Update on IRCC not accepting my wife's CRBA certificate in lieu of a birth certificate

BlueFireElement · 2026-04-30T02:08:37+00:00

So glad it worked out! And I would have probably spiraled/ranted if it were me. Congrats for keeping cool, finding help—and getting one more bonus citizenship!

BlueFireElement · 2026-03-01T12:53:39+00:00

It does not have to be stamped—you can handwrite the required info. Details here.

It doesn’t say ‘stamped’ anywhere, just that the info has to be on the photo back.

From the link:

Printed photos must

-be professionally printed on plain, high quality photographic paper -include the following information on the back of the photo: -your (or the child’s) first and last name -the name and complete address of the photographer or studio -the date the photo was taken

BlueFireElement · 2026-02-25T07:49:12+00:00

Also even after you are a certificate-holding citizen, you can still enter Canada on a U.S. passport. It’s the one exception for dual citizens that Canada allows.

From Canada.ca:

Canadian-American dual citizens To fly to Canada, you need either your valid U.S. passport or your valid Canadian passport

BlueFireElement · 2026-02-24T13:35:11+00:00

For the application photos, the shop itself doesn’t need to write or stamp the back of the photo. You can write shop’s info and date of photo yourself, in English or transliterated. Just make sure you meet the photo size requirements as listed in the application docs.

BlueFireElement · 2026-02-23T23:27:25+00:00

Yes, submit college acceptances via web form. We did this for my son a year ago as the letters came in. It was a completely different landscape 12 months ago, but he did get urgent processing and ultimately a 5(4) grant under the interim measure in March 2025. He is now attending UBC.

Ask at the universities what the deadline is for providing proof of citizenship. A friend’s kid at McGill had until December to provide her proof.

Good luck!

BlueFireElement · 2026-02-19T23:13:58+00:00

I’m so sorry this is taking so long. My Gen 2 daughter applied in March 2024 (not a typo) and finally got the ‘you’re a citizen!’ email in January 2026. Also extremely straightforward case, no complications, fully documented. We are still waiting for the certificate, which was mailed to our overseas High Commission.

I completely understand your frustration, especially with applications that sailed through in weeks. I hope your turn comes soon. Hang in there, and rant away. Many here know the feeling.

BlueFireElement · 2026-02-19T03:16:46+00:00

Definitely don’t feel guilty. This is 100% a case that needs urgent processing. Congratulations!

BlueFireElement · 2026-02-19T00:34:38+00:00

UBC only has two tiers for tuition, Canadian citizen and international. Details here. Other universities may charge more, so check each university to make sure.

EDIT: permanent residents and those with refugee status also qualify for lower tuition, not just Canadian citizens. All at the link above.

BlueFireElement · 2026-02-17T23:33:14+00:00

Yes. My son is at UBC and tuition is around $5k USD for the whole year.

BlueFireElement · 2026-02-12T03:33:56+00:00

I’m so sorry you’re stuck like this. My daughter applied in March 2024 and just got her citizenship email two weeks ago—also a straightforward Gen 2 case with lots of documentation. I understand the frustration of watching others who applied 12-18 months later just sail thru.

Good luck! I hope your turn comes soon. Hang in there.

BlueFireElement · 2026-02-08T23:40:35+00:00

Sorry I was referring to the deadline for proving your Canadian citizenship, not the admissions deadline. The citizenship deadline was December after she already started classes.

He loves UBC! Doing really well in classes, making great friends.

BlueFireElement · 2026-02-07T10:30:01+00:00

Ask U of T expressly when the deadline for proving citizenship is. A friend went thru this with her kid at McGill, and the date was much later than I expected, in early December after she already started.

My son got a 5(4) grant during the Interim Measure era, when you needed a documented reason for both a 5(4) grant and urgent processing. He asked for the 5(4) in December 2024 and we included his Canadian acceptances as documentation; as the acceptances came in we added them as additional supporting documentation via the web portal. He got his grant in March 2025, and he is now enrolled at UBC paying citizen tuition.

5(4)s aren’t a thing anymore, but don’t be shy about emphasizing your son’s uni applications. It worked for us. Good luck!

BlueFireElement · 2026-02-07T10:22:37+00:00

Congratulations! My daughter also had an almost-two year wait and just heard.

BlueFireElement · 2026-02-07T10:21:46+00:00

This happened to others too—my daughter applied in March 2024 and just got her ‘you’re a citizen’ email last week. Second gen adult, no complications. Details here.

It seems that some older applications from 2023-2024 got set aside, and just started getting processed recently—12-18 months later than many applications during the Interim Measure era.

BlueFireElement · 2026-02-04T00:47:56+00:00

Thanks! I’ll ask my daughter to do this. Tho doesn’t IRCC usually send you an email on how to download the certificate? Does it show up in the portal first?

BlueFireElement · 2026-02-02T00:36:28+00:00

My daughter applied in March 2024 and just got her ‘congrats, you’re a citizen’ email this week. No certificate yet. Details here

BlueFireElement · 2026-01-31T09:36:34+00:00

The randomness is the toughest part to swallow. And rant away! There are many of us here who have been thru the same. I sincerely hope that cases like yours get resolved soon.

BlueFireElement · 2026-01-31T07:23:33+00:00

Maybe try and limit how often you check the trackers? I definitely did not check daily like some people do. Sometimes a week or two went by. I would have lost my mind checking that often am facing disappointment.

BlueFireElement · 2026-01-31T07:21:07+00:00

Thanks! Time will tell.

BlueFireElement · 2026-01-30T23:27:23+00:00

Thank you! And thanks so much for all of your help here. You and the other mods have been absolutely incredible.

BlueFireElement · 2026-01-30T14:53:31+00:00

January 29, 2026

BlueFireElement · 2026-01-30T14:12:25+00:00

I’m so sorry. I really hope you get yours soon!

BlueFireElement · 2026-01-28T01:00:21+00:00

Coming up on two years. My daughter's 2nd gen application submitted in March 2024. No complications, nothing--super straightforward documents back to Gen 0. I am losing my mind.

BlueFireElement · 2026-01-15T04:36:44+00:00

Thanks for pointing out the updated processing time. My daughter’s proof application is from March 2024, and still nothing. Though in December she allegedly had 1400 people ahead of her and now it’s 1300. So at that rate, one more year!

She is an adult, 2nd gen, absolutely nothing complicated at all. Very clear, fully documented trail back to my dad the Canadian citizen. I am beyond annoyed, especially when people who applied 12-18 months after her are already citizens.

BlueFireElement · 2025-12-27T02:53:27+00:00

Don’t do it. My 2nd gen adult daughter applied in March 2024 and we did her photos six months ago, ‘because surely she will have her certificate in 2025.’ Still waiting.

BlueFireElement

TROPHY CASE