All persons requiring a record letter must make an application for search of citizenship records and pay a $75 fee. All search applications are processed at the centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia. After a search, if no record is found, the applicant will be given a “no record” letter, but if a record of citizenship is found, a numbered record letter is issued, which is valid for a specific purpose and stated length of time. Generally, the letter is valid for one month, but it may be valid for a maximum of three months. If a user of this manual is not sure if he or she was registered as a Canadian citizen in the past, that person should make applications for proof of citizenship and search of citizenship record at the same time and pay only one fee ($75). If the search of citizenship record is positive, the user will already be in line to receive a certificate of citizenship.