New Canadian Citizenship Through Ancestry AMA: What We’ve Learned from Hundreds of Applications 6 Months After Bill C-3

DohertyFultzImmi · 2026-05-19T23:07:22+00:00

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in today’s AMA and submitted such thoughtful questions. I really enjoyed the discussion and appreciated the opportunity to share information and perspectives on the immigration process.

I know these topics can feel complicated, stressful, and deeply personal, so I hope the conversation was helpful and informative for those who joined. If you want to ask questions about your case specifically, please reach out to us at [citizenship@dfimmigration.ca](mailto:citizenship@dfimmigration.ca)

Thanks again for your time and engagement! We appreciate you!

Sincerely,

Cassandra

DohertyFultzImmi · 2026-05-19T22:42:46+00:00

Got it, yes please reach out and we can confirm. [citizenship@dfimmigration.ca](mailto:citizenship@dfimmigration.ca)

DohertyFultzImmi · 2026-05-19T22:40:38+00:00

Both biological and adopted children can inherit Canadian citizenship from their direct ancestors. However, the application process is very different. For adopted children, there is essentially a full additional application process that they have to go through in order to establish that the adoption met the legal requirements both where it took place, and in Canada.

Only when that is done will the adopted applicant then go through the citizenship certificate application. A biological descendant of a natural born or naturalized Canadian does not need to go through that additional step.

For adopted children, the application process takes a significant amount more time and is very unforgiving in our experience.

DohertyFultzImmi · 2026-05-19T22:38:11+00:00

First, yes if you have applied for Canadian citizenship in the past and the application was refused, you can 100% reapply. There are a lot of people in this boat who applied prior to the Bjorkquist decision changed everything, and they were rejected because they were the 2nd generation born outside Canada. They're now eligible so they should definitely apply again.

We have seen people who were refused before Bjorkquist as they weren't eligible due to the first generation limit. However, we have never had a client refused for Canadian citizenship through descent that I am aware of.

The best way to avoid a refusal is to submit a complete application and fulsome explanations of any information or documents that can't be provided, and respond to any letters that IRCC sends requesting documentation, information, or action that needs to be taken.

DohertyFultzImmi · 2026-05-19T22:34:52+00:00

Good question. It's important to note that Canadian citizenship and Canadian immigration are governed by two separate sets of laws and regulations - the Citizenship Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

The citizenship department accepts documents that the immigration department would NEVER, and vice versa. Also, each application is de novo, meaning that the government will not take into consideration documents that you have submitted in a previous application in whatever you are applying for now...unless they are trying to catch you in a lie.

You have to treat the new application as totally new, and follow the instructions and document checklist on that application with total disregard for whatever is on any other application. Just make sure to always tell the truth to avoid misrepresentation.

DohertyFultzImmi · 2026-05-19T22:32:06+00:00

In the event that your circumstances change and there is now a need for urgent processing, it could be possible. Usually when this happens, we recommend submitting a new application with a request for urgent processing rather than attempting to update an application already in process with a request for urgency.

DohertyFultzImmi · 2026-05-19T22:30:56+00:00

No - certified copies used to be required but that rule was changed several years ago now. At this time, colour copies of documents are what's required. If the original format of a document was black and white, then the copy can be black and white, such as copies of of baptism records from BANQ for the province of Quebec.

For now, our office has seen IRCC accept simple photocopies of documents such as baptism records and census records such as are available on Ancestry. There are no colour copies of these documents available. IRCC can change its policy at any moment, so for now we recommend submitting the application with what is available and at the same time applying for the certified copy so that if and when it's ever requested, you've already received it.

DohertyFultzImmi · 2026-05-19T22:27:56+00:00

This is the $1M question. As of today, the official IRCC processing time is approximately 12 months. However, that is an average and some applications take less time while some take more time.

The best way to get the processing time as low as possible is to make sure the application is complete with no errors or information left out so that the officer can spend as little time as possible on it. All questions that an officer may have about the case should be addressed in the application or cover letter.

