17-year-old Will Baker is one of more than two million people caught in a long citizenship backlog. His mother, Miffy, sent in Baker’s paperwork and application in the spring of 2019. Today, a few months shy of his 18th birthday, Baker is still waiting for answers about when — or if — he will be accepted. “It just shows that it’s ongoing,” Miffy told CTV News. “And it’s been going on since May 2019. I keep thinking I’m going to be patient and not be the person who complains because the government isn’t doing its job, but it’s been three years.” Baker was adopted by Portland in 2012 after his mother died. He was previously on Canada’s visitor program, but is now without a pass or official citizenship. His family also lacks solutions. “He’s a child without a country and it’s really hard,” Miffy said. “I consider myself a fabulously intelligent person and it took all my brain power to get through (the application steps so far). I can’t imagine someone who has English as a second language trying to get through this process.” The family says correspondence with Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has been sparse. They tried to visit the agents in person and have left dozens of voicemails and emails, many without a response. The situation is especially problematic now that Baker is approaching adulthood. He cannot legally get a health card, rent an apartment, drive or apply for a job. “If I don’t have these things, I can’t really function properly,” he said. “I do contract photography, but it’s not the same. I don’t have a steady income and it’s hard to see my friends have that skill when I don’t.” IRCC said officers did not receive Baker’s application until February 2021. They say in March, it was lost in transit between processing offices, which can occasionally happen due to human error. He says IRCC will contact the family soon.
IRCC WORRY
Recent IRCC figures show Canada’s immigration backlog has reached 2.4 million people. Over 250,000 temporary and permanent residence and citizenship applications were added to the pile in just one month. The increased backlog has in the past led to frustrations for those waiting to receive an app update. Long processing times and a lack of communication and transparency are some of the many issues highlighted by those CTV News spoke with. For its part, IRCC says it has speeded up the immigration process by using virtual citizenship tests and hiring new staff. But experts believe it could take a year or more for the federal agency to catch up on its backlog of applications.
