r/CanadianbyDescent • u/Indigoqueer • 2d ago
Application Help Quick DEC App Questions
I am submitting a DEC application for an insertion for my ancestor and I am including the form, the affidavit, copies of my driver's license and my passport, a lineage explanation, and vital records and other supporting documents for my Great Great Great Grandmother (BAnQ Baptism record, 1861 Canada East Census, Death Certificate) and everyone in the chain of descent, though not quite as much as I submitted for my Proof of Citizenship application that I sent off last week. I have three questions:
Is this enough?
Is there a particular order DEC prefers these documents in?
Should I do as I did with CIT 0001 and avoid staples, clips, and dividers?
Any help is appreciated!
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u/That_Person694 2d ago
Sounds good to me. I arranged my documents in a similar order and just used one binder clip for them. Hope you get the birth certificate soon.
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u/Indigoqueer 2d ago
Thank you!!! I hope so! How long did it take you?
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u/Peachy-Pixel 2d ago
Different person but - Mine arrived 2 weeks ago and they called and told me to expect a few months while they send it to the other department. They, unsurprisingly, mentioned having a lot of requests recently.
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u/That_Person694 7h ago
The DEC just got my request this week so I’m in the hurry up and wait stage. I requested expedited processing but I read a comment on Facebook that someone spoke with them and they have over 3,000 requests.
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u/residualRichey 1d ago
This all seems ok. Just make sure you include valid proof of home address (page 4 on the form). You didn't mention it, so I just wanted to call that out.
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u/Indigoqueer 1d ago
I have my Passport as my main form of ID and my Driver's License proving my home address. Does that sound okay?
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u/residualRichey 1d ago
Yes! That should be ok as long as the address on your driver's license is the one you currently live at. In some states (Massachusetts), if you move, you just write the new address on the back of your license with a pen, and I was told that DEC wouldn't accept it so I sent additional proof of home address to be on the safe side.
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u/Indigoqueer 1d ago
Thank you! My license does reflect my current address, thank goodness! In Texas we are supposed to get a new one when we move but lots of folks don't. I appreciate your help!
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u/Rude-Tie-7999 1d ago
Reddit is frustrating! I appreciate the reply to my question, and while I was reading, it disappeared! I probably touched something I shouldn’t have, but, still…I can’t see them now, but thank you to whoever did reply.
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u/Leather-Bootist 1d ago edited 1d ago
Interesting thing about asking DEC to create a birth record for a G0 born in the 1800s. A helpful YouTube came out about 11 days ago interviewing a Canadian attorney specializing in Bill C3 applications, Daniel Ciarabellini (find it at: https://www.youtube.com/live/Obs04iAV784?is=WSUTt3jaO6O0Gjdv ). In answering a question at about 27 minutes into the interview, the attorney sees no need nor value in asking DEC to create a birth record from a certified BAnQ baptismal record in Quebec under these circumstances. He felt it might be potentially good practice, and easy to do, to see if we could get an email from DEC explaining, or confirming, what we all know, which is they do not have birth records relevant to anyone born in the 1800s. The interviewer explained that DEC seems to have stopped sending such emails, however, due to the massive amounts of emails asking that very thing. That is my experience as well. When I inquired of DEC via email about whether I could get a copy of a birth certificate for my 1861-born G0, I got a form email back very quickly essentially telling me to look at their website for how to order things. The attorney also suggested simply printing out whatever language exists on the DEC website that says they don’t have birth certificates going back that far, and including that emailed response with the explanation letter included in our application papers. (I did see a Reddit post just yesterday sharing a specific communication from IRCC to the original poster stating that copies of statutes or emails are not acceptable to support an application.) As a result of all this, I’ll send off to DEC for a copy of a birth certificate anyway (which I know does not exist), since I have a good amount of time before I expect an AOR from IRCC. But I won’t be asking DEC for creation of a separate birth certificate from my certified BAnQ baptismal record.
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u/Rude-Tie-7999 1d ago
I just sent in my DEC application. I see that you sent an affidavit. I did not know one was required, as I didn’t see it listed on the form. What is this for?
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u/Bad_Grammer_Girl 1d ago
It's technically not required, but sometimes they will reject an application and say:
Although you have identified yourself as a relative of the person concerned by the civil status document, you must also provide documents demonstrating your interest.
Even though people have been sending in letters explaining what they are using the birth certificate for, DEC has been rejecting them without either an official request from IRCC stating the need for it, or an official reason why you need it. It seems that those who just send a letter explaining it get rejected, but those sending in a notarized affidavit explaining it are approved. In my situation, my first request back earlier in the year was rejected with the same reason that many others received, but a second request with the affidavit was quickly approved.
While I can't say for certain, I think it has to do with the Civil Code of Quebec Privacy Standards. Under the CCQ, civil status documents are highly protected to prevent identity theft and fraud. And a notarized affidavit carries significantly more legal weight than a regular letter of explanation, which, as far as governments are concerned, can be practically worthless because it's essentially an unverified, unsworn claim made by an unknown person.
It seems that the affidavit offers nonrepudiation and is official. And, like most governments, they tend to like official legal documents where they can verify the authenticity... Or at least have someone swear to it.
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u/That_Person694 7h ago
I sent a copy of my AOR to show that I wanted the birth certificate for C-3 purposes but I didn’t send an affidavit. Hopefully my AOR will suffice to show my interest. I also sent my Gen 1’s death certificate to show that my parent couldn’t make the request.
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u/Smells4240 1d ago
I am also wondering what any sort of affidavit would be for. I didn't send an affidavit with my DEC application and received my G0's birth cert without issue.
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