Applications for Canadian citizenship certificates have surged globally in recent months, with a significant increase in submissions from the United States, as per findings by CBC News. The adoption of the “Lost Canadian” legislation by Parliament last year has led to a nearly 50% rise in the number of individuals receiving certificates between April 1 and May 31, based on new CBC data.
The implementation of Bill C-3 allows individuals to claim citizenship if they can demonstrate descent from a Canadian ancestor, even if that ancestor emigrated generations ago. This legislation was enacted following court rulings that deemed the prior restriction of citizenship to only the first generation born outside Canada as overly restrictive.
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 until March 31. Additionally, 17,390 certificates have been awarded to those having a Canadian parent.
The newfound citizenship enables these 23,490 individuals to apply for Canadian passports, reside, and work in Canada. Notably, despite their new status, they are ineligible to vote in federal elections unless they have lived in Canada at some point.
The data reveals that Americans constitute nearly half of the individuals recognized for Canadian citizenship between mid-December and the end of May. Specifically, 3,110 Americans have qualified for certificates under Bill C-3, while another 8,125 have obtained certificates due to having a Canadian parent.
However, the influx of citizenship certificate applications awaiting processing has surged significantly. In April, about 56,000 applications were pending, escalating to 70,400 in May. Presently, IRCC reports 121,800 pending applications, including those related to Bill C-3 recognition or routine certificate replacements.
Moreover, the estimated processing time for applications has doubled from 12 months in May to 25 months as of August 10. The potential number of individuals eligible for Canadian citizenship under Bill C-3 varies, with projections suggesting up to 115,000 people could be impacted by the legislative change.
Amidst the rising demand for genealogical records to validate ancestry under Bill C-3, Canadian archivists are experiencing a significant uptick in requests. Institutions are witnessing a 100 to 300% surge in inquiries, with some seeking records dating back centuries, predominantly from Americans.
To cope with the increasing workload, archivists are advocating for additional funding to meet the demand for records necessitated by Bill C-3. The evolving list of acceptable documents by IRCC poses a challenge, contributing to delays and uncertainties for both archivists and applicants.