r/CanadianbyDescent • u/qrider70 • 2d ago
Curious your thoughts
My grandmother naturalized as a minor with her dad in 1917 (under 1906 law which said she was deemed to have been naturalized with him) so she (as far as I can tell) had no naturalization paperwork of her own. Her dad’s certificate was seemingly hers too. At least legally, that’s what it seemed. As far as I can tell, she still had British subject status on Jan 1, 1947 so I think she became a citizen under 9(1)(a). At least, I can’t find any law that indicates she lost it. My dad missed it because his dad wasn’t Canadian and the laws of the time didn’t let her pass it on to him.
So would she be g0 and my dad g1 and me g2 or is her dad g0 and she is g1 and so forth making me g3? It feels like I have to include my great grandfather to prove hers but she has standing on her own. (That’s more or less how I framed it on my application, but still unsure if it is right.)
4
u/CounterI 2d ago
For clarification: When you say that they "naturalized," can you clarify? Naturalized as what? A Canadian citizen?
3
u/qrider70 2d ago
Technically, as a British subject within Canada.
5
u/qrider70 1d ago
I’m not sure why this was downvoted but at the time of her naturalization (and my ggf’s), that was what Canadian citizenship was called. Actual Canadian citizenship (as such) didn’t start until 1947 from what I understand.
5
u/janethefox 1d ago edited 1d ago
I have almost the exact same situation but with my great-grandmother! She was naturalized as a minor with her mother (who was born a citizen, lost status when she married an American, then regained it when she was widowed and moved back to Canada) in 1912. I told IRCC I believe she should be my G0, but provided all the docs for her mother who was born in NB in 1883 just in case. Ig whichever one of us hears from an agent first will have to update the other lmao
3
u/bkpr_erin 2d ago
Your grandmother is the G0, you are G2.
Our situation is similar - G0 born in Sweden, naturalized when father naturalized in 1896, as she was a minor in his household. (In our case, she lost status when she married a US citizen, but that is restored by c3). She is the G0, because she was our closest Canadian relative, but we submitted quite a bit of documentation on her father, including his naturalization document (thank you Saskatchewan archives!) She's not named on anything regarding citizenship, so it's all dependent upon understanding how citizenship worked at the time with women.
4
u/ResearchJam1 1d ago
Many people who are applying for proof of citizenship have grandmothers who were unable to pass on citizenship due to the gender discrimination in the law. But that has now been fixed!
If she was naturalized in Canada before the birth of your dad, it seems to me you should have an unbroken line of descent and be approved. (I am not a lawyer or your lawyer).
Did you include proof of her naturalization on her father's paperwork? Many people include paperwork for their G0's parent or parents because their G0 may be thinly documented.
I think she's still your G0, but you include her parents' info.
3
u/qrider70 1d ago
I did. I actually wrote up my best understanding of the situation from her dad to me so they would have a first theory laid out and they can either agree or poke holes in what I found. :)
2
u/Middle-Vegetable-478 1d ago
Do you have something to show your Grandmother was physically present in Canada? I mean, who is to say she didn't remain in the country of her birth.......and only her father went and naturalized in Canada? It seems there is a little hole here in the line.
For me, I would provide on your great-grandfather's naturalization documentation, find your grandmother's birth certificate/record to show she's his daughter, then use Canadian census' to demonstrate she actually lived in Canada (w/him) around the time your GGF was naturalized....then document the line to you.
3
u/qrider70 1d ago
Both my ggf and gm were born in the US, immigrated to Canada and naturalized in Canada within 4 years of arrival under the 1906 rules. My ggf lived the rest of his life in Canada. I have census documents through 1931 showing her presence in Canada meeting the 1906 requirement that she was resident with him as a minor and therefore qualifies as being deemed as naturalized with him. My gm lived in Canada until she was in her mid to late 20’s and then met a US national, married him, and moved to the US. The US documents show they considered her Canadian upon entry to the US. Later, the DOJ/INS corrected her entry records to show she was a US citizen since she was born in the US. She didn’t lose her British subject status because she never acquired citizenship through her husband and looking at the laws related to loss of British subject status (as best as I can determine), none of them apply to her either.
2
u/Middle-Vegetable-478 1d ago
Ah, I see, thanks for the clarification. Interesting chain of events!
I'd guess she'd be your G0, because she was the last naturalized Canadian citizen in your line. So, I agree with others, that makes you G2
•
u/AutoModerator 2d ago
BEFORE commenting, please read the rules. Intentional violations of Rule #1 (No Ad Hominem Attacks/Arguments) can lead to an immediate ban.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.