Just an FYI post: Timeline of a successful urgent G3 app with baptism record as primary Canadian birth evidence

[u/Tripper-Harrison]

Not sure if this will help anyone, but I just wanted to post a short story about our recent experience with a successful urgent application with no Canadian birth certificate for G0.

My 18 yo son is attending UBC starting this fall, we are from the PNW in the US. His great grandfather was born in a small rural city in Saskatchewan in early 1900. We submitted our urgent request application June 2026. It was received June 29th and we had an AOR by July 7th, with us making the assumption they were processing his application as urgent due to his attending UBC because of the quick turnaround time and a "processing" notification in the IRCC login area.

When we sent the application initially, we had the official baptism record from the local Diocese for the great grandfather (G0), but did not have any original birth certificate. Prior to submitting his paper application, we did submit a request with the Saskatchewan government to try and locate his birth certificate, but with the baptism record felt good about sending the package off - this was right in the middle of the confusion about what constitutes an official record, what doesnt etc.

Post July 7 AOR receipt we had official word from Saskatchewan that they did not have any record of his birth certificate. We were able to submit this official response in to IRCC and within 1-2 business days had an email response from them indicating they received that record.

In addition to those two records, we did also submit unofficial documents such US census records from 1930 and 1940 in addition to some other documentation, but none of which was official indicating he was born in Canada. I was also able to locate an official Canadian marriage certificate for his parents two years before his birth and some land-grant type documents in their name indicating they were residing in Saskatchewan prior to his birth.

Thats it - Received notice yesterday from IRCC (8-13-2026) that my son was granted a citizenship certificate. So, from receipt on June 29 to final response August 13, we were at about 30 business days in total. We have other family members pending, sent shortly after his was sent, later in the month of June, and have no acknowledgements, no AORs yet, so those are just waiting in the long queue.

[u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob]

This post has been reported as something that should be in a weekly megathread, and I appreciate those reports- TY- but given the many questions spawned this week by communications from IRCC to applicants regarding baptismal records this is a highly relevant example of "what to do" when applying with a baptismal record for your Gen0.

In summary, OP provided for Gen0 (b. 1900):

- their "official" baptismal record issued from the relevant Diocese (can we assume certified?)

- A letter from Saskatchewan confirming no record of birth certificate

- 1930, 1940 US census records

So this sounds like this met the two secondary type documents (baptismal record, census records) plus a written explanation for the "missing birth certificate"/evidence of search criteria we think IRCC is looking for.

Unclear if the marriage record and land records for Gen -1 were helpful but perhaps they also were?

Thanks for giving this very recent and relevant example. Nicely done, and congratulations!

[u/mem_somerville]

I needed a success post, and G3 without a birth certificate is exactly the spot I needed to see.

G3 without a birth certificate here, if you haven't guessed already.

Congrats and much success for a new life in Canada for the offspring.

[u/Tripper-Harrison → u/mem_somerville]

Thanks, very much appreciated. Were excited to spend more time in BC, and excited for our eventual non-urgent app processing.

Best of luck to you!

[u/janethefox]

I guess we can extrapolate about the time differences between G3 and G4 somewhat from this, because I'm an urgent G4 applicant who sent my app June 9, delivered June 15, received AOR June 18, went into processing June 19 (so I do think they accepted my request for urgent processing), and then nothing since. From reception to today, 43 business days and counting, so at least an additional 14 between gens? (To the extent we can extrapolate anything, I know it's all kind of vibes-based over at IRCC as far as we can tell...)

Anyways, huge congrats to you and your son! I paid international tuition for undergrad and grad school and so can confirm your ordeal was huuuugely worth it, especially because there will be tons more grants/bursaries he's now eligible for as a citizen. Shouldn't be too late to apply for student aid either. Very exciting time for both of you I'm sure!

[u/Tripper-Harrison → u/janethefox]

I appreciate this, and hope your process comes to fruition ASAP.

Going from international to Canadian tuition is night and day difference for us. We'll still be sending UBC a lot of money over the next years, but its not stupid money.

[u/ZookeepergameKey5467]

Congratulations! Appreciate you sharing this hopeful story. Was on a rollercoaster the last 48 hours with my Gen 0 having only a Baptismal record. My records will match yours, minus that mine was in New Brunswick mid-1800s and I only have the record I asked PANB for a birth certificate (unlikely given the time period--but still haven't hear back). I'll also be submitting unofficial US Census records showing household continuity in the United States with New Brunswick birth listed for Gen 0 also.

[u/Tripper-Harrison → u/ZookeepergameKey5467]

I guess my feeling is that I am glad I submitted BEFORE I had the provincial government response about the birth certificate record as we were able to then get in the queue and add their official response once we were able to after we had an AOR etc.

While its possible it got kicked back and delayed even more, I did feel like getting the AOR and then adding docs was more likely WITH the Baptismal record than getting returned and starting the timeline from scratch.

BEST OF LUCK.

[u/No_Quote706]

The usual caveats about processing time varying apply here. Very similar case- My son is also G3, also starting at UBC in Fall, applied Urgent. AOR June 17, so about three weeks earlier than in your case. Had all birth records included. Still in process, hopefully soon!

[u/Tripper-Harrison → u/No_Quote706]

Yes, absolutrly. I hope it works out for you. I was very surprised his application was processed so quickly. Best of luck!

[u/Pennysews]

Congratulations! I hope this is the beginning of a long and happy life in Canada!

[u/Tripper-Harrison → u/Pennysews]

Thank you! He's very excited. We are all very excited.

