# Canada legal geeks: impact of Bjorkquist decision on citizenship by descent for the second generation born outside Canada? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 25, 2024, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-legal-geeks-impact-of-bjorkquist-decision-on-citizenship-by-descent-for-the-second-generation-born-outside-canada/996610 "2024-01-25T02:31:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-legal-geeks-impact-of-bjorkquist-decision-on-citizenship-by-descent-for-the-second-generation-born-outside-canada/996610/81 "2025-01-29T16:12:49Z")
I’ve already tried Drouin, to no avail. @Eva_Luna was kind enough to PM me with some suggestions, which I’ll follow up on. And with that, I think the “Where’s ~~Waldo~~ the Birth Record” tangent (if not hijack) should fade into a well-deserved oblivion. Thanks for the responses. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-legal-geeks-impact-of-bjorkquist-decision-on-citizenship-by-descent-for-the-second-generation-born-outside-canada/996610/82 "2025-01-29T16:15:23Z")
I think you meant @OttoDaFe . ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-legal-geeks-impact-of-bjorkquist-decision-on-citizenship-by-descent-for-the-second-generation-born-outside-canada/996610/83 "2025-01-29T18:09:19Z")
Doh! Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-legal-geeks-impact-of-bjorkquist-decision-on-citizenship-by-descent-for-the-second-generation-born-outside-canada/996610/84 "2025-01-29T18:27:43Z")
It’s official! Just finished my oath ceremony. I think it will feel more once I am holding the citizenship certificate in my hands. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-legal-geeks-impact-of-bjorkquist-decision-on-citizenship-by-descent-for-the-second-generation-born-outside-canada/996610/85 "2025-01-29T18:46:37Z")
Woot!!! You’ll really feel it when you can stand on the Canadian side of the border, face the US side, and stick out your tongue with your thumbs in your ears waggling your fingers like moose antlers. While shouting “Neener neener, eh!!” Then you’ll be a true Canadian. 😉 If this isn’t already a tradition amongst successful US refugees, it sure oughta become one. 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-legal-geeks-impact-of-bjorkquist-decision-on-citizenship-by-descent-for-the-second-generation-born-outside-canada/996610/86 "2025-01-30T03:56:24Z")
> [@Eva\_Luna](#): > > I have not fact-checked, but I have read one estimate that 40% of Americans may be eligible for at least one other citizenship by descent. One of my siblings is traveling with his wife to Taiwan next week to start the paperwork to re-establish/reaffirm her citizenship there (her family moved to the U.S. when she was twelve). Just a preliminary strategic move at this point, but they both enjoyed their extended visit last year with family so a future retirement there some day is not out of the question. Congrats on the end of your long travail 🙂. Or at least congrats on getting to the end of the hardest part. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-legal-geeks-impact-of-bjorkquist-decision-on-citizenship-by-descent-for-the-second-generation-born-outside-canada/996610/87 "2025-01-30T15:43:17Z")
Thanks! It’s still feeling a little bit surreal. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-legal-geeks-impact-of-bjorkquist-decision-on-citizenship-by-descent-for-the-second-generation-born-outside-canada/996610/88 "2025-02-19T23:17:10Z")
> [@Eva\_Luna](#): > > It’s official! Just finished my oath ceremony. I think it will feel more once I am holding the citizenship certificate in my hands. So is this what it felt like? [https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/video/waking-canadian.html](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/video/waking-canadian.html) ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-legal-geeks-impact-of-bjorkquist-decision-on-citizenship-by-descent-for-the-second-generation-born-outside-canada/996610/89 "2025-02-19T23:42:33Z")
I don’t have nearly that much swag! (I was gifted some small Canadian flags by a close friend, though, and I wore red and white for my video oath ceremony.) I want my passport, dagnabbit! I have to get my guarantor to sign a new form. Apparently there’s a completely different application form for people who are applying from outside Canada and using an occupation-based guarantor. I don’t know why they couldn’t just include that as an option on the regular form. Ah well, no government is perfect, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2025, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-legal-geeks-impact-of-bjorkquist-decision-on-citizenship-by-descent-for-the-second-generation-born-outside-canada/996610/90 "2025-06-05T19:13:30Z")
Legislation has been introduced: > **[Liberals introduce ‘citizenship by descent’ legislation](https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/liberals-introduce-citizenship-by-descent-legislation/)** > > New legislation introduced in Ottawa today would extend citizenship by descent rules beyond current first-generation limitations, according to a news release from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2025, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-legal-geeks-impact-of-bjorkquist-decision-on-citizenship-by-descent-for-the-second-generation-born-outside-canada/996610/91 "2025-06-05T19:54:48Z")
