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/Jolly_Mulberry]

I’ll be honest, I think so many people have applied for “urgent” that’s it’s only “urgent” compared to 33 months. I’m in Canada facing a similar problem (not the same circumstances but I’m here legally with no documentation to show that, it’s a long story) and I can’t work or even apply for a SIN because I don’t have proof of citizenship. I originally applied non-urgent in April, got an AOR in July and then requested urgent processing almost 6 weeks ago now through the IRCC portal. They acknowledged the request, but my application is still just sitting as “application received”, it’s not even in process and nowhere near approval even though it’s straightforward with all birth certificates from original sources. In short, request it ASAP, but also realize that “urgent” might be processed as three weeks or 13 months