Applications for Canadian citizenship certificates have surged recently, with a significant increase in the number of certificates granted to individuals worldwide, particularly from the United States. The adoption of the “Lost Canadian” legislation by Parliament has led to a nearly 50% rise in the issuance of certificates from April 1 to May 31, as per data obtained by CBC.
Under Bill C-3, individuals can obtain citizenship by proving descent from a Canadian ancestor, even if the ancestor left the country generations ago. Since mid-December, over 6,100 citizenship certificates have been granted to eligible individuals, up from 4,075 certificates issued before March 31. Additionally, 17,390 people have obtained certificates due to having a Canadian parent.
The newly recognized Canadian citizens, totaling 23,490, can now apply for Canadian passports and reside and work in Canada. Despite this, they are ineligible to vote in federal elections unless they have lived in Canada at some point. Notably, Americans constitute nearly half of the individuals recognized for citizenship under Bill C-3, with 3,110 Americans qualifying through descent and 8,125 through Canadian parentage.
The surge in citizenship applications has led to a backlog, with approximately 121,800 people awaiting a decision as of now. The processing time for applications has doubled from 12 months to 25 months by August 10. Estimates suggest that hundreds of thousands could potentially qualify for Canadian citizenship under Bill C-3, with the parliamentary budget officer projecting around 115,000 individuals affected by the law change.
Archivists are facing a substantial increase in requests for genealogical records to demonstrate lineage for Canadian citizenship certificates under Bill C-3. The overwhelming volume of requests, often from the U.S., has strained archivists, with some institutions experiencing a 100 to 300% surge in inquiries. The Association of Canadian Archivists is advocating for increased funding to meet the rising demand for records necessitated by the new citizenship law.
In a recent development, IRCC suspended around 100 citizenship certificates due to document issues, prompting concerns that applicants may need to provide additional genealogical records. While some suspensions have been resolved, others risk revocation if suitable proof is not provided within the stipulated timeframe. Opposition parties have raised concerns over the suspension process, urging the Immigration Minister to address the situation promptly.