Yep, at first glance it seems like it’s just like the prior bill. Let’s see whether it goes anywhere this time. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2025, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-legal-geeks-impact-of-bjorkquist-decision-on-citizenship-by-descent-for-the-second-generation-born-outside-canada/996610/92 "2025-11-04T18:27:49Z")
[Liberals, NDP delete proposed changes to birthright citizenship from ‘lost Canadians’ bill](https://www.ipolitics.ca/2025/11/03/liberals-ndp-delete-proposed-changes-to-birthright-citizenship-from-lost-canadians-bill/) Bill C-3 is going to be passed in its original form. Thus: 1. No Language requirement required 2. No Knowledge test required 3. No Security and criminality screening required 4. No Annual reporting to Parliament required 5. The ability to pass citizenship to children born abroad **will** be allowed if parent has 1,095 days in Canada at any point prior to birth/adoption ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2025, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-legal-geeks-impact-of-bjorkquist-decision-on-citizenship-by-descent-for-the-second-generation-born-outside-canada/996610/93 "2025-11-05T00:59:19Z")
1 - 3: as it should be! It’s a citizenship by descent bill, not a naturalization or immigration bill. Plus the amendments were totally unworkable and confusing and were only going to lead to more lawsuits. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2025, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-legal-geeks-impact-of-bjorkquist-decision-on-citizenship-by-descent-for-the-second-generation-born-outside-canada/996610/94 "2025-11-05T01:42:47Z")
No. 5 is interesting. A friend of mine is the grandchild of two Canadians, and her dad spent summers in Canada as a kid, and frequently visited. I’m sure he racked up the 1095 days prior to my friend’s birth, but how on earth would one establish that, when the people who would remember the hosting and the visits are long dead? ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2025, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-legal-geeks-impact-of-bjorkquist-decision-on-citizenship-by-descent-for-the-second-generation-born-outside-canada/996610/95 "2025-11-05T01:46:09Z")
When I became a citizen, I simply had to state that I had spent 1095 (= 3 x 365 incidentally) of the previous 1461 days in Canada. I guess it was under oath, but no one expects you to be able to document this. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2025, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-legal-geeks-impact-of-bjorkquist-decision-on-citizenship-by-descent-for-the-second-generation-born-outside-canada/996610/96 "2025-11-05T02:24:18Z")
If the current bill passes as written, it will only be an issue for children born after the bill comes into force, so your friend will have nothing to worry about. [Details here.](https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/45-1/c-3) ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2025, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-legal-geeks-impact-of-bjorkquist-decision-on-citizenship-by-descent-for-the-second-generation-born-outside-canada/996610/97 "2025-11-21T00:56:51Z")
:: bump :: The replacement bill [has received Royal assent,](https://www.parl.ca/LegisInfo/en/bill/45-1/c-3) so now my aunt, siblings, nephew, paternal cousins, and all their progeny are now all Schroedinger’s Canadians (at least the ones who weren’t already Canadian via their other parent). I’m kind of curious whether any of them will bother to take advantage of it. We shall see, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2025, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-legal-geeks-impact-of-bjorkquist-decision-on-citizenship-by-descent-for-the-second-generation-born-outside-canada/996610/98 "2025-11-21T01:08:59Z")
Thanks for this! I’ve forwarded it to my friend, who probably isn’t interested, but might have changed her mind due to the changes in US healthcare nonsense that have happened since last we spoke about it. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2025, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-legal-geeks-impact-of-bjorkquist-decision-on-citizenship-by-descent-for-the-second-generation-born-outside-canada/996610/99 "2025-11-21T01:11:31Z")
It’s really not a big deal - a form to fill out, a few pages of documentation to gather, $75 CDN in filing fees, postage and photos. Maybe $200 for a second passport - what’s not to like? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2025, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-legal-geeks-impact-of-bjorkquist-decision-on-citizenship-by-descent-for-the-second-generation-born-outside-canada/996610/100 "2025-11-21T01:15:41Z")
My thoughts exactly! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-legal-geeks-impact-of-bjorkquist-decision-on-citizenship-by-descent-for-the-second-generation-born-outside-canada/996610.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-legal-geeks-impact-of-bjorkquist-decision-on-citizenship-by-descent-for-the-second-generation-born-outside-canada/996610.md?page=6)