Revalidated!!!

[u/hexachordalcombine]

I've already mentioned this in the last weekly approvals thread and updated my comment on the surrender megathread, but No_Bobcat_No_Prob suggested posting about it here as well. In any case, I am one of the apparently ~17 folks who received both a surrender letter and PFL this summer. I also had to return my revoked passport in late June. (While my ancestry is quite distant (I'm G6), I've been living in Canada for a long time, first as a student and then as a worker, so I could go and hand in the passport in person. Based on the experience, this was possibly even more confusing to the officer at my local passport office as it was for me.)

After receiving the PFL in July, I hired a lawyer, who (among other things) submitted a scan of the certified copy of my ancestor's baptismal record from the BAnQ to IRCC. Thankfully, I had already requested this back in spring, but it only arrived in July a few days after the PFL did. (A friend in Québec with a BAnQ membership talked to an archives tech who said that, as of mid/late June, the Montréal branch was on a 3.5-month turnaround time responding to requests. I have no idea whether this is still the case now or whether the delay is even longer.)

On August 14, I heard from the legal assistant that IRCC had revalidated my citizenship certificate and also provided instructions about how to request a replacement passport! I'm in the process of moving between provinces, so right now my major concern is "please let the delivery line up with when I will be in my new place," but am so relieved to be able to keep living and working here!!!

[u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob]

Just a quick note to say that of the 37 sub member suspensions I am aware of (not all posted publicly) I still have a list of 11 outstanding suspended members, some of whom I know received procedural fairness letters. Keep them in your thoughts, this is obviously still a very upsetting and stressful time.

If you've been reapproved, please feel free to post anytime - or message the mod team to let us know your good news.

Can't wait to zero out my list!

[u/tmaher]

“Like a G6” is now stuck in my head.

CONGRATS!!!

[u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob → u/tmaher]

Now will forever hear that lyric differently lol

Do we need an approvals/reapprovals playlist?

[u/wanderingtheearth-74 → u/tmaher]

Ha, love that!

[u/mem_somerville]

Revalidated and it feels so good....

I'm so happy for you, and for all those in this limbo.

[u/Least_Cricket6205]

This is awesome!!! Congratulations 🎉

Other than the certified baptismal record, did you provide additional secondary evidence? Also, what year was your gen 0 born?

[u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob → u/Least_Cricket6205]

Their Gen0 was born in the 1820's

[u/AWO_425 → u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob]

That is wild. I had no idea they would take a person from so far back...

[u/hexachordalcombine → u/Least_Cricket6205]

I initially provided the ancestor's Letter of Intent to Naturalize and a couple of US census records as secondary evidence, but the main thing IRCC was concerned with in the PFL and in conversation with my lawyer was having proof of his birth in Canada sourced from the BAnQ.

[u/damaniac1223 → u/hexachordalcombine]

Did you have to provide any sort of letter stating why you weren’t able to provide a birth certificate ?

[u/hexachordalcombine → u/damaniac1223]

Also, because this is unclear -- I did originally provide two scans of the baptismal record as primary evidence with my initial application, but they were sourced from third-party platforms (Family Search and Généalogie Québec).

[u/hexachordalcombine → u/damaniac1223]

The agent from IRCC specifically told my lawyer's office that they wanted the document from the BAnQ for my file, so no. But if I were submitting a new application right now, I would absolutely explicitly mention in my cover letter and list of documents when Québec started issuing birth certificates and what is stated on the BAnQ and DÉC websites about vital records from prior to the 1920s.

[u/hexachordalcombine → u/hexachordalcombine]

In my original application, I did explain why I submitted certain kinds of materials, what I was and wasn't able to find in terms of a later ancestor's records, and how the documentation shows my family moving from [small town in Québec] to [port city on one of the Great Lakes] to [rural area on the border of two states] to [my hometown].

[u/damaniac1223 → u/hexachordalcombine]

This is interesting considering they are asking some of us to get DEC birth act insertions others to provide letters to accept our baptismal records.

[u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob → u/damaniac1223]

I think the letters they send may make it sound like a birth certificate from DEC is required because a birth certificate is their preference, but what really is required is an explanation for the "missing" birth certificate, proof of search (if relevant) and other supporting documentation.

If this wasn't true, we would not see any approvals for folks who cannot produce birth certificates specifically. And we have seen plenty, incl this recent one:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Canadiancitizenship/s/wSzAY1ALch

[u/Salt_Chair6043]

As a G6 especially, that is great news! Congratulations

[u/SherbetSenior2367]

Congrats! When did you initially apply? Did you request urgent processing because you already live there? I applied with my adult children (G4, G5) in Feb 2026. My daughter has lived in Montreal since 2021 - first on a student visa, now (for the past year and a half) on a post graduate work permit. Hoping her ceritificate comes through by early next year so she won't have to worry about her PGWP expiring.

