Applications for Canadian citizenship certificates have surged worldwide in recent months, with a notable increase in submissions from the United States, as revealed by CBC News. The implementation of the “Lost Canadian” legislation by Parliament late last year has led to a nearly 50% rise in the number of individuals receiving certificates between April 1 and May 31, according to data from CBC.
The enactment of Bill C-3 has enabled individuals to claim citizenship if they can demonstrate descent from a Canadian ancestor, even if that ancestor emigrated generations ago. This legislation was introduced following court decisions deeming the previous citizenship restrictions too limiting. Since mid-December when Bill C-3 took effect, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has granted around 6,100 citizenship certificates to eligible individuals, up from 4,075 certificates issued by March 31.
Moreover, 17,390 individuals have been granted certificates due to having a Canadian parent, a requirement that was in place before the new legislation. Notably, Americans make up almost half of the newly recognized Canadian citizens, with 3,110 Americans qualifying for citizenship certificates under Bill C-3 and 8,125 through having a Canadian parent.
However, the surge in applications has led to a significant backlog, with around 121,800 people awaiting decisions on their citizenship certificate applications, up from 70,400 in May. The processing time for applications has also doubled, with the estimated wait time now at 25 months as of August 10.
Estimates suggest a large number of individuals may be eligible for Canadian citizenship under Bill C-3, with historical migration patterns potentially affecting hundreds of thousands. The parliamentary budget officer has projected that approximately 115,000 individuals could be impacted by the legislative change.
As the demand for genealogical records to prove ancestry rises, Canadian archivists are facing a substantial increase in requests for documentation essential for citizenship certificate applications. The Association of Canadian Archivists reports a surge in inquiries, with requests skyrocketing by 100 to 300% in some cases. The evolving list of accepted documents by IRCC has added complexity to the process, leading to challenges for both archivists and applicants.
Furthermore, concerns have been raised about the suspension of citizenship certificates due to document issues, potentially requiring applicants to provide additional genealogical records. The IRCC has resolved some of these suspensions but has issued warnings to individuals at risk of certificate revocation if they fail to provide the required proof.
In light of these developments, there are calls for increased funding for archives to cope with the heightened demand for genealogical records. The impact of these changes is not only affecting the processing of citizenship applications but also placing emotional strain on archivists navigating the increased workload and evolving document requirements.