Applications for Canadian citizenship certificates have been surging globally in recent months, with a notable increase in submissions from the United States, according to findings by CBC News. The tally of individuals who have been granted certificates following the enactment of the “Lost Canadian” legislation by Parliament late last year has climbed by nearly 50% between April 1 and May 31, based on fresh data acquired by CBC.
The adoption of Bill C-3 now permits citizenship for individuals who can demonstrate lineage from a Canadian predecessor, even if that predecessor departed the country several generations ago. Since mid-December, a total of 6,100 citizenship certificates have been issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to those meeting the new eligibility criteria, up from 4,075 certificates from mid-December to March 31 as a result of Bill C-3.
Additionally, 17,390 individuals have been granted certificates due to having a Canadian parent, a requirement that was mandatory before the bill’s implementation. Among these, a significant proportion, including 3,110 Americans, have qualified for Canadian citizenship certificates under Bill C-3, while 8,125 Americans have obtained certificates because one of their parents was born in Canada.
Despite this surge in recognized citizens, a substantial backlog of citizenship certificate applications awaits processing. The number of pending applications rose sharply from about 56,000 in April to 70,400 in May, and as of now, IRCC reports a backlog of 121,800 applications. Consequently, the estimated waiting period for a decision has doubled from 12 months in May to 25 months as of August 10.
Notably, estimates vary widely regarding the potential number of individuals who could become 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. Despite initial expectations of moderate application volumes by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab last October, the surge in applications has prompted IRCC to enhance its processing capabilities and streamline application procedures.
Simultaneously, archivists in Canada have witnessed a substantial uptick in requests for genealogical records essential for proving lineage for Canadian citizenship certificates under Bill C-3. The surge in requests has strained archival resources, leading to calls for increased funding to meet the escalating demand for records necessitated by the legislative changes.
Furthermore, concerns have been raised over the suspension and potential revocation of citizenship certificates for some applicants due to issues with submitted documentation. The IRCC has resolved a portion of the suspensions and issued notices to affected individuals to rectify any deficiencies within a specified timeframe, failing which their citizenship certificates may be revoked. Opposition voices, including New Democrat immigration critic Jenny Kwan, have criticized the handling of these cases and called for transparency and clarity from the authorities.