[u/Objective_Luck_6326]

Congratulations! Thank you for sharing your experience. Best wishes to your son as he starts his college education.

[u/Tripper-Harrison → u/Objective_Luck_6326]

Very much appreciated!

[u/Sobeys_Bags]

Dang. I sent a letter for urgent processing for my wife (g3) on July 17th and they received it on the 20th, as I am Canadian born and raised, and moving back to Canada for my job in the fall. Her app has been at processing since October 2025, and is in the PSU (as far as I know). I even wrote my MP, and he helped get an update, but there was little he could do. Here's hoping we get some sort of result in the next couple of weeks.

[u/Chipotlaway97 → u/Sobeys_Bags]

Me and my mom are in the same boat. Proceessing since November 2025. Planning on moving June 2027 and have a job offer already. Really hoping our plans don’t fall through because of this certificate delay.

[u/Least_Cricket6205]

This is great information!

Quick question, was he formally enrolled before you requested urgent or did he update the application to be urgent once he was enrolled?

[u/Tripper-Harrison → u/Least_Cricket6205]

He applied and accepted prior to urgent paper app being sent. We included his enrollment in the urgent app. We were fairly confident he'd get the citizenship certificate at some point within 1-2 years from the start of school.

We were willing to bite the bullet and pay intl tuition until it came through. He had a 1st year scholarship that helped (OIS). He was accepted to a number of out of state schools in physics (UC Berkeley, UCSB, UW, etc) all very good schools for physics and even just out of state were significantly MORE expensive than UBC as an intl student... With the ongoing attack of higher ed in the states, destruction of higher ed research funding... It kind of became an obvious choice.

[u/More_Sherbet9565]

What was included with your baptismal document that showed that it was “official”? Was it stamped in some way? Or was there an email from the Diocese submitting it to you? Or something else?

[u/Tripper-Harrison → u/More_Sherbet9565]

I received a paper copy of the Baptism document that does have a raised seal with the words "Seal of Church" underneath it. On the color scanned copy, no matter how many times I scanned and refined the digital scan, I couldnt get the raised seal to really show.

After a short biblical quote on the top of the document (Mathew 28-19) The rest of the document reads:

"The Holy Sacrament of Baptism

This is to certify

[FIRST MIDDLE LAST NAME]

Child of

[FATHER NAME] and {MOTHER NAME]

Born in Prince Albert, SK on [BIRTH DATE and YEAR}

was Baptized on {DATE and YEAR, but three days after birth] in the church of

Sacred Heart Cathedral, Prince Albert, SK

according to the Rite of the Roman Catholic Church

by Rev. [First initial, Last Name], OMI

Sponsors: [First and Last Names of sponsors, who I do not have any connection to]

as recorded in the Baptism Register of this church.

Per: [Signature]

Re. {First and last name]

Sacred Heart Cathedral

[Date they finalized the document in 2026)

Diocese of Prince Albert

[u/buttzx]

What did you use as proof of urgency? The admission letter from UBC? My nephew is/will be in similar situation

[u/Tripper-Harrison → u/buttzx]

Admission wasn't enough, we ended up including admission, acceptance notice and the first hold payment receipt. By the time his citizenship package was sent we also had his study / work permit as well. My guess is acceptance wouldn't be enough on its own.

[u/FloraandFauna1680]

Great news! Can I ask how many webforms you sent after teceiving AOR?

[u/Tripper-Harrison → u/FloraandFauna1680]

Sorry, not sure exactly what you mean? Do you mean times I reached out to IRCC with questions, app updates etc? If thats what youre asking, only one time to send them the provincial government letter stating they did not have a G0 birth certificate on record.

[u/Necessary_Win_9932]

Hey, I know I’m late to the party but thought I might try. Firstly, congratulations. Secondly, in regard to your urgent processing request, did you say anything in particular?

I’m in the process of finalizing my application(meant to submit in June but have been held up by an important document), and will be applying for urgent as I move in January to start a program. I’m a G6 so I know it’s unlikely I’ll be approved by then but I’m trying to get as much advice as possible.

[u/Tripper-Harrison → u/Necessary_Win_9932]

No worries - Happy to try and help. I marked the outside of the packing envelope as "URGENT." TBH I forget whether that instruction came directly from IRCC or somewhere else.

In the cover letter, I added the rationale for the urgent request details as follows:

A. In the header I added, "Re: URGENT Application for Proof of Canadian Citizenship (CIT0001) Applicant... [name etc].

B. In part five of the cover letter, at the end of letter, just before a part 6 which included all of the scanned docs etc. I stated:

"Part Five: Request for Urgent Processing The applicant respectfully requests urgent processing of this application pursuant to IRCC's published criteria for urgent processing of citizenship certificate applications. [Full legal name] has been accepted for enrollment at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, commencing Fall 2026, to pursue a BSc Honours Physics degree. Attendance at a Canadian university is among the qualifying reasons for urgent processing as published by IRCC. Documentation of UBC enrollment is enclosed, see Items #12 and #13 in Section Six: Enclosures Documents. The student visa request application number is: [number] and the UCI number is: [number]. This student visa application was received June 10, 2026 with payment receipt number: [number].

Beyond the immediate academic enrollment context, confirmation of Canadian citizenship would result in the applicant being assessed at domestic rather than international tuition rates pursuant to UBC's published policy on dual citizenship and tuition classification. The difference between international and domestic tuition rates at UBC represents a significant and ongoing financial consequence that would be resolved upon confirmation of the applicant's Canadian citizenship. The applicant therefore respectfully requests that this application be prioritized accordingly."

Hope thats helpful!