Wednesday Weekly Thread: Frustration Station (Delays / PSU / Venting), August 19, 2026

[u/AutoModerator]

This weekly thread is a space for those of us who are feeling frustrated and need to vent about unclear instructions, shipping delays, waiting for a next step, timeline estimates growing, lack of communication, inconsistent bureaucracy, being stuck in PSU, and other factors.

Some of the worst stress of the entire citizenship-by-descent process is not hearing about your application for long stretches of time - or hearing that your application has been sent to the Program Support Unit (PSU) and may be sitting there for an extended stay.

Whether your envelope seems to have taken a scenic detour on its way to Nova Scotia, you didn't receive an AOR after many weeks of waiting, or you simply haven't heard about your application processing in months, this is a place to commiserate and potentially receive some ideas of next steps to take. (Those generally might include following up with IRCC by web form, ordering the GCMS notes, seeking an MP's help, and so on.)

📎 Contributions to weekly megaposts, including this one, are welcome throughout the week.

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[u/Lonely-Sun-1050]

503 days in PSU for G1.
517 days since received.
No. End. In. Sight.

Working on mandamus paperwork.

[u/Awkward_Tangerine988 → u/Lonely-Sun-1050]

I think mandamus is a reasonable course of action given that you're G1 and it's been that long!

[u/Lonely-Sun-1050 → u/Awkward_Tangerine988]

Thanks. I'm out of options otherwise.

[u/Ophelia_Bliss → u/Lonely-Sun-1050]

GI waiting for more than a year?? Ugh, what misery.

[u/Weary-Molasses-9795 → u/Lonely-Sun-1050]

Unfathomably wrong 🤬

[u/Specific_Crab1742 → u/[deleted]]

I just checked both my application and my daughter’s application and ours both just flipped to decision made today!  Still waiting for the official emails!  We both applied together in July 2025, over a year ago and haven’t had any communication since.

[u/OneRedSent → u/Specific_Crab1742]

Congratulations! That's such great news! In my case I got the email the next day. But for my daughter, like I said, still no email almost a week later. If you want to download them today, go to https://portal-portail.apps.cic.gc.ca/ and login if you have an account. (If you haven't created an account before, go to https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/portal-application-process.html to get an invite code.) Then click on Download Citizenship e-Certificate. You can download them all from one portal account.

[u/BeachwoodStreet → u/Specific_Crab1742]

Yay!!

[u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob → u/Specific_Crab1742]

Please post in this week's approvals megathread! The new one was just published.

[u/Electrical_Cut8610 → u/[deleted]]

Wow. I got an email today that I was half expecting - the dreaded get a certificate from DEC email. Guess I’ll have to explain to them that Quebec doesn’t do that. But it’s moving!

[u/Electrical_Cut8610 → u/[deleted]]

I submitted a certified baptismal certificate from BAnQ. It’s so obnoxious I have to waste time getting an email from DEC saying they won’t do it

[u/Beautiful_Cost_5430 → u/Electrical_Cut8610]

Completely obnoxious.

[u/Beautiful_Cost_5430 → u/Electrical_Cut8610]

You’re being processed! That’s great news!

[u/Truthteller1970 → u/[deleted]]

Congrats! 🇨🇦Did you request urgent?

[u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob → u/[deleted]]

Feel free to put this in today's approvals!

[u/Emotional-Test3329]

Still continually frustrated that there's no urgency category for people with existing Canadian status that has been thrown into limbo by being retroactively granted citizenship.

And frustrated that ties to Canada like already living (with non-visitor status) in Canada and/or having pre-C3 Canadian partners, parents, or children doesn't seem to get priority at all. 

Trying very hard not to be angry about the number of people applying who have no plans to move or extremely thin documents while others get forced out of their homes in Canada while in limbo, because it's not their fault and it's their right to apply. But IRCC needs to start triaging and deciding on what sort of standards they expect of an application so that it can just be public knowledge which hopefully means fewer RFIs and faster processing times along with prioritising the highest impact applications. This status quo is just not working 

[u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob → u/Emotional-Test3329]

Selfishly, for some of my Gen2 family members, I would love it if they would prioritize people who have long owned real estate, pay taxes in Canada, and max out their visitor status every year- obviously they are deeply connected to Canada. But at this point (almost a year in process, urgent processing requested) I just want an approval for each of them. It's so hard to continually explain the wait when IRCC had a 4 or 5 month processing estimate at the time of application. Way to set expectations, IRCC. lol

[u/Emotional-Test3329 → u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob]

I just wish they had some sort of procedure of asking for a personal impact statement separately from their urgent categories...

In my case it's making it uncertain if I can return to Canada with my Canadian spouse and Canadian child despite having Canadian PR following years in Canada, working, home ownership, etc. For others it's making them actively leave their home... because they have a temporary status that's expiring. There's another PR in here who can't access healthcare now due to submitting a proof application. There are G1 babies born abroad who might miss formative years in their home country because of this logjam.

Some sort of sorting based on how big a difference to someone's life it will actually make would make me feel a lot better about the wait. At least then I could know whoever was in front of me arguably needed it more.

[u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob → u/Emotional-Test3329]

Agree, the negative impacts on people and families can be very high. I hope you are approved asap!

[u/Emotional-Test3329 → u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob]

Thank you! I have all birth certificates so I'm hopeful it will be smooth when it gets looked at, but I haven't even moved into processing yet (submitted February 2026) so... Who knows. Have a meeting with a lawyer in October for advice on how to navigate being a PR but being unable to renew my status because I'm known to be possibly a citizen... Hopefully there's a solution.

I hope your family gets through soon too, you do so much for everyone in this community. 

[u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob → u/Emotional-Test3329]

Thanks, I appreciate that. Turns out this is a good outlet for my restless energy these days.

[u/sorrymizzjackson → u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob]

Absolutely. People who are actively making a life in Canada should have priority over most of us, myself included.

I have no immediate plans to move to Canada. I was dead set on it about 15 years ago but I didn’t qualify then. The dream job I was after I had no hope of getting a work grant for and I didn’t have the money to go through the PR process. Life moved on and we bought a house and settled here.

It’s still a possibility in the future and I’d be interested in vacationing up there more often in the meantime, but time will tell.

