How to obtain original naturalization certificate for passport?

[Ginny]

My 85 year old mother lives in Idaho. She was born in Ontario, Canada and became a naturalized USA citizen in 1970. She has not been back to Canada since a passport was needed to travel there so she does not have a USA passport. My sister took her to the registrar today to apply for a passport but they would not take her application because she could not find her original naturalization certificate, just a copy. They told her she needs an original and it will take 6 months and cost $380 to obtain one. We are having a family reunion in Midland, Ontario in August this year so she does not have 6 months to wait. Is there any other way for her to obtain a passport without going through all this? We are stumped and she is very upset. Any help would be appreciated!

Ginny

 

[nkm-oct23]

There is no other way unfortunately but you can check the state department website for information on how to provide secondary evidence of US citizenship (most of it is for US born people and might not apply in your case):

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/Secondary Evidence/Secondary Evidence_4315.html

Does she have her Canadian passport or Canadian birth certificate? Can she get a Canadian passport quickly?