The Government of Canada has requested that some individuals who obtained citizenship certificates under the new law known as the “Lost Canadians” be asked to return their issued documents to the relevant authorities while further reviews are completed.
According to a report by Canadian Press, some recipients of these certificates have received letters from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada stating that their application process is still ongoing and that the issued citizenship certificates must be temporarily surrendered.
The letters cite the lack of original documentation proving a familial connection to Canada as the reason for the reassessment. Immigration officials have said that some applicants used alternative documents instead of formal records to establish lineage and family history.
The new Canadian citizenship law, passed last year, eased previous restrictions on passing citizenship through Canadian parents and enabled thousands of so-called “Lost Canadians” to obtain citizenship.
These individuals are people who, due to changes and complexities in citizenship laws over the years, were denied citizenship rights despite having Canadian ancestry or Canadian parents.
Canada’s Immigration Department has confirmed that only a limited number of cases are currently under review and that individuals who received such letters may submit additional documentation and evidence to support their claim to citizenship.
Canadian authorities have emphasized that if the documentation and review are ultimately approved, the citizenship certificates will be returned to the applicants.
Meanwhile, some immigration lawyers have described the move as unusual, stating that the retrieval of already-issued citizenship certificates raises questions about the initial review process and how applications were approved.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