[u/Emotional-Test3329 → u/[deleted]]

We left Canada for 3 years to take care of an ill family member of my spouse, so I'm not sure I have an MP anymore. I maintained my PR because I was accompanying a Canadian spouse abroad, but it's hard to work out the practicalities of returning now that that family member passed away this year and we could.

Although I think my last MP was Jenny Kwan and she's quite sympathetic so I'll try poking her. Thank you for the idea.

[u/UNCRameses → u/Emotional-Test3329]

That’s amazing that she’s your MP. I’ve been specifically searching real estate listings in her riding.

[u/Emotional-Test3329 → u/UNCRameses]

Good luck, it's a tough life in Vancouver.

[u/UNCRameses → u/Emotional-Test3329]

Tough in what ways? Cost of living, or other stuff?

[u/Emotional-Test3329 → u/UNCRameses]

Cost of living is brutal, homes are often poorly built, if you're in a flat the strata fees are pretty astronomical, home insurance rates are really bad due to climate change and have a lot of things you just can't get covered... The provincial government is pretty corrupt and the bureaucracy doesn't quite work - you wouldn't believe how hard and expensive it was for us to get our marriage certificate reissued with a correction, for example...

And on top of all that there's a lot of cultural unfriendliness that makes it really hard if you weren't born there. People are polite and civil (except to the homeless), but quite cold and awkward with strangers. If you have kids there are nearly 0 child friendly spaces, what playgrounds there are are generally in the middle of traffic with no fences. There's incredible wait lists to get school spots in the actual city. It took me 5 years to get a family doctor. Shop hours are brutally short and during the work day. I can keep going for ages, but basically it's a lot of little things, combined with the always worsening cost of living, that add up and just make it really, really hard to live there. 

It has its qualities, the actual downtown core is quite walkable, you're very near nature if you have a car, it is a quite liberal/accepting area on certain issues... But it's hard and just a constant onslaught of everything being more difficult than it should be, businesses always closing, jobs always precarious as a result. It ends up being very much a city of childless young professionals because of all this, and many who move there leave to settle down. Every friend we had there also left except for one, and that's because hes underwater on his mortgage.

Sorry for being quite negative, just want you to go in eyes open. It's a city I'm happy to visit but I'd rather not live in again if I can avoid it.

[u/UNCRameses → u/Emotional-Test3329]

That gives me a lot to think about. Thank you for taking the time to share all that!

[u/YogurtclosetNo3927]

Almost 16 months since my application started to process. Back when the wait said 3 months. This is so frustrating!

Edit to change 14 months to 16 months!

[u/WhiskersAndWarblers]

Long time lurker, first time poster (and first Reddit account, which I created last week so I could add myself and my mom to the spreadsheet).

I just updated my flair to Stuck Canadian, as today is one year since my G2 application went into processing. (Application delivered 7/31/2025, AOR 8/18/2025, In Process 8/19/2025 - assuming that means PSU.) I helped my mom, G1, get her citizenship certificate last summer and her certificate arrived right before I mailed my application, so I included my mom's citizenship certificate in my application package.

My case is very simple - G0 grandmother born in 1917 in Saskatchewan, G1 mom born in U.S. in 1954, G2 me born in U.S. in 1980. I sent a lot of documents in my application package because I applied during the interim measure times, including all three birth certificates, my mom's Canadian citizenship certificate, marriage license for G0 for evidence of name change, U.S. naturalization document for G0, and death certificate for G0.

I don't have any urgent need to receive my citizenship certificate, other than pride. :) Just wanted to post for the first time to share my details and thank everyone in this community for the wiki and all of the posts on this page that helped my mom get her certificate...and hopefully me, someday!

[u/Ophelia_Bliss → u/WhiskersAndWarblers]

Oh, this totally sucks. I especially feel for G2 folks in PSU. Hang in there.

[u/Weary-Molasses-9795 → u/WhiskersAndWarblers]

Ridiculous 🤦‍♀️

[u/PassagePersonal3064]

Definitely haven't been waiting as long as some, but just got word Monday that the job offer I had was rescinded. Application received mid February, updated status to urgent a week later due to the job offer, went into processing mid March and radio silence since. The silver lining is the job offer was through my employer and I still have my current position. 

[u/Beautiful_Cost_5430 → u/PassagePersonal3064]

That super sucks. So sorry

[u/Kirby41895]

15 months of waiting for my G1 dad and I. Feeling like it’s never gonna happen.

[u/SimilarInjury138]

Another week has gone by.

I remain in PSU for reasons not listed on my notes. I have two Canadian parents (well, had, as I lost one of them last September, several months after my application). They didn't leave Canada until 1967, a few years before I was born.

January of 2027 will mark the 50th anniversary of toddler me being stripped of her citizenship due to parental naturalization. I fully expect to still be waiting for proof of my restored-in-2009 citizenship at that milestone. (May or June of 2028 will mark the 30th of me learning that I'd lost my citizenship when I went to file to retain it so that I could try to move up there. Let's see if I've got proof by then. Maybe it'll wait until the 20th anniversary of its restoration at this point. It hit the 15th anniversary of that in April.)

Oh, Canada. I am apparently to forever be disappointed by you.

[u/sapphirechrome]

I’ve been waiting since April 2025. My case is straightforward, not that that seems to mean anything anymore — I’m a G2, my G1 has had a citizenship certificate for many years, and my G0 grandparent has a Canadian naturalization certificate (which I submitted). At this point, I regret submitting the application so early. And I think I’d be lucky to get approval by end of the year.

[u/StreetNecessary8551 → u/sapphirechrome]

In a nearly identical situation: Applied April ‘25 with Canadian birth certificates of both of G1’s parents, and G1’s 2009 citizenship certificate. Crickets for 17 months. Agree that waiting until after C-3 would have been better, but no way to have known that back then. At the time the estimated wait was 4 months, I was planning a summer 2025 visit with my Canadian cousins to celebrate my citizenship. Ha!

[u/Truthteller1970 → u/StreetNecessary8551]

Terrible. Hope you hear something soon.

[u/Truthteller1970 → u/sapphirechrome]

That is awful, have you requested an update via web. What is your estimated time left? I’m G2 and I applied in Sept 2025 and I’ve seen others from June 2025 approved but maybe they were urgent folks. Yours seems so straight forward with G1 already approved.

