The federal government has unexpectedly suspended a number of Canadian citizenship certificates that were recently issued to individuals eligible under the "Lost Canadians" legislation. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) sent notices to recipients on Saturday, instructing them to return their certificates for a review of their files.
The notices, signed by Peggy Sun, registrar of Canadian citizenship, cite potential issues with documentation not being from original source authorities or a lack of explanation for why original documents could not be obtained. Without these, the certificates are deemed invalid pending further review. Recipients will have an opportunity to submit additional evidence, and their certificates may be returned if the review is favourable.
This action has caused shock and confusion among those who received the letters, some of whom have already relocated to Canada or were planning to do so. Immigration lawyers suggest this appears to be a widespread issue, though the exact number of affected individuals is not yet known. The specific reasons for these broad suspensions are unclear, as IRCC has not yet responded to inquiries. This situation raises management questions about why certificates were issued if requirements were not fully met initially.
