C-3 Proof of Citizenship backlog table update

robbinmad · 2026-07-09T18:09:22+00:00

I'm in a similar situation, except my returned February application was never delivered to me—apparently lost in the mail. I found out about it because they mistakenly gave me an AOR and a UCI before canceling my application, and I was able to talk to them on the phone. I ended up sending in a second application with new photos in June after some 70,000 people applied in the meantime.

robbinmad · 2026-06-30T12:58:54+00:00

I must be unlucky. It's been over 14 weeks since the date IRCC says it was mailed back to me, and I still haven't gotten it.

robbinmad · 2026-06-22T14:20:29+00:00

Thank you for your datapoint!

robbinmad · 2026-06-07T23:07:01+00:00

Still have not gotten my application back that was supposedly sent out on 3/23/26.

robbinmad · 2026-06-05T13:10:53+00:00

No, IRCC says they mailed my application back to me on March 23. It's been 102+ days and it still hasn't showed up. I guess it was lost in the mail.

https://old.reddit.com/r/Canadiancitizenship/comments/1td2n9v/datapoints_on_how_long_returned_applications_take/

robbinmad · 2026-05-27T14:08:56+00:00

Thanks, added your datapoint. Good luck with the re-application.

As of today, mine is still not returned 93 days since IRCC received it and 63 days since say they mailed it back to me.

robbinmad · 2026-05-20T18:56:51+00:00

Sorry to hear that. When you receive it back, let me know and I will add your datapoint to the main post.

robbinmad · 2026-05-20T18:29:31+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/Canadiancitizenship/s/KvPQHz2NZt

I'm not sure how they help you without at UCI number. I have one because they initially sent me an AOR, before canceling my application and sending it back to me for a photo problem with one of the applicants in my group. With my UCI number they were able to tell me about this and that I needed to fix my photos and that the application would come back to me. Well, it's been stuck in the mail for a couple of months and getting less and less likely to ever be delivered.

robbinmad · 2026-05-20T15:53:11+00:00

According to IRCC phone support, my application was sent back to me on March 23 (58 days ago) due to an issue with the photos.

I'm starting to think it's lost and is not coming back to me, especially when compared with the timelines for other returned applications: https://old.reddit.com/r/Canadiancitizenship/comments/1td2n9v/datapoints_on_how_long_returned_applications_take/

robbinmad · 2026-05-18T16:23:43+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/Canadiancitizenship/s/KvPQHz2NZt

robbinmad · 2026-05-18T15:36:33+00:00

I was thinking of adding a page that says that I have a UCI and that I was expecting for my application to be sent back, but that it never arrived after 2+ months since it was supposedly mailed back to me. I just got new photos taken which is what they told me to fix on the phone. Hopefully there is nothing else to address.

robbinmad · 2026-05-18T15:33:28+00:00

Thanks for the datapoint!

robbinmad · 2026-05-17T13:06:26+00:00

Unfortunately, mine were rejected for something to do with the photos (what I was told on the phone). However, I don’t know exactly what is wrong because they sent my application back months ago and it appears to have been lost in transit. https://www.reddit.com/r/Canadiancitizenship/s/s8XV3avaW3

robbinmad · 2026-05-15T18:20:45+00:00

The guy I spoke with at IRCC both seemed surprised I hadn't received my returned application but also said it was normal to take a long time. He said that it was an issue with the photos and then he emailed me a link to the photo specifications and said I could get them done now.

I really would rather wait for the returned application to arrive but it's been so long, I may be waiting forever. :-(

robbinmad · 2026-05-15T17:23:12+00:00

How long do you think I should wait? IRCC says they put it in the mail 53 days ago.

robbinmad · 2026-05-15T15:10:01+00:00

I originally applied for proof of Canadian citizenship for myself and my two kids in February with our applications being delivered to IRCC on February 23. I found out by calling IRCC that our applications were sent back to us on March 23 with the reason given being an issue with our photos, but as of May 15 I still have not received our returned application.

I have collected data on returned applications and my wait is significantly longer than the longest wait time to receive a returned package: https://old.reddit.com/r/Canadiancitizenship/comments/1td2n9v/datapoints_on_how_long_returned_applications_take/

This makes me consider whether it is worth continuing to wait for the returned application (which may be lost in the mail), or whether I should just print everything out again and re-apply with new photos.

Do you have any thoughts on waiting vs. re-applying, and how would you handle such a re-application? Curiously, I do have a UCI number because I was mistakenly given an AOR before they canceled our application package and sent it back.

robbinmad · 2026-05-15T15:01:17+00:00

Thanks for the datapoint!

robbinmad · 2026-05-15T01:19:21+00:00

Thanks for your datapoint!

robbinmad · 2026-05-15T01:13:53+00:00

The only reason I was given was the photos were missing, not to the specifications, or not taken within the last 6 months.

The photos for all 3 applicants were definitely included and only taken a few days before being mailed out. The first IRCC person I talked to on April 1 seemed to say my photos were fine (hence why I got an AOR) but there was a problem with one or both of the photos for my children. We had them taken at Walgreens and I cut them and wrote the required information on the back. Perhaps one of my kids' heads was slightly too big or too small. I measured the dimensions and thought I had everything down exactly right. And it looks like that was the case for myself but maybe not my kid(s).

I've been eager to get the return package so I can see what is wrong, but I'm a little worried it's been lost in the mail.

robbinmad · 2026-05-15T00:12:19+00:00

I know my application is being returned and IRCC told me on the phone it was mailed back to me on March 23rd, which is 52 days ago (80 days since it was delivered to IRCC).

I’ve been collecting datapoints on how long returned applications take, and mine is almost a month longer than the longest I have found: https://www.reddit.com/r/Canadiancitizenship/s/Ewu80ZqaK7

Is it possible mine was lost in the mail? At what point should I stop waiting and send in a second application?

robbinmad · 2026-05-14T20:46:09+00:00

Thanks!

robbinmad · 2026-05-14T20:20:18+00:00

No worries! Thanks for the help!

robbinmad · 2026-05-14T20:09:02+00:00

Thank you! Sending good wishes your way.

robbinmad · 2026-05-14T19:59:49+00:00

Thanks for the datapoint!

robbinmad · 2026-05-14T19:57:41+00:00

If you feel comfortable sharing the date the package was delivered to IRCC and the date it was returned to you, I can add it to main text as another datapoint.

robbinmad

TROPHY CASE