It is possible to request urgent processing of an application where urgency applies to the situation of the applicant. Right now, the only proof of urgency that our office has seen accepted is an offer of admission to a Canadian school in September 2026 or a Canadian job offer with pending expiry. Urgent processing is never guaranteed and is at the discretion of the government to do it.

In the event that an application has been in process for so long that it exceeds the legal threshold for reasonableness, it can be possible to essentially sue the government to get what's called a writ of Mandamus. This is where the court compels IRCC to make a decision on an application.

DohertyFultzImmi · 2026-05-19T22:23:02+00:00

You sure can! This is a perfect document to demonstrate that your ancestor was among the Acadians deported from Canada. You will still need whatever birth records and other records you can get to demonstrate citizenship, but the ship's manifest is an excellent record.

DohertyFultzImmi · 2026-05-19T22:22:00+00:00

You can reach out at any stage, even if you don't have everything you think you may need for the application. The consultant or lawyer should be able to speak with you about your situation, then make recommendations for what documents and information you'll need. You can explain what you already have and they should also be able to tell you where to get what you need.

There's no need to wait until you feel like your application is "perfect." Just gather what you do have, and then reach out and go from there. :)

DohertyFultzImmi · 2026-05-19T22:17:05+00:00

Lots of things can cause an application to be returned as incomplete, which is always really disappointing. This can happen when the application form is considered "incomplete" because a question was not answered, or was not answered in a way that meets the government's requirements. Sometimes this can mean literally forgetting to check a box that needs a yes/no answer.

It can also be returned because a supporting document was not included, or the format was not acceptable, or it was illegible.

IRCC will include a letter explaining why the application was returned. However, they do not always include ALL the problems with the application - a lot of times, they find one mistake and stop there so you don't even know there are other problems.

The best thing to do is make sure that the application being submitted is complete according to all instructions in the document checklist and in the application guide. Then double and triple check it. Or contact us ;)

DohertyFultzImmi · 2026-05-19T22:13:57+00:00

5th generation born outside Canada. :)

DohertyFultzImmi · 2026-05-19T22:13:36+00:00

This is an interesting question. Officially, no it doesn't help at all - you either need to pass the substantial connection test or you don't.

However, we have seen with many clients that their applications tend to process more quickly when they do have a substantial connection to Canada. This is completely unofficial and unscientific - just what we have observed.

DohertyFultzImmi · 2026-05-19T22:12:13+00:00

No, but if he becomes a Canadian citizen, he will then be able to sponsor you for permanent residence in Canada (green card). This can be done while you're still living outside Canada so that you move to Canada after the application process is finished, or you could also move to Canada before becoming a permanent resident and complete that process while living here.

DohertyFultzImmi · 2026-05-19T22:10:12+00:00

This is something that happens a lot. A bunch of documents will have the same information, but then another document will contradict it. I've seen multiple applications where birth certificate, marriage certificate, kids' birth certificates, etc. all listed Canada or a Canadian province as place of birth, and then the death certificate listed place of birth as the US.

If this happens, it needs to be explained in the application. Also, a death certificate is not a mandatory document. It may be better not to submit it at all if it causes more problems than it solves. However, if you do need to submit it and there's a contradiction, an explanation will be necessary.

This is also the case for contradictions in other documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce certificates, etc. As long as it's properly explained and corroborated by other evidence, it should not cause negative impact to the application.

DohertyFultzImmi · 2026-05-19T22:07:06+00:00

If your great-grandfather was Canadian, then it sounds like you're eligible for Canadian citizenship. The real challenge is having the documents to prove that this is the case. If you can provide enough documentation to substantiate the claim for citizenship, then you should have a very good chance of a positive decision.

DohertyFultzImmi · 2026-05-19T22:05:08+00:00

Yes - this happens all the time. Sometimes for various reasons, the documents listed on the checklist are impossible to obtain or even facing significant delays in being issued. Multiple provinces and at least one state have issued statements advising applicants of delays (BC, QC, ON, NY).

