July 1 should be a day of celebration for the Sheridan family.

But now the four Yukoners of nearly eight years don't know if they'll become Canadian citizens together as they had planned.

'We came here as a family,' Niall Sheridan said in an interview this morning. 'It would be glorious to be sworn-in as a family.'

Last January, the Porter Creek family sent off their citizenship applications together in the same envelope.

When they heard back from Canada Immigration and Citizenship, however, it had only approved the applications for Niall, his wife, Margaret, and their daughter Naomi, who will turn 21 on July 1.

Son Simon wasn't included.

Naomi, who's attending university in Edmonton, even obtained a deal on a ticket to the territory through Air North to return to Whitehorse for the ceremony.

While children under the age of 18 don't have to write the test required for adults over 18 applying for citizenship, Margaret decided make sure everything was set for 17-year-old Simon to get his citizenship.

However, when she called Immigration, she learned Simon's application hadn't been processed.

This morning, the family received a call that they would either have to wait an extra year for the family to become citizens together or Niall, Margaret and Naomi could be sworn in together this year.

On Sept. 3, 1996, the family moved from England to Whitehorse, where Niall began a job as the deacon at Our Lady of Victory Church in Porter Creek.

They decided to come to North America after speaking with a lecturer Margaret knew in college who was living in Oregon.

'Essentially, the Yukon is our home,' Niall said when asked why they wanted to become Canadian citizens.

If it was possible to become a Yukon citizen, he noted, the family would be the first in line.

The Sheridans contacted Yukon MP Larry Bagnell to see if there was anything he could do so all the family members could become citizens together on July 1.

Niall noted Bagnell had been 'horrified' to hear what happened and told him he'd see what he could do to help the situation.

This morning, Bagnell said he couldn't comment on individual cases.

An official from Canada Immigration and Citizenship said the department could not comment without written authorization from the Sheridans.

Meanwhile, Niall said he may have to consider not becoming a citizen if his whole family can't be sworn in together.

However, he's hoping Bagnell will be able to assist so the family can enjoy the July 1 celebrations they had planned.