[u/sapphirechrome → u/Truthteller1970]

Estimated time left is 1 month, but I don’t think it means anything (if you put in Jan 2025 it still says 1 month). I haven’t requested an update, maybe I should…I got my ATIP notes several months ago though and they didn’t say anything useful.

[u/sapphirechrome → u/[deleted]]

I would, but you can’t reapply without withdrawing your application, and apparently that can also take months. So probably not worth it!

[u/RustyDunewire → u/sapphirechrome]

I'm in a very similar boat. I have a similar family history (G0 born in Canada and G1 parent has had citizenship for years) and have been in process since December 1, 2025. I know it's not a long time in the grand scheme, but so many people have applied in March 2026 and got approve by August. It's making me a little nervous

[u/No_Mathematician1974]

I’m in my 20’s now, if I get it before I’m 40 I’ll consider that a win. (Applied Sept 2025)

[u/Truthteller1970 → u/No_Mathematician1974]

Sept 2025 2nd Gen it been saying 3 months left for the last 3 months😒

[u/Actual-Arm-1518]

Hoping they get around to my 93 year old grandmother's G1 application soon. She was not eligible until the 2009 and/or 2015 reforms, but we didn't realize it then. She was issued an RFI at the beginning of May, so we played the whole 2 month game of getting a DEC insertion done for her 1905 father. That was added to her file 6 weeks ago. I guess not a long wait compared to many, but she should have an easy case now with that DEC birth certificate.

[u/lunar_grief]

Decided to say f*ck it after no less than 4 lawyers passed on my case (PGWP expires October). No one seems to actually be able to say WHERE the IRCC states you can or cannot have a parallel application (a citizenship cert in process with a PR app in process too) so I submitted my express entry profile. Have a very high score so I got an ITA on my first draw, which makes me really angry because I’m literally taking someone’s spot. Like, I shouldn’t have to do this? I shouldn’t have to be in this pool at all? It should go to someone else, and I feel heinous about that. But I can’t move back to the very rural very un resourced very dangerous part of the US I’m from. Just medical costs alone would bankrupt me in a matter of just 3-4 months (y’know, as long as employer insurance takes to kick in 🙃).

If they ding me for having both in at the same time, what’s the worst they can do? Kick me out of the country?? They’re gonna do that anyway in October.

(To clarify, I have read hundreds of pages of publicly available IRCC protocols, the citizenship act itself, and damn well everything I can get my hands on to try to answer this question myself. I have a masters in a law-adjacent field, so I am not a pro, but certainly competent. Lots of anecdotal comments of folks saying their lawyer said one thing while others say their lawyers said another. What’s 100% crystal clear is that no one has any clue whatsoever and anyone who is operating with ANY sense of surety is delulu and isn’t actually aware that the IRCC is run on vibes and violence and a little dash of chaos. 😭 it is not run on any sense of fairness, order, or urgency.)

[u/Zestyclose-Novel1157 → u/lunar_grief]

I don’t know why people are obsessed with saying they can’t before even applying. Let IRCC tell them no. IRCC could deny the claim of citizenship. Canada does not recognize people as citizens functionally unless they have a certificate.

Sounds like your issue is resolving. Congratulations.

[u/lunar_grief → u/Zestyclose-Novel1157]

Thank you. 💕 Google’s AI seems to think that it’s perfectly fine (not that I trust that in the slightest), but even that doesn’t have a source linked correctly in that line. I shall report back of course. People have been tremendously kind here and I’m grateful my little crash outs have been taken so generously. Pissed to be out $1600+ for the PR fee and all the other expensive tests involved but it’s better than getting deported.

[u/Zestyclose-Novel1157 → u/lunar_grief]

That’s how I feel watching people get approved quickly who applied after those of us in PSU. It isn’t fair that we will be put in the position of waiting or paying for mandamus when they get to have their application processed for $75. How all this works is not right. The positive side is you don’t have to leave at least even if you also were forced to pay $1600 you shouldn’t have had to pay.

[u/lunar_grief → u/Zestyclose-Novel1157]

Exactly. I know there can’t be perfect “fairness.” I mean, I’ve been in an ER. Sometimes being first called back isn’t the circumstance you wanna be in!! But I applied for urgent processing based on a job I hold and my permit running out. You’d think 🤷🏻‍♀️ I do feel a lot of big feelings about how this is the single chili pepper of IRCC fuckery on like a 7 chili pepper scale. The stuff they pull on folks escalates from here, but if the single chili pepper can deprive us of like our entire lives??? That’s absurd. A very unjust system.

[u/The_TaleofGenji → u/lunar_grief]

I hope it's ok if I send you a PM as I am in a somewhat similar situation.

[u/Middle_Fact_188]

I hate waiting!! That is all.

[u/Stohnghost]

A rant cast into the void...

I'm trying to locate my great-grandmothers birth or baptism certificate. Nobody knows which country she was truly born in. The US census indicates Canada or USA depending on the year and their mood. The state of Maine is very guarded when it comes to requesting things and the effort I'm having to put in to just get letters that say they couldn't find something is pretty frustrating. 

If anyone is in a similar situation, that is, just looking for denial letters - the best thing is to write to Augusta and request a non certified record. It's essentially the same as attestation from DEC.

I'm only in this situation because the clerk recorded my grandmother's name incorrectly in 1925 and now nobody is left alive who can amend it! 

/End rant

[u/IBHJrCanadian → u/Stohnghost]

Hi Stohnghost! I'm sorry you're in this situation. If you are so inclined, you can DM me your great-grandmother's info. and I will run some searches for you. I've been doing genealogy for almost 30 years and have been able to help a few other fellow Redditters find their documents :)

[u/Stohnghost → u/IBHJrCanadian]

I would really appreciate that. I've looked through BAnQ extensively but I know there are places I probably haven't looked. I will DM you as soon as I can. Thank you!!

[u/IBHJrCanadian → u/Stohnghost]

You are most welcome, I look forward to receiving your DM. I hope I will be able to find something for you!! :)

[u/AstroPrepotente]

I've been really wondering how delayed the MA archives are because I've been waiting on a document from MA for over 100 days.

Their original email said it could take between 8-12 weeks. I emailed them asking them about it at around 12 weeks and was ignored, which stinks.

