The CIC website says to expect 5 months for processing. My experience was considerably shorter.
Situation:
Mother born in Canada in the 1920s. (CA Cit.)
Father born in the USA in the 1920s. (USA Cit.)
Married and lived in the USA starting in mid 1940s.
I was born in the USA in mid 1950s.
Applying from within the USA.
I filled out the CIT0001E form and FEDEXed it, proof of fee payment, two photos, a copy of my USA passport and a copy of my USA driver’s license, a newly minted certified copy of my birth certificate, and, a newly minted certified copy of my mother’s birth certificate to the Nova Scotia office.
I received a letter back from CIC in late June informing me that they had received the paperwork and assigning me a Client Number. With which I was able to login to the CIC website to check the status.
Status:
(A) We received your application for a citizenship certificate (proof of Canadian citizenship) on June 3, 2016.
(B) We started processing your application on July 7, 2016.
(C) On July 14th the status had changed to: “Decision Made”.
(D) Decision letter mailed on July 19th.
(E) On August 4th I received my certificate in the mail!
From date of receipt to decision: 42 days.
From date of receipt to certificate in hand: 62 days.
Situation:
Mother born in Canada in the 1920s. (CA Cit.)
Father born in the USA in the 1920s. (USA Cit.)
Married and lived in the USA starting in mid 1940s.
I was born in the USA in mid 1950s.
Applying from within the USA.
I filled out the CIT0001E form and FEDEXed it, proof of fee payment, two photos, a copy of my USA passport and a copy of my USA driver’s license, a newly minted certified copy of my birth certificate, and, a newly minted certified copy of my mother’s birth certificate to the Nova Scotia office.
I received a letter back from CIC in late June informing me that they had received the paperwork and assigning me a Client Number. With which I was able to login to the CIC website to check the status.
Status:
(A) We received your application for a citizenship certificate (proof of Canadian citizenship) on June 3, 2016.
(B) We started processing your application on July 7, 2016.
(C) On July 14th the status had changed to: “Decision Made”.
(D) Decision letter mailed on July 19th.
(E) On August 4th I received my certificate in the mail!
From date of receipt to decision: 42 days.
From date of receipt to certificate in hand: 62 days.