Applications for Canadian citizenship certificates have seen a significant surge worldwide in recent months, driven by a substantial number of applications from the United States, as reported by CBC News. The adoption of the “Lost Canadian” legislation by Parliament late last year led to an almost 50% increase in the number of individuals receiving certificates between April 1 and May 31, according to fresh data from CBC.
Under Bill C-3, individuals can now obtain citizenship if they can demonstrate descent from a Canadian ancestor, even if that ancestor emigrated from Canada generations ago. The legislation was enacted following court rulings that found the previous citizenship restrictions too narrow. Since mid-December, around 6,100 citizenship certificates have been granted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to eligible individuals, up from 4,075 certificates issued before March 31.
An additional 17,390 people have obtained certificates due to having a Canadian parent, a requirement that was in place before the adoption of the bill. This has allowed a total of 23,490 newly recognized Canadian citizens to apply for Canadian passports and reside and work in the country, though they are ineligible to vote in federal elections unless they have resided in Canada at some point.
American individuals constitute nearly half of those recognized under the new legislation, with 3,110 Americans qualifying for Canadian citizenship certificates through Bill C-3, while 8,125 others have been granted certificates due to having a Canadian-born parent.
The number of pending citizenship certificate applications has surged, reaching 121,800 individuals awaiting decisions, up from 70,400 in May. The estimated processing time for a decision has doubled from 12 to 25 months as of August 10.
Estimates suggest that hundreds of thousands of individuals, particularly from Quebec, who migrated to the U.S. over a span of more than a century could be eligible for Canadian citizenship under Bill C-3. The parliamentary budget officer has projected that around 115,000 people could be impacted by the legislative change.
The surge in applications has also led to a sharp increase in requests for genealogical records needed to prove lineage to a Canadian ancestor, causing strain on archivists. The Association of Canadian Archivists has reported a significant rise in requests, with some archives experiencing a 100% to 300% surge in demand. The association is calling for increased funding to cope with the escalating demand for records.
Amidst these challenges, the suspension of approximately 100 certificates by IRCC due to document issues has raised concerns among archivists that additional requests for genealogical records may follow. IRCC has resolved 83 suspensions and issued procedural fairness letters to 17 individuals to provide necessary documentation within 60 days, failing which their citizenship certificates could be revoked.
New Democrat immigration critic Jenny Kwan has raised concerns over the suspension letters, urging Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab to address the issues promptly.
The evolving situation surrounding the implementation of Bill C-3 highlights the complexities and challenges faced by both applicants and officials involved in the citizenship process.