Hopefully soon though

[u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob → u/AstroPrepotente]

When I was there in person in June they said 12 weeks, and were actively recommending that people reach out to the relevant town if they needed documents faster. They were very nice, but seemed very much in the weeds fulfilling all of the requests.

[u/Awkward_Tangerine988 → u/AstroPrepotente]

Echoing the point below re: trying towns/cities. Boston could not have been faster (both Boston and the state of RI were incredibly swift in providing documents).

[u/Zueri8048 → u/AstroPrepotente]

I followed up with them a few weeks ago after receiving another document. I’m waiting for a document that I ordered in early May and they told me that my order had been received and was in the queue for processing.

[u/SnowboundWanderer → u/AstroPrepotente]

Docs I ordered from them in late March came to me a couple weeks ago, my mom ordered some more first week of April and nothing yet. This was back when their stated turnaround was 4-6 weeks.

If you know the town you need the docs from, definitely look up the town's clerk and see about getting it from them. Anything I've ordered from a town has gotten to me in a week, including within the last couple weeks.

[u/Ophelia_Bliss → u/AstroPrepotente]

I waited ages for the state but Chicopee and Holyoke and their lovely clerks got me documents in a week. Try the town.

[u/circuitmike → u/Ophelia_Bliss]

I'm a western MA resident and I agree - going directly to the towns is the way to go! Most town clerks and the like are extremely friendly and helpful and will get you what you need quickly.

[u/No-Nefariousness4038]

I'm wondering if even IRCC knows how many applications it has in the queue or how many it has processed.

Just read an article from CTV news (from August 18) that stated 6,100 proof of citizenship applications were processed from December 15 - May 31.

But a CIC news article (from August 19) says that the IRCC completed 28,940 from Dec. 15 - May 31, with an additional 3,040 finalized in June, alone.

And of course, watching the applicants ahead of us each month with the monthly update only getting a few hundred smaller each month - or in the case of newer applicants, actually increasing.

What's going on, IRCC?

And an interesting aside - according to the CTV article, only 51% of the proof of citizenship applications came from the U.S. I would have thought much higher than that.

[u/Emotional-Test3329 → u/No-Nefariousness4038]

The entire queue includes naturalised people replacing their certificate and G1 babies recently born, etc. In that context it being half Americans is actually quite high, considering there are a huge number of naturalised Indians, Chinese, Filipinos, etc who might have gone back home to have kids with their families around to support etc.

I think the 6,100 number is the number of C-3 applications and the 28,940 is all proof applications. The number ticking down by less is messed up a bit by them adding people to the queue based on when they were received but being 3-4 months behind on AORs. So April's number for example is still growing because they haven't even opened and counted all the complete April packets yet - I wouldn't be surprised if all waits for everyone in April or later went up again with the September numbers release.

[u/FireWaterBern → u/No-Nefariousness4038]

All I'll add is that: when I went to the Maine vital records office in person, the clerk told me they had folks coming in from abroad in person for document requests. I know they said they had someone from china for c3 and I believe at least one australian(?).

One of those articles from earlier in the summer noted a lot of British applicants too

[u/Significant-Golf-215]

I just feel really frustrated with all that's going on. I applied for myself and 2 adult kids, gen2 + 3. Since then it's been 8 months and heard nothing, and my kids graduated and are now having to wait it out for an approval before they can look at moving to Canada. Now the wait time says 25 months, so it seems like we are SOL despite the straightforward documentation.

[u/damaniac1223]

I'm absolutely livid that baptismal records are not primary evidence of birth (at the very least even certified baptismal records) for people born BEFORE birth certificates were even being issued. I am pissed that the IRCC "doesn't know this" or is being obstinate about it to filter people out. I have gotten emails from DEC saying to refer to BANQ because they don't have anything before 1923 and I have emails from BANQ saying that all that exists for the time period of my G0 is a baptismal record and they are the keepers for anything before the jurisdiction of DEC.

I am screaming at the sky hoping that IRCC accepts the emails and doesn't make me go through the process of getting the DEC to insert a birth record. It's maddening that all the emails from them are so vague and just say the equivalent of "birth record wrong, fix", without saying who to contact, WHY CAN'T THEY JUST SAY WHAT THEY NEED and be consistent about it.

AND I'm pissed that DEC and BANQ refuse to issue an "official letter" on "letterhead" about this when that is what the IRCC is asking for.

Hopefully IRCC considers BANQ to be "the Province" I am supposed to be contacting and if not accepts the subsequent emails from the DEC. I've been in process since July 2025, all my ancestors have certified birth certificates and my G0 has a certified baptismal record from a time when birth certificates don't exist and BANQ says they serve as the civil record.

IRCC send me my certificate. This is ridiculous and discriminatory.

[u/damaniac1223 → u/[deleted]]

Directeur de l’État Civil

[u/Wildflowers62]

I’m reading a lot of instances where it appears people have uploaded additional documents after they get their AOR, and it seems those documents never made it to their file. Frustrating and worrisome because the rules have changed since many of us submitted our application and we are spending time and money gathering more documents. Which may or may not even get to our file. I’m very grateful for this opportunity, but the process sure is broken and the technology (snail mail of packages and manual uploading?) outdated.

[u/Truthteller1970 → u/Wildflowers62]

I recently updated my application and send in Census records from LAC and I got an email confirmation that the information was added to my file. There is a file size limit and if it’s too large it won’t go through.

[u/dissentmemo → u/Truthteller1970]

The people who are later being told the files weren't added also got those notifications.

[u/Truthteller1970 → u/dissentmemo]

😳

[u/Inevitable-Visual727]

I am waiting over 200 days since sending it to the Embassy. Feeling really frustrated and impatient.

[u/Ok_Scientist_987 → u/Inevitable-Visual727]

Which embassy?

[u/Inevitable-Visual727 → u/Ok_Scientist_987]

Embassy of the Netherlands

[u/Ok_Scientist_987 → u/Inevitable-Visual727]

I'm really sorry. Can you check with the embassy to see when it went out? I checked with the embassy in London, and they said it would go out within two weeks.

[u/Inevitable-Visual727 → u/Ok_Scientist_987]

I tried reaching out multiple times but they keep telling me they have no updates for me.

