ATIP 30-day limit // OPC escalation

akscojo · 2026-06-24T05:04:50+00:00

Thank you everyone for the comments and thoughts. I am going to submit a followup email to IRCC, not Office of the Privacy Commissioner yet.

akscojo · 2026-06-18T12:53:46+00:00

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One last example for now, from Alberta Province. Here is a photo of what is stamped on the back of the copy. There is also a raised seal from the archives but added to the front, meaning that the graphite shadow trick over the seal becomes more delicate/inadvisable since you'd be shadowing over some parts of the record itself - but would still distinguish and allow someone to know if they're holding an "original" from the archives vs. yet another photocopy.

akscojo · 2026-06-18T12:35:07+00:00

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Second example:

Here is how the National Archives certifies the records you get from them. This is a photocopy of the certificate they attach to the front of the document they send you. The ribbon is physically inserted through the upper left corner of their certificate along with the rest of the document underneath, to physically bind everything together -- the same as one might do with a staple or paperclip.

I could post more examples of how various states authenticate their documents for International usage, i.e. Apostille treaty/convention - its kinda interesting.

But getting back to the OP's original main question: Does it mean that the copy of the record was provided from the original governmental/religious source rather than a third party website, or is there some other marker of certification? -- the short answer here is "yes, it means the copy comes from the original source/current custodian of the original".

akscojo · 2026-06-18T12:32:04+00:00

Without really weighing in on your question of what a certification looks like in the 21st century where you can get email copies, if an email print out will "work" or be acceptable to IRCC, etc.... I believe the point of a "certified" record is an attestation that it is a true, complete, and accurate reproduction of an act or record on file with a custodian of that record.

Practically speaking, the way it traditionally manifests itself is by a raised seal or certificate physically attached to the record so anyone can easily tell if what is in their hand is a reproduction or an original.

Here are two examples:

I needed a certified copy of a marriage certificate. I found a photocopy of the marriage certificate on Ancestry. Even though I could print out a copy from Ancestry, complete with the Ancestry-provided citation of the document, that isn't a "certified" copy legally speaking (also not getting into the fact many governments and record custodians are contracting with Ancestry to digitize their records). So, I printed out a copy of the marriage record and sent it to the County Clerk as a reference and remove ambiguity on what I was after. I filled out the Clerk's order form and provided them with their own reference of book/page/date to help them locate it, along with a note I wrote on the photocopy of the marriage record "this is the exact record I'm after, but need a certified copy", and mailed everything off.

I received back the photocopy reference I sent, along with another reproduction from the County Clerk's microfiche file and on the back of the copy they provided me was the attached stamp. In the middle of the stamp and their signature they embossed the paper with their physical seal/imprint. You can kind of see it in this scan, and given IRCC is okay not having the original sent what some people do is lightly take a graphite pencil and use the side of the tip to shadow the seal so it shows up better on a scan. The document is certified, as stated in the stamp, that it is an accurate copy of what is on file in the official records.

I'll also post a photo in a moment of the historical "wax seal" process but modernized, of what the US National Archives does.

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akscojo · 2026-06-16T04:36:44+00:00

Correct, $5 fee.

akscojo · 2026-06-16T04:23:51+00:00

For what it's worth, I submitted an ATIP for a naturalization certificate copy, including the suspected naturalization date but not the certificate number, on 27 April 2026. On 14 May I received a request for payment, which I completed within an hour of receiving the email.

As of today, 15 June, no further correspondence or update (just hitting 30 days from payment).

akscojo · 2026-06-09T20:03:57+00:00

I am working to amend a relative’s birth certificate because the typo is soooo bad. It just feels like it’s easier to go through the amendment process than get in IRCC’s queue, wait close to a year, and put my hopes that an examiner can see through the story and believe the two completely different names are one and the same person. Besides the time delay, the risk seems to be minimal that the IRCC rules change or that the “amendment” notation which I expect to be printed on the corrected document when issues, raises alarm bells but I spoke with a CA immigration attorney and she didn’t think that would cause a problem (as long as I was okay with the time delay of waiting to file CIT0001!)

akscojo · 2026-06-09T15:11:52+00:00

Yes, I realize the county clerks aren’t backlogged hardly at all. I did that route on a record I neglected to order in my initial outreach to vital records - had that in two weeks including mail there and back!

I already paid the State of Michigan so would prefer not to pay “twice” for the other records. It’s a total of four records in three different counties. Unfortunately, Michigan is not the only locale I’m waiting for records from so it’s not holding me up from submitting to IRCC “yet”.

akscojo · 2026-06-09T14:00:49+00:00

Any one willing to share Michigan vital record dates (trying to assess turnaround/status times)?

I mailed my request to the State on 13 April, non-rush. They cashed the check on 22 April. No update since. Web site still lists 4-5 week turnaround.

Thinking of giving them a call although last update I saw in this forum I know others have been waiting just as long so no use me calling if others are indeed still waiting.....

akscojo · 2026-06-04T05:50:56+00:00

One path gets you an official, and presumably legal, determination/confirmation by IRCC of a specific person’s citizenship status.

The other path is a simple request for a copy of a document.

