Hello, I hope someone might be able to give me some guidance, as I appear to be caught in a catch-22 situation.
My mother was born in Canada in 1916, but her birth was never registered (no birth certificate) with the authorities: she was baptised a couple of weeks later and I have the original baptism certificate + a copy of the entry in the church register, all certified. She emigrated to the UK at the age of 8 and never needed a birth certificate - the certified baptism certificate was enough for everything she needed in life.
I contacted Vital Statistics to see if they could issue a birth certificate, as I know IRCC request it for citizenship applications. They acknowledged that ‘not registering a birth’ was not unusual at the time, however they won’t issue a birth certificate as my mother is now deceased.
The problem is that I’ve applied for Citizenship with all documents I have (baptism certificate), including the email from Vital Statistics saying they won’t issue a birth certificate, but the IRCC has sent me an email to say they won’t process my application without my mother’s birth certificate as my mother is now deceased (and specifically say baptism records are not acceptable):
“we require the following documents and/or information proof: that one or both of the applicant’s parents were Canadian citizens at the time of the applicant’s birth. Examples of acceptable forms of proof include a clear and legible colour copy of the child’s mother’s Canadian birth certificate issued by the province where the mother was born or Canadian citizenship certificate. Hospital birth certificates and baptismal records are not acceptable.”
Any ideas what I can do? One part of the Canadian authorities won't issue the certificate and another part say they won't process my application without that certificate!
Thanks in advance
My mother was born in Canada in 1916, but her birth was never registered (no birth certificate) with the authorities: she was baptised a couple of weeks later and I have the original baptism certificate + a copy of the entry in the church register, all certified. She emigrated to the UK at the age of 8 and never needed a birth certificate - the certified baptism certificate was enough for everything she needed in life.
I contacted Vital Statistics to see if they could issue a birth certificate, as I know IRCC request it for citizenship applications. They acknowledged that ‘not registering a birth’ was not unusual at the time, however they won’t issue a birth certificate as my mother is now deceased.
The problem is that I’ve applied for Citizenship with all documents I have (baptism certificate), including the email from Vital Statistics saying they won’t issue a birth certificate, but the IRCC has sent me an email to say they won’t process my application without my mother’s birth certificate as my mother is now deceased (and specifically say baptism records are not acceptable):
“we require the following documents and/or information proof: that one or both of the applicant’s parents were Canadian citizens at the time of the applicant’s birth. Examples of acceptable forms of proof include a clear and legible colour copy of the child’s mother’s Canadian birth certificate issued by the province where the mother was born or Canadian citizenship certificate. Hospital birth certificates and baptismal records are not acceptable.”
Any ideas what I can do? One part of the Canadian authorities won't issue the certificate and another part say they won't process my application without that certificate!
Thanks in advance