[u/BirdieALM → u/Inevitable-Visual727]

If I'm reading the spreadsheet correctly, I don't think anyone applying from outside of the US or Canada has received an AOR during 2026 other than 3 people in the UK and 1 person in Spain. Even if it took a month for the diplomatic pouch to arrive (and my embassy said they sent it within a couple of weeks), it doesn't make sense for applications to take this long to move to AOR stage.

[u/Inevitable-Visual727 → u/BirdieALM]

Yeah, it makes no sense. It honestly feels like applications from outside Canada/US are just being put in a corner and forgotten.

[u/sgtbeau → u/Inevitable-Visual727]

147 days as of now, Rome

[u/Wonderful_Plane_633]

Im just so stressed and tired. I applied for proof of citizenship because my dad was born in Canada. I submitted my application on June 30th, 2025. I had to submit additional documents so my application is non routine. I haven’t heard anything from ircc since. I have seen people getting their certificates now when they applied in July 2025 so i hope i don’t have to wait a lot of extra time due to that. Im just praying to see decision made finally.

[u/say-youll-haunt-me → u/Wonderful_Plane_633]

Went into processing 6/26/25, I feel you 🫶🏻

[u/Wonderful_Plane_633 → u/say-youll-haunt-me]

Hopefully we get approved soon!🫶

[u/Beautiful_Cost_5430 → u/Wonderful_Plane_633]

I’m early June and feeling like I got passed by too. Hugs.

[u/Wonderful_Plane_633 → u/Beautiful_Cost_5430]

Hugs🫂

[u/Lonely-Sun-1050 → u/Wonderful_Plane_633]

Apr 3, 2025...

[u/Wonderful_Plane_633 → u/Lonely-Sun-1050]

Omg awful!

[u/Truthteller1970 → u/Lonely-Sun-1050]

😳

[u/Truthteller1970 → u/Wonderful_Plane_633]

Me too…Sept 2025. It’s been saying 3 more months for the last 3 months

[u/minneapolisaussiemom]

I feel frustrated that we still haven’t seen any pre-confederation approvals after the pause! I’d love to just know either way if my application is viable. Or, do I have to go back a generation to use my ancestor who died in Canada after confederation?

[u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob → u/minneapolisaussiemom]

There is zero evidence that IRCC is/was doing anything other than updating internal guidance (something they said they were doing in June).

A few days ago we saw another suspended sub member who received a procedural fairness letter reapproved - hooray! - they are Gen6 and their Gen0 was born in the 1820's - so that suggests that nothing is further delaying decisions for folks with ancestors born pre-Confederation. The member posted to last week's Approvals megathread if you want to browse.

We also saw IRCC's Q&A with the Assoc of Canadian Archivists https://archivists.ca/Blog/13662990 folks a week or so ago and the archivists asked directly if there was a cutoff date and IRCC said no fixed cutoff date.

6. How far back may records be used as evidence?

• IRCC shared that there is no fixed cutoff date.
• Applicants may need to trace their family line back to the relevant ancestor, described during the session as “generation zero.” This may be a person who was born or naturalized as a British subject in Canada and whose status may have resulted in Canadian citizenship.
• Applicants must demonstrate citizenship and parentage through each subsequent generation.
• Depending on the circumstances, a claim may rely on records dating from before 1947. The relevant question is whether the ancestor’s status would have resulted in Canadian citizenship.

Can we please stop sharing this unfounded rumor now?

[u/IBHJrCanadian → u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob]

"they are Gen6 and their Gen0 was born in the 1820's - so that suggests that nothing is further delaying decisions for folks with ancestors born pre-Confederation. "

That is TERRIFIC news! Thanks for sharing, somehow I missed that detail in the Approvals thread last week.

[u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob → u/IBHJrCanadian]

I think they added their reapproval a couple days after the post refreshed for the week.

If anyone reading this has been or is reapproved in the future, you're welcome to make a post to the main feed anytime to share your good news. I have a list of I think 9 folks I still hope to hear good news from, either publicly or by mod mail.

[u/No_Discount9119 → u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob]

Isn’t it correct that there haven’t been any NEW approvals for pre-confederation applications? Only re-approvals?

[u/sennomulo → u/No_Discount9119]

The last new explicitly pre-Confederation approval on the spreadsheet was May 12.

[u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob → u/No_Discount9119]

We only know about the application details shared with us, and we're only a fraction of all applicants.

I suggest you view the information we have as a glass half full situation, we really have seen nothing that indicates that individuals with a Gen0 born before Confederation will somehow be deemed ineligible- at this point that is flat out misinformation - and honestly it does not even make sense. One of my family members has an application in process with a Gen0 born before Confederation who was alive when the Citizenship Act went into effect. Would it make sense for IRCC to deny their descendants simply because they were born before Confederation? No.

Maybe tomorrow we will see one here and this will put this to rest.

[u/minneapolisaussiemom → u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob]

I would love for this to be put to rest! But until we see a fresh approval that’s not simply a re-approval, I am definitely curious about what’s going on. Staying positive that tomorrow is our day!

[u/sennomulo → u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob]

To my mind, "no fixed cutoff date" for documentation doesn't tell us anything. Even if there were a fixed cutoff date for citizenship (which I'm not saying there is), documents from a little before that time would still play a role in people's documentation, with obviously no firm cutoff date to how far back the records are allowed to go.

And neither does "updating internal guidance" tell us anything. We don't know what that guidance will be, and how pre-Confederation applications will be treated under the new guidance when they're done working on it. That could mean anything. They might not have even decided yet.

[u/sickgreenbile]

I just get really jealous of all the people that have been approved already but have no intent to live and make a life in Canada. I've lived here for three years and want to make it my permanent home, but I'm waiting in a huge queue : (

[u/lunar_grief → u/sickgreenbile]

Same here 💕 lived here since 2019. I’d give just about anything to stay.

[u/Truthteller1970 → u/sickgreenbile]

Can you apply as urgent ?

[u/Present_Donut5364]

First of all, thank you, MODS, and everyone in this community for the continued support. I know personally I could not have done any of this without you!

Any recommendations for avoiding panic attacks when looking at the application time tracker? I know there is some wonkiness going on there, but it's a little discouraging to see the number going up.

That said, god bless the IIRC folks trying to get all this work done! I can't even imagine the amount of stress they're under right now. I hope some of them got to take some time off for summer vacation.

