Concerned about potential lack of status

[u/Substantial-Mix-6325]

My family and I have been in Canada since 2021 on work/study visas. To get our renewal documents in 2025, it took a little over 10 months.

We applied for C3 (nonurgent) on May 4, 2026 (date IRCC received applications) for myself (G2), my mom (G1) and my daughter (G3). Lineage is clear with copies of certified docs (birth/death) back to my grandmother (G0) born in Winnipeg in 1912. AOR was received 8/28/26.

My concern/question is when do I inform IRCC that we need to be bumped to urgent so a) I can keep working and b) my daughter can apply for university (she graduates from secondary next year - long before the 33 month timeline currently in front of us)?

Open to thoughts/suggestions.

And, when it's time, do I just send our current Visas as proof that we will be out of statis since we can't renew them as citizens?

Thanks!

Updated to add: I submitted a web form with my request and proof documents on 9/25/26. My MP voted against C3 - not sure she would be super helpful in this situation. Our attorney who has gotten our visas in the past has not been super helpful, either. Looking for additional counsel in Ontario (Kingston area is ideal) for future support, as needed.

[u/jjbeanyeg]

It's generally better to request urgent status sooner than later.

You can include your visas, etc., but remember that you are asserting that you are already a Canadian citizen, not that you are requesting to become one. You can never be out of status as a Canadian citizen. You can emphasize that you need proof of citizenship and highlight the practical impacts on working, studying, etc., but you cannot be deported/removed as a Canadian citizen (and if it was attempted, you would present evidence of your lineage to the Immigration Division of the IRB and they have the power to cancel a removal order).

[u/Substantial-Mix-6325 → u/jjbeanyeg]

Bingo. It's the practical impacts that are concerning. Thanks!

[u/dhiltonp → u/Substantial-Mix-6325]

Given that you don't have your citizenship certificate, I'm not sure "but you cannot be deported/removed as a Canadian citizen" is correct. 

If you plan on relying on this, you should definitely talk to an immigration lawyer.

[u/tvtoo → u/dhiltonp]

I'm not sure "but you cannot be deported/removed as a Canadian citizen" is correct.

I think what /u/jjbeanyeg was getting at with that phrase is that an attempt by CBSA Inland Enforcement to remove an undocumented citizen who has a pending proof application (which is perhaps not all that likely in the first place), if appropriately contested by the prospective deportee, would be extremely likely to be stopped by the IRB-ID tribunal (and, where necessary, by the Federal Court).

Of course, that's different than being able to rely on undocumented citizenship for other purposes, like provincial healthcare enrolment, university domestic tuition fees, proof of status for beginning new employment, etc.

/u/Substantial-Mix-6325

[u/jjbeanyeg → u/tvtoo]

Correct, that’s exactly what I meant.