Trump sparks wave of Americans moving to Canada: Reasons named
Flag of Canada (Photo: Getty Images)
Thousands of people have become Canadian citizens after a change in the law on citizenship by descent, and half of them are US residents. They are seeking safety due to Trump's policies and fear for their children, according to CBC News.
Previously, Canadian citizenship by descent was limited to the first generation born abroad. Courts ruled this rule unconstitutional and struck it down. Now one can become Canadian through ancestors, even several generations back. Bill C-3 opened the way for those whose relatives left the country as far back as the 1800s.
In the first three months alone, the Canadian immigration service IRCC issued 4,075 certificates under the new provisions. Demand for passports continues to grow daily, and lawyers can barely keep up with processing new applications.
The main driver of this process has been the political situation in the US. Many Americans see a Canadian passport as a reliable backup option. They fear a deterioration of the situation in the country in the near future.
Montreal immigration lawyer Lisa Middlemiss confirms this trend. She says:
"The vast majority of our clients are American. In some cases, because they would like to have a backup in case, from their perspective, the situation becomes worse for them … in other cases because they perceive it as urgent."
Among the main reasons cited by applicants:
- Protecting the rights of children who are gay or transgender;
- Fear that Donald Trump's administration will bring back military conscription;
- The desire to have the right to move freely to Canada in case of a crisis.
Geography of new citizens by descent
The United States confidently leads the list of countries where people are massively seeking Canadian roots. The government has already approved 1,955 applications from persons born in the United States. In second place is Mexico, with 900 successful applications. The United Kingdom is represented by 140 people who have proven their right to a passport.
In total, under the simplified rules, certificates have been issued to people from 44 countries worldwide. Meanwhile, under the old first-generation rules, another 13,310 people have confirmed their citizenship. This demonstrates global interest in Canadian stability.
Documents and bureaucratic hurdles
Getting a passport under the new rules is not easy. Applicants must provide clear proof of their ancestry. This requires searching for birth and marriage certificates of ancestors. Often, such papers are located in Ontario or Quebec archives.
Quebec government spokesperson Catherine Poulin reported that since January alone, they have received 3,800 requests for archival documents from foreigners. This has caused significant delays in civil services, and the waiting time for citizenship confirmation has increased from five to twelve months.
Currently, the number of pending applications with the Canadian IRCC service exceeds 70,000. The bureaucratic machine is trying to adapt to the new realities, the article concludes.
What else is worth knowing about Canada
Recently, Canada changed its rules for refugees. Now Ukrainians will have to pay out of pocket for some medical services.