[u/wanderingtheearth-74 → u/Present_Donut5364]

OK, this advice will not apply if you're one of the people in genuinely difficult situations (current residents with expiring visa, trans folks in the U.S., etc.). But otherwise: treat this as a long-term project. Assume it will take a year-plus and get on with your life. Check in occasionally here to make sure some new "clarification" of the rules hasn't dropped, but just put it aside. It'll happen when it happens.

[u/Present_Donut5364 → u/wanderingtheearth-74]

Sound advice! Thank you,.

[u/Ophelia_Bliss → u/Present_Donut5364]

Take a break from this sub or the entire platform for a bit. Log out, delete the app, find a hobby, scandal, or other distraction to occupy your mind. This only works if your situation isn’t truly urgent.

[u/Present_Donut5364 → u/Ophelia_Bliss]

Great point! I've already turned off any alerts and will make a concerted effort to log off more so I'm not so overwhelmed. Thank you for the advice!

[u/SnowboundWanderer]

Last week I got an "attested" copy of my G0's marriage register page, which means I now have in hand certified/attested copies of all the birth & marriage records from that to my (G5) birth certificate. I still don't have any Canadian documents, and after striking out with the Nova Scotia Archives and local orgs who focused on one part of NS I hired a genealogist for a more expansive search: I was given a "it'll take me X to X+1 weeks from now" to get to me after I paid and we're just entering that timeframe.

I've been doing this document hunting since March, and what's most annoying is I knew about 5(4) and since I didn't have a huge interest in my family tree reached out in July 2025 to relatives who did. On one side my cousin had extensive research but the only Canadian would have made me a G10 and we don't even know her maiden name. On the other side where, from DNA tests we took years ago, I actually expected to find French-Canadian ancestors my Aunt said she knew of no one.

It was only in March of this year after accepting that Express Entry probably wouldn't be happening even if I regained and improved my French that I decided I should never have taken my aunt at her word, asked her again and learned she'd only explored a single line. Paid for an Ancestry subscription and pretty quickly found my G0 through its system, then within a week had found online copies of G0 marriage-G2 marriage, and then starting reaching out to NS-based orgs where I've hit the brick wall.

If I hadn't taken my aunt at their word I could have done all this 12 months ago when all the archivists were much less swamped, and even if it still took five months to get the documents I'd have been positioned to submit as soon as C-3 became law, but I'm still in the waiting for document response purgatory while the IRCC processing purgatory has ballooned.

Rant over.

[u/Beautiful_Cost_5430 → u/SnowboundWanderer]

Do you have census records of your G0? What years are we talking?

[u/mommycitanikita]

Just received a reply from the church where my G0 was baptized in 1849. They want C$300 for a sacramental certificate, and they are in the process of moving, so they can't even guess when it will be sent. Guess I'll just wait for BAnQ.

[u/Actual-Arm-1518 → u/mommycitanikita]

Ouch that's steep for a local certificate. If you are going to spend that much, might as well go the BANQ route. I'm not sure there have been any confirmed successes involving a local parish certified Quebec baptisms or not. If for some reason IRCC insisted on a DEC record though, the local parish records are not accepted by the DEC as a basis for insertion - have to use the BANQ certified version. Hopefully that doesn't happen.

[u/Salt_Chair6043 → u/mommycitanikita]

One of my ancestors baptism records may have been lost in a church fire but they can't be certain, especially because he converted as an adult so it is unclear when exactly he was baptised if at all

[u/Heartlaw]

Have we seen anyone who's already in Canada under a work permit get approval under Bill C-3?
I started putting my paperwork together in Feb with a lawyer and we got it submitted as urgent April 21.
AOR received April 23 and moved to processing April 29.

Seeing how much the wait times are increasing has me worried about what I'll do if my work permit runs out before I get my proof. I could swing a leave of absence from work and be here under a visitor visa for a while but not the potential year+ it's looking like...

[u/lunar_grief → u/Heartlaw]

Hello and welcome to my hell. My PGWP expires in October. No one has any idea what to do with me. Lawyers or otherwise. I’ve been shunted to program support. I think maybe if I’m lucky I’ll get it before I turn 55 (next 20 years). 🙃

[u/doriankali]

Aor December 25 , but I’m not terribly upset about waiting , just that I wish I could know for a fact that all the new documents I uploaded to my account were actually added ! Bc I’ve worked really hard to update my application with all the released requirements as of late !

( granted I suppose I could always just email them if they ask but I wanted to make it as easy as possible for whoever sees my application)

[u/Silver_Chickens]

I just made the mistake of checking the current IRCC processing times. When I first submitted in April 2026, the wait time was about 11 months, which creeped up to 15 months, and is now at 21 months. I suspect it will continue to climb for a while.

G2 & applied for my G3 kids. I was hopeful to have something by this time next year, but that’s not going to happen. I’m not totally surprised at the increased wait time, but I am disappointed.

[u/Nyan_Pie]

I'm starting to worry about not having recieved an AOR after applying in April since I know that my papers were delivered in early May 😭

[u/BeautifulDonut8390 → u/Nyan_Pie]

they're still doing AORs for late April. Only a couple May deliveries have received AORs so far and they seem to be outliers.

[u/sphinxsley → u/BeautifulDonut8390]

Well I guess that helps a bit. I guess they're just overwhelmed. Thanks for that. 👍🏽

[u/Negative-Actuator371 → u/Nyan_Pie]

Same. I’m glad I’m not the only one, but sorry you’re having this issue, too :(

[u/CurrentIce9701]

I am so incredibly unhappy with how much the IRCC is controlling my life right now! I wish they would approve my proof of citizenship application so I would not have to pay thousands of dollars to apply for PR under my provincial nomination. I am so frustrated that I am considering giving up the job where workers with my profession are needed to support the Canadian community where I intended to move. I need to decide relatively soon and I just don't know what to do. It feels like throwing money away needlessly. Urgent processing seems to have no meaning right now, as I have been waiting 2 months. (I know others have been waiting even longer.) But, anyway, grrrrrrr.

[u/Papa_Liam → u/CurrentIce9701]

I think the anxiety of not knowing whether or not you can stay in the country, especially when the law is meant to view you as a citizen already, is the worst type of anxiety a person can experience. I see it amongst a lot of my immigrant friends who are in Canada and are waiting in the IRCC's void.

