A newly enacted law in Canada is making it possible for millions of Americans to pursue Canadian citizenship, significantly expanding eligibility through ancestral connections.

The measure, which took effect on December 15, allows individuals born before that date to claim citizenship by descent if they can demonstrate a direct Canadian ancestor. Previously, citizenship through lineage was limited to a single generation, but the updated policy now permits claims through grandparents, great-grandparents, and even more distant relatives.

Since the change was implemented, there has been a noticeable surge in applications from Americans seeking to take advantage of the expanded eligibility. The uptick comes amid ongoing friction between the two countries, fueled in part by statements from Donald Trump about annexing Canada as the 51st state.

An immigration lawyer based in Washington told the Associated Press that demand has sharply increased, saying his firm has been “pretty much flooded with this,” and noting, “We’ve kind of shifted a lot of other work away in order to push these cases through.”

Similarly, Vancouver attorney Amndeep Hayer reported a dramatic rise in interest, with his office moving from handling around 200 citizenship cases annually to fielding more than 20 consultations each day. He estimated that millions of Americans may now qualify for Canadian citizenship under the revised law.

{Matzav.com}