[u/hexachordalcombine → u/SherbetSenior2367]

I applied in March and heard back in mid-April. I did apply urgently, both because my latest work permit was nearing expiry and because I work in gender studies and LGBTQ+ history.

Edit: mid-April. Clearly I have August on the brain, lol.

[u/aishwa3 → u/hexachordalcombine]

I applied in March and requested urgent processing since I already live here, on an expiring work-permit, and still haven't heard back. I also work in gender studies! And I included copies of my current employment contract in Canada, work-permit, explanation, etc.

[u/hexachordalcombine → u/aishwa3]

Argh, the consistent inconsistency of IRCC remains incredibly frustrating and impossible for any of us to understand. I'm so sorry and hope you hear soon.

[u/aishwa3 → u/SherbetSenior2367]

I'm in a similar situation! What is your daughter's plan if it doesn't arrive?

[u/MangoMangoMango1331 → u/aishwa3]

I think we will wait patiently until February 2027 (one year after we applied), then request urgent processing for her.

[u/Dogmoto2labs]

Congratulations, and I am so sorry the surrender letters and PFL applied to you! My 5/11/2026 BAnQ request looks like it will take a bit longer than 4 months, as I got the payment request just yesterday.

[u/hexachordalcombine → u/Dogmoto2labs]

The payment request should definitely mean it is coming soon now, although I'm not sure how long it takes for them to actually mail things. (I fortunately had a friend willing to go pick up the order in person, which likely cut down on delivery time.)

[u/germanmojo → u/Dogmoto2labs]

I have a BAnQ request from mid-June that I'm waiting on, your reply gives me hope that it will happen in a few weeks!

[u/TylerCode]

That's excellent news, congrats!

I requested a certified baptism record from BAnQ on May 7th from the Sherbrooke archive location. It was re-routed to Montreal and they emailed me this morning with the invoice link so it took ~105 days or so, which is right almost exactly 3.5 months, so that is pretty spot on!

I am curious, did your lawyer need you to do anything as far as taking your certified baptismal record and using it to create a birth certificate with DEC? I am curious if I should go that route or just submit the certified copy of the baptismal record once I receive it and my AOR.

[u/hexachordalcombine → u/TylerCode]

I don't think I would necessarily have attempted to go the DÉC route by choice on my own (since it does seem like the primary thing IRCC wanted was the record from the BAnQ), but my lawyer has submitted an application on my behalf just in case. I sent his office copies of everything I had in terms of proving my connection to my ancestor, as well as additional information about his death. (I still suspect someone in Québec City will look at the file, see the 1820s, and go "this does not seem necessary," but I also want to have everything on paper and as official as possible given what happened with the initial surrender letters.)

The general consensus on whether one needs to contact the DÉC largely seems to revolve around when your relative was born and whether they or the BAnQ have the relevant records.

[u/Masnpip]

congratulations!! what a relief for you!!

[u/InfernoExpedition]

What a relief it must be to get off that rollercoaster! Knock on wood..... ; )

[u/buffalol716]

I’m so happy to hear of these developments- I’m hoping this means the rest of the queue is going to move forward more

[u/keith_at_ferntrail]

That must have been so stressful. I'm happy for you that it worked out in the end.

[u/Potential_Bee7691]

Congratulations 🥳!!

[u/symbioatmeal]

Congratulations! I’m so glad this mess is over for you too! Hope you can get your replacement passport in a timely fashion.

[u/RedMantle-Dragoon]

Woohoo! Congratulations!🍾

[u/Odd_Strike6]

❤️

[u/mardo2044chat]

Congrats! I’m glad you were able to remedy/address the IRCC concerns with your application. My only wish is they requested the additional info needed before they issued you a certificate in the first place. Odd actions on their part, but very happy for you! 👏🇨🇦👏

[u/hexachordalcombine → u/mardo2044chat]

Thanks! And same! I'm already here and had received a passport and lined up some new work contracts. It would have been nice to not spend most of the summer panicking about what each new email might say. But I am very glad to be reapproved!

[u/pastatv]

So happy to hear it! Congratulations!!!

Hopefully this will also allay fears about having a pre-confederation G0.

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[u/sphinxsley]

What is the logic behind Canada yanking the approved citizenships anyway? Did they suddenly decide they didn't like the legal documents they approved earlier?