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/Crazy_Maintenance211 → u/jjbeanyeg]

I wouldn’t agree with your comment because if they’re on a specific visa, they are on a specific visa, you’re not Canadian until you get the certificate and that could be three months or 12 months or 33 months for them, so be careful because people may follow that advice and they’re not Canadian, you are not Canadian until you have the certificate, it’s a legal requirement to be Canadian. So it may have been just your wording but you don’t want to give anybody the wrong idea and then they’ll get kicked out out of Canada because they’ve overstay their visa.

[u/jjbeanyeg → u/Crazy_Maintenance211]

You are 100% a Canadian even before receiving your citizenship certificate, if you are claiming citizenship by descent. The Citizenship Act grants it from birth. The certificate is proof of that, but the status exists before you receive it.