|
 |
    |
|
| |
 | |
| |
| |
| |
 | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
Home > About Adoption > Intercountry > Citizenship
Here's the latest on how to attain citizenship for your child Citizenship Alert! New changes regarding citizenship will come into effect starting April 17, 2009. These changes may affect your ability to attain citizenship for your intercountry adopted child through the Citizenship Act, and the also, how your children's children will be able to attain citizenship. Read the amendments here. The Adoption Council of Canada explains it clearly here.To voice your concern, please write to Minister of Citizenship, Immigration, and Multiculturialism, Jason Kenney at The Honourable Jason Kenney, P.C., M.P. Canadian Citizenship Process for Adopted Children affective January 2009 While the intent of Bill C-14 was to help adopted children become citizens faster/easier- what in fact has resulted seems to be not the case. While the hope was that the new process would implement a less complicated and automatic stream for adopted children to become CDN citizens - the reality is that the legislation has brought into place a new application process with it’s own time line, fees, and complications that may in fact leave children longer on foreign soil, and create a situation where they can lose their nationality of origin. Here is a brief comparison between the old familiar pathway of Permanent Residency for adopted children, and the new Citizenship pathway. A child can only have an application open for them in one or the other process, not both. Permanent Residency 1. The adoptive parent can either be CDN Citizen themselves or a Permanent Resident of Canada. 2. Application fees are $150 CDN for each child sponsored. 3. The adopted child does not lose their original citizenship or nationality. 4. A medical examination is required as part of the application process. 5. The child’s status when entering Canada is that of a Permanent Resident. 6. There is an appeal process if permanent residency is refused abroad by foreign Visa officers reviewing the file. 7. The child is issued a Permanent Resident Card shortly after they land in Canada. 8. The child travels with a Permanent Residency Visa stuck to a page of their national passport as well as a legal document of permanent resident status when travelling to Canada. 9. As soon as the child’s permanent resident card arrives to the family they can apply for CDN citizenship. There is no residency requirement before application can be made. Citizenship may be applied for under old or new legislative process. 10.Citizenship fee is $100. 11.Citizenship application is reviewed in Canada by Domestic IMM citizenship officers. 12.Citizenship is automatically issued – usually 4-12 months after application- probably faster now with new legislation- while child is with family in Canada. Citizenship Application 1. At least one parent must be a CDN citizen- parents who are permanent residents cannot apply. 2. Application is first made with proof of parent’s citizenship. Once reviewed and approved in Canada- (2 months) application can then be made for the child. 3. Fees for this process are $100 CDN for each child’s application 4. Issuance of CDN citizenship while child lives abroad may mean/can result in the child losing their citizenship of origin or nationality. 5. No medical exam is required for citizenship application process. 6. There is no appeal process if child denied citizenship and file is closed. (processing time of child’s citizen application currently expected to be 12-15 months) 7. The child’s status when entering Canada is that of Canadian Citizen. 8. The child will receive Citizenship Certificate once approved. 9. Depending on the country- the child will either receive a CDN passport to travel home or they will receive a facilitation visa (fee is additional $75 CDN) in their national passport and apply for passport after arrival to Canada. The realities for families following the Citizenship route seem to include much longer waits, risks of long term status and no appeal process. It would appear that despite the wait and requirement for a medical exam - Permanent Residency is still the fastest way to get the child home to the family - and will make the child eligible for “automatic” citizenship once in Canada. AFABC highly recommends that families review their options with their agencies and consult with Canadian Immigration officials http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/adoption/choose.asp before proceeding.
|
 |
Click here for a printer-friendly version of this page