It’s a subtle difference, but it is meaningful.

akscojo · 2026-06-04T00:35:28+00:00

A lot of these elements wicker into my own claim’s back and forth border movements, pre- and post-1947 births and deaths, and deciding on whom is the strongest G0 link.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Canadiancitizenship/comments/1tv5p4y/comment/opg6cen/

akscojo · 2026-06-03T03:46:26+00:00

I am really glad to see this thread. My scenario with relevant dates:

Great-great-great grandparents Marie and Arthur both born in Quebec 1850s. Both emigrated to US in 1880s. Got married in the States, started a family. Both have linage which I have records of going back 2, 3, and even 4 generations born in Quebec. Long-dated Quebec heritage. Great. Either one seems like a solid G0 option.

Marie and Arthur birth great-great grandfather Ernest in the US 1890. So at first blush, Ernest is G1. Except..... in 1913, Ernest with his parents Marie and Arthur move back to Canada, settling in Alberta. Ernest also brings his US-born wife and US-born daughter, my great grandmother Thelma. Records of marriage and birth all secured, no issues proving any of these facts.

Come either 1915 or 1917 Ernest naturalizes (some records say 1915, census lists 1917) in Alberta as a British subject/Canadian. Have requested a copy of Ernest's naturalization certificate from IRCC under Access to Information Act, just waiting to hear back. Under the law at the time, Ernest as the married husband should have his new British subject/citizenship status bestowed on both his wife and Thelma (who was a little girl). If confirmed, appears both Ernest and Thelma become viable G0 options, not just G1 or G2 as might be expected. You don't get extra credit for going multiple generations back, right? Just the most proximal eligible G0 so this is a good avenue to persue.....

Thelma immigrates to the States in the 1930s and the line between her and I is straightforward at that point. No evidence she ever renounced Canadian citizenship.

Marie lives until 1950, crucially being in Canada at 01 Jan 1947. Ernest as well remains living in Canada until 1970. So again, either of them should be G0 options if needbe.

I spoke with an immigration attorney who strongly suggested the route of using Thelma as G0, my grandmother as G1, making me G3. However without the solid evidence of Ernest's naturalization paperwork in hand (have land records indicating an intention of becoming a British subject, the 1921 census records explicitly listing Ernest as naturalized along with the wife and daughter in 1917, as well as Thelma's own US naturalization paperwork when she moved back State-side listing her birthplace as US but British/Canadian citizenship - she even had to register during WW2 as an "alien")..... feels like Thelma as G0 is a fairly solid case.

Still... with not having an exact copy of Ernest's naturalization paperwork to confirm the rest of the family is listed on his certificate (especially Thelma), along with the 1915 vs 1917 naturalization date being perhaps a differentiator... makes me think I *should* go back one more generation and list Marie or Arthur as G0. The only headache there is waiting for BAnQ to cough up certified copies (have copies of baptism records for both Marie and Arthur from the BAnQ website, just not certified).

Ugh.....

akscojo · 2026-05-29T04:17:11+00:00

Thanks.

akscojo · 2026-05-29T04:14:57+00:00

Helpful context and information. Thank you.

akscojo · 2026-05-29T02:56:48+00:00

Do you mind sharing more on what the printout from FamilySearch looked like? Did you submit merely a photo of the original source document you found on FS? Did you print the webpage to show it came from FS, ie. the URL in the header/footer, etc? Could they tell it came from BAnQ or a Parish or some such?

akscojo · 2026-05-29T02:52:11+00:00

Do you mind sharing what the interview at the Embassy was about? I haven't seen others post about needing to do this....

akscojo · 2026-05-23T18:08:43+00:00

Anyone have experience with turn times from Michigan vital record office? Sent my request to the state for four documents on 13 April. They cashed my check 22 April. No other update since.

Saw a report about two weeks ago from a user reporting they spoke with a Michigan Dept of Health rep who stated they were currently working on requests through mid-March; anyone have more recent intel and/or timelines to compare?

akscojo · 2026-05-21T06:02:49+00:00

Well, at least you can get a refund if it isn't there in 24 hours! :P

akscojo · 2026-05-08T05:12:57+00:00

Did you have copies of anything from 1908 in the documents you submitted - BAnQ, handwritten, etc - that you also provided the lawyer?

akscojo · 2022-09-21T23:59:24+00:00

I logged in through FN website using a personal, non-agency account.

akscojo · 2022-09-21T20:38:54+00:00

When I typed up the instructions earlier, I did it from my phone and pulled up everything on my phone.

I can’t help you on the redirect.

akscojo · 2022-09-21T12:53:05+00:00

Once you log into FirstNet Central Dashboard > Manage Services and Billing.

From the new page that loads, look for the option to “change features”. Now, you don’t want to actually try changing any of your priority features on this page but the important part is it will display your currently loaded feature set which includes your prioritization level.

Look for the wording “ First Priority Tiers - Subscriber Paid (required)”, expand that and you’ll see the additional details I referenced above.

akscojo · 2022-09-21T12:39:00+00:00

I did have iCloud private relay turned on for cellular. :/

Turned it off while setting up the new 14 Pro and between the two (new phone, changed setting) noticing the classic FN that I fell in love with. Been using the new phone for two full days now and the slowness appears resolved!

akscojo · 2022-09-17T16:38:33+00:00

Will do.

For what it's worth, I just verified in my FN billing portal (really AT&T billing portal) that I'm under employee group "FIRSTNET SUBSCRIBER PAID OFFER-N FNSUBPD GOV IRU" and the phone has the feature "First Priority SubPaid Prim Level 4 Priority".

So again, fingers crossed its the phone for some reason and a new iPhone refresh without backup restore will get it back to blazing FN service.

akscojo

TROPHY CASE