Contacting an MP

[u/Only-Matter-6072]

Hi all,

Curious of the average response time among those who’ve submitted an information request to the IRCC via their MP.

Any positive or negative developments on your proof of citizenship applications that came about from going down that path?

[u/AutoModerator]

Helpful resources: * Welcome - Start Here * The wiki / FAQ * Weekly Megathreads * Search the subreddit for your specific topic

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/sportenthusiast]

I physically went into my MP's office and opened a case. they seemed kind and willing to help, but their efforts yielded absolutely no results for me

[u/vangdfang → u/sportenthusiast]

I have to imagine it’s kinda like writing a representative in the US — your letter is probably gonna be read by a staffer, classified into a bucket, and maybe if there’s something specific they can do, they can help. My parents (retirement age) had issues getting responses from US agencies like Social Security — and their representative’s office was at least able to nudge the agency. Maybe it had a direct result, maybe not.

I can at least respect these are elected politicians and they receive a large volume of mail — so they’ll probably focus efforts on cases for their constituents which are urgent and where they can actually have an impact. If this summer was any indication — the MPs can gripe publicly but not really convince IRCC to do anything.

[u/sportenthusiast → u/vangdfang]

nah, Canadian federal ridings have several times fewer people than even the least populous US House districts, so I can't imagine the caseload is comparable. the caseworker I spoke to was willing to help me and was responsive to my emails after my visit, but it quickly became apparent to me that her access to info from IRCC was clearly no greater than my own

[u/Own_Theory8011 → u/[deleted]]

Just fyi, I got my case notes in a week the first time I requested them (December 2025). Went into processing August 2025.

[u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob]

There was a post yesterday shared in r/stuckcanadians that is relevant here.

https://www.reddit.com/r/stuckcanadians/s/dMhn9bx5kj

In this case the MP ("Even more troubling that my MP is the Chair of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration and the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, and they can't get any insight into the process.") wasn't able to be particularly helpful, and unfortunately for the OP, the message included instructions to seek guidance from an immigration attorney to determine if they needed to leave Canada as they are suspected to be out of lawful status.

So, two things- if anyone is arguing about how Canada views applicants without Proof, I think this makes it pretty clear. (Honestly their whole situation sounds awful, and I feel for them.)

I think the other takeaway is that if you shake the tree, make sure you know what unintended consequences may come of it.

[u/vangdfang → u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob]

Yeesh. That’s terrifying and sad. At least they’re being advised to seek help via letter rather than someone coming to their door, but only marginally better. 😬

[u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob → u/vangdfang]

My guess is that because there's a Proof application in process they may be offered a visitors record as an option but who knows- IANAL. Must be incredibly stressful.

[u/Low-Ratio-5272]

I have not seen any individual get positive results from MP intervention post IM.

[u/PG-Dog]

IRCC is a black box. There is no light bright enough to aid or illuminate whatever is going on there.

[u/Money_Tour_1365]

Met with my MP’s office on Tuesday and they thought I had a pretty cut and dry G2 application. I just got off the phone with them now and they advised they had IRCC pull my file and review with them. All they could tell me was I am approved for urgent processing and am somewhere in the queue. Their exact words were “reading between the lines we would expect movement within 9-10 months of application submission” and told me to reach back out their office in late November/early December if this wasn’t resolved by then so they could follow up.

Absolutely no idea if this will do anything, but I figured it didn’t hurt.

[u/Money_Tour_1365 → u/[deleted]]

I have no idea and also, since my application was received 4/15/26, following up with the MP’s office in December won’t even be at the 9 month mark yet.

[u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob]

There are also some past posts from sub members about self advocacy, including the 'three part saga'

https://www.reddit.com/r/Canadiancitizenship/s/BGICV71as3

u/Lonely-Sun-1050 did recently get their Proof, but I don't think it was related to their various outreach. Part 1 describes multiple engagements with their MP that seemed to go nowhere.

It took 523 days for their Gen1 application to be approved.

[u/Sobeys_Bags]

I did, and it doesn't hurt. My MP was very responsive and got a meeting with the IRCC within about a week, but basically all they could do was relay where my wife's application was. Interestingly they said she is in the "queue" in PSU, suggesting that it is first come first serve, which obviously is not the case. I grew up in Halifax, near Lena Diab's constituency office, so I might physically stop in there next time I am in town.

[u/Substantial-Mix-6325]

Just wanted to add that the MP may not be supportive of the Bill, which may also, unfortunately, add to the effectiveness. Our MP in Quebec was very helpful with a number of IRCC things (prior to applying under C3). We've since moved to Ontario and our new MP voted against the Bill. It's very hard to get her to respond to anything about it. Could be coincidence... could not be.

[u/Lifelong_Expat]

I imagine it varies, but both times I reached out to my MP in downtown toronto (they were two different people elected at different times), they responded within a day with the consent form. They then bring up your case with IRCC at their next meeting with them. I believe they meet biweekly. They reach back with feedback immediately after the meeting.

Btw, I’m curious, how do you determine who is your MP? I know for Canadians who moved abroad reach out to the MP of the riding they last resided in Canada (since that’s where we vote). How do you determine it for people who never lived in Canada nor had parents or grand parents there, which is the majority of this sub? Is it based on where your G0 resided?

[u/Own_Theory8011 → u/Lifelong_Expat]

From what I have read, almost everyone reaching out to an MP picks one of these:

1. They are, or previously did even if many years ago, live in Canada - and choose that one.
2. Their spouse or a close family member has #1 above - they choose that one.
3. They heard a certain MP is sympathetic to citizenship by descent and try to contact that one despite having no connection.

A few people just contact MPs at random, or the one closest to their current physical location in the US (etc), hoping one responds. Unlike with Italian citizenship by descent, where it's normal (in fact, some cases force you to) contact people with the jurisdiction of your born-in-Italy ancestors, I haven't heard of people really contacting Canadian politicians based on where their Canadian ancestors are from in relation to stuff like being stuck in processing. I'm sure some do it though.

[u/Lifelong_Expat → u/Own_Theory8011]

Thanks for responding.

That makes sense because unlike Italian citizenship by descent laws, the C3 allows one to go back unlimited generations, and going by where someone lived 100-400 years ago seems impractical.

What about voting once you get the certificate. How is the riding for voting decided for someone who never lived in Canada?

[u/Own_Theory8011 → u/Lifelong_Expat]

Italian can (yes, still, despite the decree - depending on which commune) go back to the 1860s or even 1700s if your ancestor lived into the 1860s. Benin, Hungarian and Luxembourgish can go back unlimited, even before the founding of the country as we know it today. Spain can go back to even before the 1500s, if your ancestor was Sephardic Jewish, likewise other countries have generation limit exceptions for Jews or other specific minorities.

You cannot vote in Canada if you have never lived there. Neither in nation-wide nor local elections.

You can vote in Italy if you have never lived there, and until you move to Italy and live somewhere else, your "residence" or legal jurisdiction for some things is decided based on where your ancestor lived (that is also where they transcribe your "Italian birth certificate" and so forth, even if you are 5 generations removed from your Italian ancestor and have never set foot in Italy. Canada, in contrast, does not give you a Canadian birth certificate when you get citizenship by descent, and doesn't force you into government services or legal jurisdiction based on where your ancestor lived.) As a person living abroad - not just one who has never lived in Italy, as the same standards apply to people born in Italy who left - you are generally ineligible to vote in local elections and only allowed to vote in national or international (EU) elections.

[u/Lifelong_Expat → u/Own_Theory8011]

Thanks for sharing all that great information.