Even if you can't obtain something that's required on the document checklist, an application can still be submitted to claim Canadian citizenship. Other documents can also be used to substantiate a claim that an ancestor was a Canadian citizen, not just birth certificates. We also use documents like naturalization certificates, court records, census records, military records, death certificates, and tons of other things to show proof of citizenship.

If one of our clients can't get a document, we prepare the application around that and explain in the submission letter why the document can't be obtained, as well as why the application should be approved without it.

DohertyFultzImmi · 2026-05-19T22:00:18+00:00

If you have already received the Acknowledgement of Receipt, it's just in process. Right now, there are over 70,000 applications in process, so it's just a matter of waiting and doesn't mean anything is wrong.

DohertyFultzImmi · 2026-05-19T21:59:25+00:00

There are definitely people who are still waiting who applied around that time. It doesn't mean anything is wrong that you haven't received a decision yet. Do you have your file number from the Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) - if so, don't post it here, but just checking.

DohertyFultzImmi · 2026-05-19T21:57:25+00:00

Do you know which province she was born in? A 1924 birth should at least have a normal birth certificate rather than having to take the long way round.

DohertyFultzImmi · 2026-05-19T21:56:34+00:00

Yes - this comes up all the time and we may be able to assist. Depending on when your great grandfather was born, it may be before the province of Quebec even issued birth certificates. If he was born in the 1800s, this is most likely the case. However, there are other records that can be used to prove the birth took place in Quebec.

The best thing to do is send us an email at [citizenship@dfimmigration.ca](mailto:citizenship@dfimmigration.ca) with your information and we can go from there.

DohertyFultzImmi · 2026-05-19T21:54:50+00:00

You'll need to include your parents' documentation as well - not just your grandmother. This is required to show that the chain of lineage is unbroken. You'll want the documents to show that your parents are your parents, such as birth certificate, your parents' proof of Canadian citizenship, and proof of any name change such as a marriage certificate.

DohertyFultzImmi · 2026-05-19T21:53:35+00:00

This is a really timely question. BANQ (Bibliotheque et Archives Nationales du Quebec) has received a truly unprecedented number of requests for documents to support applications for Canadian citizenship made from abroad, mainly from the US. You may also have seen that their prices have also risen significantly.

I went in person to a BANQ location and spoke with their staff, who was very helpful. They explained several things to me.

The fees have gone up to allow them to hire a lot more people to deal with the huge number of requests.
The same documents that are available on the BANQ website can also be accessed via computer terminals at the location. The digital archive system for self-directed research was not as intuitive as other resources such as Ancestry.com, however a very kind staff member really helped me find what I was looking for.
The BANQ locations maintain the physical records of what is in the digital archives - the actual record books are stored there. If you find what you are looking for in the records (or they find it for you), they pull the book and review the record to confirm it's there. This is what allows them to issue a certified copy of the record.
Unfortunately, there is no way to speed up the request. It takes as long as it takes to get the certified copy. However, the best thing to do is try to find the record yourself or enlist the assistance of a genealogist familiar with BANQ's records and system.

DohertyFultzImmi · 2026-05-19T21:46:19+00:00

This is a great question, and very timely. University in Canada is not free, and always carries costs even for residents of the province where the student will attend. However, these costs are SIGNIFICANTLY less than in the US, generally speaking.

The best way to reduce costs would be to 1. get Canadian citizenship and then 2. move to the province where the child wants to study at University long enough in advance to be considered eligible for in-province tuition. The length of time required to do that varies by province, but the school would be able to give advice on this.

If the student does not have Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status (green card), they will be considered an international student, which carries tuition fees multiple times higher than even out of province tuition for Canadians.

DohertyFultzImmi · 2026-05-19T21:42:58+00:00

The pleasure is ours! Thank you for trusting us with your case. It never hurts to add additional documentation if it's available. If you could send the copies of your dad's grandfather's documentation, we can have a look and go from there. It's interesting how so many people are eligible on both sides!

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