the verification of the information can prolong this delay.