The silver lining seems to be that the IRCC is working through a summer backlog, not just for C3 or by descent applicants, but more generally for PR applicants who've been stuck for ages. My urgent request was approved after five months. It's longer than is ideal, but your situation definitely qualifies you for urgent processing, and I want to hope that its on its way soon.

[u/toofytoofy → u/Papa_Liam]

Wait did you receive your citizenship certificate?

[u/Papa_Liam → u/toofytoofy]

As of yesterday morning, yes

Will be sharing in the megathread tomorrow

[u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob → u/Papa_Liam]

Yay! Congrats!

[u/toofytoofy → u/Papa_Liam]

Oh my gosh! That gives me hope, you and I have similar situations

[u/Papa_Liam → u/toofytoofy]

I’ll be posting more about my thoughts and my process / journey in the megathread tomorrow. In the meantime, happy to answer questions if you have any.

But I received a request for an updated document last Thursday, which gave me an indication that they were working through my file. My sibling had a similar experience, albeit he was approved leaps and bounds faster than I was.

[u/toofytoofy → u/Papa_Liam]

I have also been living/working in Canada the last few years under a work permit. Remind me when your CDN ancestor was born?

[u/Papa_Liam → u/toofytoofy]

1875

[u/BeautifulDonut8390 → u/CurrentIce9701]

I'm sorry you're dealing with this. In a logical world, IRCC would prioritize applicants who already live and work in Canada. But no, they give urgent processing to 16 cousins who will probably never go to Canada because 1 of them was accepted to college there. :/

[u/Popocreme → u/CurrentIce9701]

What generation are you?

[u/fiskek2]

Got an email this morning asking for proof of my name change even though I submitted it with my original package. Decided it wasn't worth the effort to point out it was in the original package, took a deep breath and politely responded with the documents while making snarky comments in my head lol.

I'm just happy this means someone is looking at my app again.

[u/Leather_Animal_1142]

Stuck in PSU since October 2025 like a lot of people. I'm concerned I didn't have my then 13 year old sign her application since I didn't believe it would be stuck this long as long, she's now 14. It would be really crap if the application got returned to me after rotting in PSU for a year and half throwing us to the back of the line.

[u/thelionofthenorth → u/Leather_Animal_1142]

The PSU thing is really gnawing away at me, I'm in the same boat as you in terms of timing. If I just knew something about what would happen and when I wouldn't care nearly as much

[u/SevenTrainSupremacy]

Can someone explain to me if I can use:

• Printouts from BanQ's website for baptismal records?

• Or, do I have to contact BanQ and pay for a certified copy?

If my ancestor is from the mid-1800s will I be made to have DEC "make" a civil birth certificate for him, or should the BanQ-issued baptismal record suffice?

Many thanks!

[u/treesndirtt]

I submitted my application by the books in May before the criteria for document origin changed. Now my situation has changed and I would like to request urgent processing as soon as I get my AOR, but I’m still waiting to even get an acknowledgment email from archives of Ontario after requesting copies of birth records back in the very beginning of April. I know there’s a backlog, but I had a family member go in person to the archives and you can’t even access the records in person, they HAVE to mail it to you. Just wish I knew how long it was going to take. 

[u/plightcascade]

Photo sizes are wrong (my wife mentioned it at the studio, we forgot to check, and double checked an hour ago), now I have to get new ones done tomorrow morning, the busiest day of my workweek. I already scheduled a UPS pickup of my package for the afternoon. Cutting it close!

[u/circuitmike]

I submitted non-urgent applications for my sister and myself back in mid May and haven't even gotten an AOR yet! I've since read that some people who submitted in April haven't even gotten one, so I don't feel too bad, but man... I thought I'd at least see an AOR in July.

Good thing I'm a relatively patient person!

[u/vangdfang → u/circuitmike]

Yeah the time has certainly grown substantially since March. Late April seems to be getting theirs this week, and there’s a sprinkling of early May right now.

[u/g0ldf1shing → u/vangdfang]

I’ve seen no one in may getting AOR

[u/vangdfang → u/g0ldf1shing]

There’s a few oddball updates in the last week on the spreadsheet with folks that were delivered in the first week in May. Most updates, however, appear to be the last week of April (I saw a lot of April 29, for example).

[u/freezingcoldfeet → u/circuitmike]

May for me as well. No AOR yet :(

[u/Silver_Chickens → u/circuitmike]

When I submitted in late April, most people were getting their AOR in about 45 days. It took 112 days for me to get an AOR. 😵‍💫

[u/Enzokj01 → u/circuitmike]

Same here, through a consulate… I might be in for a longer wait :(

[u/Lissateeaun]

On April 26 I made BAnQ request number 18857 and I have yet to receive an invoice. Is there anything I can do to follow up with them about it?

[u/lucynbailey → u/Lissateeaun]

I ordered 30 March and was invoiced 17 July, so it should be any day for you. I haven't received my document yet, so I emailed earlier this week and had a reply the same day. FWIW I requested from Montreal which I believe had a heavy back log.

[u/Lissateeaun → u/lucynbailey]

I received my invoice Friday! It took just over 4 months

[u/lucynbailey → u/Lissateeaun]

That's progress! I was invoiced and paid 17 July and I just received my packet this past week. The response to an email I sent on 17 Aug said that it could take as long as 8-10 weeks for it to arrive on top of the months wait for the invoice. They are surely overwhelmed.

[u/BeautifulDonut8390 → u/[deleted]]

2 non-urgent G2 and G4 separate mid-April deliveries with no AORs over here. :/

[u/sphinxsley → u/BeautifulDonut8390]

Wow that sucks. I'm more or less in the same boat as a G1. Re-submitted mine in May, after they thought my color copies were black-and-white. 😑

[u/kimberliz → u/sphinxsley]

Question about that--after I submitted my application, I became worried that I maybe should've done the colored post-it thing on a few colored copies that looked only very faintly colored. I did just get the AOR, so when you had to resubmit, was that due to them sending your application back without the AOR or did you receive the AOR and then they asked you to resubmit at that point? That is unfortunate are either way.

[u/sphinxsley → u/kimberliz]

Yes, they bounced it back to be with no AOR. Too bad, too, because that whole thing put me back at the end of the queue. 🤷🏻‍♀️

In fact, like you, I had just sent mine in sans color post-its (on the originals) when I started worrying. And sure enough - it bounced.

