Born in USA, dad Canadian...how to get citizenship?

[BigRedTape]

Hello,
I'm US-born, my dad was Canadian, mom American.
Supposedly i am already Canadian...but need to prove my dad was, in order to get my citizenship certificate.
On my birth certificate, it states he is Canadian.
I don't know where he is or if he's alive.
I do have his full name, birthdate, SSN#.
I haven't been able find out his mother's maiden name, or exactly where he was born (Toronto area i think).
...It seems a parent can get their child's birth cert, but not the other way round.

Members of another forum suggested i try to get a lawyer to subpoena my dad's birth cert.
...But the more i look into that, the less likely it seems...

How can i possibly prove he was/is Canadian?
How long should i expect it to take? Do i even have a chance??

I've gone over many webpages...please, if anyone had a similar situation, i need advice.

 

[vinaypuri]

yes, you are Canadian but somehow you will have to prove that your father was Canadian.... I agree, this is complicated case... using a lawyer is a better bet..

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=365&t=5

but out of curiosity, why do you want to become Canadian if you are already a US citizen?

 

[links18]

yes, you are Canadian but somehow you will have to prove that your father was Canadian.... I agree, this is complicated case... using a lawyer is a better bet..

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=365&t=5

but out of curiosity, why do you want to become Canadian if you are already a US citizen?

OP is already Canadian. He just need to prove it.

 

[links18]

Members of another forum suggested i try to get a lawyer to subpoena my dad's birth cert.
...But the more i look into that, the less likely it seems...
.

Why does this seem unlikely to you? You have reasonable cause to believe you are Canadian (your birth certificate). You need to prove it to get a Canadian passport. You need your dad's birth certificate to prove it. You don't know where he is. He has basically abandoned you. It would seem to me that the invasion to his privacy is outweighed by your need to prove your Canadian citizenship. Denying you the right to prove your citizenship would be an offense to justice that far outweighs the right to privacy of a deadbeat father. At least that is what I would argue. But you need to talk to a lawyer who can give you personalized advice about the specifics of your case.

Have you tried talking to consular affairs at the Canadian Embassy or consulate closest to you? Tell them you have strong reason to believe you are Canadian, but need help proving it. Be advised though that the current Conservative government takes a bit of a grim view on providing consular services to Canadians abroad.