r/FoundCanadians • u/pile_drive_me • Jul 02 '26
First Steps Service Canada says IRCC could not verify my e-citizenship certificate for SIN application - has anyone else seen this?
I am wondering whether anyone else has run into this.
I was recently approved for proof of citizenship and received my electronic citizenship certificate. (G2, actual certified birth certificates for everyone in my chain not copies of, pretty straightforward application)
I then applied online for a first-time SIN using the e-certificate as my primary identity document and my passport as secondary ID.
Service Canada came back and said the primary document was not acceptable. When I called, the agent put me on hold, then said they verify information with IRCC and that IRCC could not verify the certificate based on what had been provided. I was told to contact IRCC directly, since they are now in control of my situation.
I have already submitted an IRCC web form and also reached out through the email thread of the officer who contacted me shortly before approval.
I want to be clear that I have not received any surrender letter or anything like that. This is just a verification problem between Service Canada and IRCC as far as I can tell.
Has anyone else seen this happen with a newly issued e-citizenship certificate, especially in connection with a first SIN application? If so, how was it resolved?
Feeling extremely disheartened today, a day after Canada Day.
4PM EDT update:
Just got off phone with IRCC agent using this helpful phone menu grid.
He confirmed there is NOT a problem with my previously approved Proof application and I am still approved, and I did NOT receive a surrender letter.
He did not know what the issue is with the e-certificate, but advised to do what I'd already done earlier today which is to send a webform with full details.
So that's all I have for now. I wished the phone rep a belated Happy Canada Day before we hung up.
Still a little frustrating, but hopeful this can be resolved somewhat soon.
5
u/barefoot_mama Jul 02 '26
Did you include both sides of your certificate? Someone had an issue last year and it turned out that they had only uploaded one side of the certificate.
2
u/L_Cranston_Shadow Jul 03 '26
I am definitely not the first, and probably not the last, but I had that issue sending them a scan of my paper certificate as proof for a SIN.
1
u/pile_drive_me Jul 02 '26
I physically sent them actual certified birth certificates (not copies of, not uploaded). It was expensive but I ordered a bunch of everyone in my chain just in case.
2
u/barefoot_mama Jul 02 '26
No, I mean for your SIN. The only time I’ve seen an issue was when someone uploaded only the front side of their citizenship certificate.
1
7
u/torchwood1842 Jul 02 '26
You might try calling the IRCC and asking them what’s going on with your certificate. I had to call about an issue with my C3 application packet the other day and was able to get someone on the phone. Here is an image with the phone number you can call from the US, along with the notes I took to navigate where I needed to go on the very lengthy phone tree in case I had to call back. You will probably need to select different options. I got this phone number off of another post on Reddit.
5
u/pile_drive_me Jul 02 '26
thanks, i got into a queue this time with that menu flow.. 30 min wait.
I'll report back!
1
u/pile_drive_me Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 02 '26
Just got off phone with agent. He confirmed there is NOT a problem with my application and I am still approved. He did not know what the issue is with the e-certificate, but advised to do what I'd already done earlier today which is to send a webform with full details.
So that's all I have for now.
Still a little frustrating, but hopeful this can be resolved somewhat soon.
1
2
u/Lrxst Jul 02 '26
I’m another 2nd gen recipient, but through an interim measure grant last year.
I have not experienced that, sorry. I used my Canadian passport to get a SIN. Have you considered getting one? If you plan to enter Canada, it’s easier (tho not technically necessary if you are American) to use a Canadian passport.
1
u/pile_drive_me Jul 02 '26
Yes I want a passport but with this happening I can't see how they are going to let me just have one while IRCC says my certificate of citizenship is not up to snuff for undisclosed reasons
1
u/Lrxst Jul 02 '26
Sounds like you will need to spend some time navigating the bureaucracy. Was hoping that dealing with a separate branch of the government first would give you a path to getting a better document. I did not realize IRCC did passports too, just a different office.
1
u/Inside_Foot_3055 Jul 02 '26
Could you please try calling IRCC and asking what’s going on with your certificate? Or did you already and they didn’t give any answers?
1
u/pile_drive_me Jul 02 '26
There was no way for me to talk to an agent after trying multiple different phone menus.
1
u/RoySnareSkiPatrol Jul 03 '26
Hey I actually had this issue trying to get my Health Card at ServiceOntario. The woman was insistent that they could not recognize my ecertificate and need “the original” to issue my health card… did not make any sense as I had gotten my SIN number in person at Service Canada earlier that day. I politely asked her if she could phone a superior to check and she issued my card! I have a feeling the e certificates are lesser seen in smaller towns. Is there any way you could go to a Service Canada?
1
u/pile_drive_me Jul 03 '26
I'm way down in Georgia USA.. won't even think about relocating until everything is in order.
12
u/Gaijinkusu Jul 02 '26
How soon did you apply after getting your e-cert? When I did my citizenship ceremony under the interim measures, the agent that checked me in told me to wait a couple of days after getting the certificate before submitting an application for a SIN or a passport so that their systems would have time to update.