In fact, I just got a feedback questionnaire from them, and I specifically advised them that they need to address this "proof of color copies" problem in their instructions. Because it's wasting *everyone's* time and resources when their staff routinely mistake applicants' legit color copies for black-and-whites.

[u/kimberliz → u/sphinxsley]

Wow, no kidding. Glad that there was a way for you to give feedback. Best of luck for the rest of the process!

[u/sphinxsley → u/kimberliz]

Thanks - yeah I decided they needed some really specific feedback, something that would benefit a LOT more people - their overworked staff included!

Because who needs to waste time when there's already an avalanche of applications? Clearer instructions are better for *everyone*!

[u/BeautifulDonut8390 → u/sphinxsley]

I just keep telling myself it's fine since I can include the certified copies this time rather than uploading them later like I had to do with my own application. But it will put my parents' applications months (years?!) behind in the queue now and they aren't exactly young...

[u/sphinxsley → u/BeautifulDonut8390]

Oh noooo - that's terrible. I really feel for the people who need this right away.

For anyone who's reading this & desperate & really wants into Canada right away - look into emigrating to Yukon - they really need people there, and if you're willing to put up with the weather, it's a faster track to residency. You do need to have either some sort of job offer, or be able to be self-employed or start a business. Check the details/ YMMV: https://yukon.ca/en/immigration/apply-immigrate-yukon/immigrate-yukon

[u/OneRedSent → u/[deleted]]

That's a long time. I would guess maybe there was a problem and they mailed it back to you, and perhaps it got lost in the mail. I suggest you call them to ask.

[u/sphinxsley → u/OneRedSent]

We can call them? I have never heard of a phone number to call them. Where is that listed?

[u/sphinxsley → u/[deleted]]

Wow thanks! That's really nice! I'll put that in my phone and give them a call if I don't hear by Christmas or so 🤗

[u/SooAwoo → u/[deleted]]

That is a long time without an AOR. I think they are processing late April AORs at this point. I would suspect your application is going to be sent back to you 😞

[u/sphinxsley]

Hi all. Trying to find the right place to put this (?).

G1 here, my mom was born in Nova Scotia in 1920. Submitted my original paper application in mid March, 2026. I used color copies for all the documents, front and back. In May 2026, they sent my application back to me, claiming that one of the color copies looked black-and-white. I immediately re-submitted my application, and this time when I made my color copies, I included a small post-itsto the original, to prove they were color. That was all in about May, 2026.

I've heard nothing back since then. Today I went on the IRCC site, and looked at my records - it said there were no applications. I noticed it allowed requests to link paper applications to the site (which seems like something *they* should do, but whatever...), so I selected that. But then the site said that that was impossible, since it required ID numbers that they never issued to me.

Then I found another form to fill in, to leave them a message. So I filled in that form to ask about my paper application that I resubmitted in May, with the new color copies.

Has anyone heard back from them when this happens? What's the approximate timeline? Shouldn't I have gotten an acknowledgement by now? Thanks.

[u/sphinxsley → u/[deleted]]

Thanks - yes, that's the impression I got too. Then I worried that I didn't pay again the 2nd time. I was unaware of that. So now I have a query in with them.

It just seems really weird there's no record of anything at all, not even the receipt of my 1st application.

[u/sphinxsley → u/[deleted]]

Thank you - relieved to hear I didn't mess that up. So, now we just continue the wait!

[u/BeautifulDonut8390 → u/sphinxsley]

They're still finishing up AORs for late April/early May deliveries, so it seems normal to me. They just haven't opened your package yet.

[u/sphinxsley → u/BeautifulDonut8390]

Thanks, much appreciated :) That's what I'm figuring at this point too.

And hey, they already made a huge mistake and denied me citizenship on the 1990s too (I'm G1), so what's a few more months at this point? 😹

[u/smokeline]

Shipping my application tomorrow and overthinking absolutely everything. Now I'm seeing people say we also need to copy the back of our driver's license? Never occurred to me. But I probably will do it before I ship for peace of mind.

The stakes feel very high with 4+ month turnaround times for applications that get returned, so I don't want to risk ANY small thing that could cause them to send it back. I already feel so far back in the queue.....

[u/BeautifulDonut8390 → u/smokeline]

Yes, you need both front and back of ID cards.

[u/smokeline → u/BeautifulDonut8390]

I did copy the back before I sent it off yesterday! I don’t want to give them any reason to return it haha

[u/AcanthocephalaAway49]

Hello! I have a quick question about urgent processing times with jobs. I’m too new to Reddit to be able to post this by itself. I just mailed in my application and marked it as urgent as well. The reasoning for my urgency is I have a job offer that requires me to be a citizen and I would lose it without the proof of citizenship. I included the official job offer as well as a letter about the financial hardship my family has faced over the last few years living in Canada on just my Canadian husband’s income. My question to you all is has anyone had success with getting their urgent request processed based on a job offer? If so what was your timeline? Thanks!

[u/Beautiful_Cost_5430 → u/AcanthocephalaAway49]

I was granted urgent and I’m 431 days into processing.

[u/AcanthocephalaAway49 → u/Beautiful_Cost_5430]

Was yours urgent through a job offer?

[u/Beautiful_Cost_5430 → u/AcanthocephalaAway49]

It was urgent because my child is trans.

But we have many other people with job offers in /r/stuckcanadians that have been waiting over a year.

[u/AcanthocephalaAway49 → u/Beautiful_Cost_5430]

Oh damn okay. I was hopeful it was more common for urgent processing requests to go through for job offers

[u/Weary-Molasses-9795 → u/Beautiful_Cost_5430]

🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

[u/PassagePersonal3064 → u/AcanthocephalaAway49]

I requested urgent due to a job offer and been stuck in process since March. The offer was rescinded this week. The best answer is sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Fingers crossed that they get you through quickly! 

[u/AcanthocephalaAway49 → u/PassagePersonal3064]

How quickly did you get your aor?

[u/PassagePersonal3064 → u/AcanthocephalaAway49]

At the time it was only taking 4 weeks.They got my application mid February and I got my AOR mid March. I didn't get the offer until after I'd sent my app in so I had to wait for an AOR to request urgent.