January 18, 2010

Any adoption claim starts with the province, even in these circumstances. You need to contact the Provincial department below (follow the web-link under the “Ontario” header) From there, once you have provided all required information to the Province, they will decide your eligibility to adopt, and the claim would then be forwarded by the individual to CIC after hearing from the province that you are eligible or not.

The applicant should clearly mark “Haiti” on the envelope with which they are submitting their adoption claim to the Federal Citizenship and Immigration department.  I have included other information below that you will want to review prior to beginning this process. 

The process will be “fast-tracked”, but this means a matter of weeks and months as opposed to years for the adoption process.

Info for adoption;
 
Ontario Residents need to first learn of eligibility (Contact this provincial department to begin the process)

Ministry of Community, Family and Children’s Services
Adoption Unit, Central Services
Tel.: 416-327-4742
Fax: 416-212-6799
Website: www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/
programs/childwellbeingprotection/adoption/index.aspx



News Release

Government of Canada introduces special immigration measures in response to the earthquake in Haiti

Ottawa, January 16, 2010 — Canada will expedite immigration applications from Haitians with family in this country, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today. Haitians in Canada temporarily will also be allowed to extend their stay.

“I want to express my deepest sympathy and support for the people of Haiti,” said Minister Kenney. “Canada has welcomed a large community of Haitians to this country and is working to reunite families affected by this disaster as quickly as possible. Haitian nationals who are currently in Canada will also benefit from special measures.”

Effective immediately, priority will be given to new and existing sponsorship applications from Canadian citizens, permanent residents and protected persons who have close family members in Haiti. They must, however, identify themselves as being directly and significantly affected by the current situation and notify Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). Priority consideration will also be given to pending adoption cases with the visa office in Port-au-Prince.

New sponsorship applications should have “Haiti” prominently written on the mailing envelope. Sponsors and applicants presently in Canada who have applications in process should notify the CIC Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100 (in Canada only, from 7 am to 7 pm ET Monday through Friday) or by email at question-Haiti@cic.gc.ca to identify their existing applications, if they or the family they have sponsored have been adversely affected.

We are making an effort to restore basic services and CIC will respond on a priority basis for those in Haiti who were directly affected by the disaster. However, the Embassy of Canada has suffered significant damage as a result of the recent earthquake and services are extremely limited. The Government of Canada’s current priority is to work with its partners to provide assistance to Canadians in the area.

CIC is making arrangements to resume visa and immigration services as soon as the situation permits and we have the capacity, including opening another office in the area. As services resume at a location other than the Embassy of Canada, CIC will provide information on where people normally served by the office in Port-au-Prince should submit their questions and applications.

Also effective immediately, CIC has put in place special immigration measures for Haitian nationals who are currently in Canada. Temporary residents already in Canada may apply to extend their temporary status according to normal procedures. These applications will be considered on an expedited basis and fees associated with these applications will be waived. Those who are unable to support themselves may also apply for a work permit.

Further, all removals to Haiti have now been temporarily halted. Although normally the Government of Canada does not deport people to Haiti except in limited circumstances, this now applies in all cases.


International adoption

About 2,000 foreign children are adopted by citizens or permanent residents of Canada every year. Citizenship and Immigration Canada works to deal with these adoptions as quickly as possible. However, international adoption can be a long process.


Before you apply

In all international adoptions there are separate processes:

• The adoption process; and
• The immigration or citizenship process.

You need to understand both of these processes.

You and your adopted child must complete both processes before you can bring the child to live with you in Canada.

The adoption process

To be eligible for an international adoption, you must meet:

• The adoption requirements of the province or territory or the country where you live, and
• The adoption requirements in the child’s home country.

Provincial and territorial governments are responsible for adoptions in Canada. If you live in Canada, your first step should be to contact your provincial or territorial government office to get information about adopting a child. See Provincial and territorial government offices in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.

Some provinces and territories use licensed agencies to handle most of the adoption process. Your provincial or territorial government office will tell you if you will need to contact a licensed agency.

If you want to adopt a child from a foreign country, you must obey the laws of that country about adoption. Make sure you understand the laws before beginning the adoption process. Your province or its licensed adoption agency can advise you on these requirements.


Important Links:

• Choosing the citizenship process or the immigration process
• What are the differences between the processes?
• International adoption authorities in Canada

Backgrounder

Frequently Asked Questions: Special Immigration Measures in Response to the Earthquake in Haiti

Q1. Who can apply for priority processing?

Effective immediately, priority processing will be available to those in the following categories who identify themselves as being directly and significantly affected by the earthquake in Haiti:

• New and existing sponsorship applications at the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga from Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have close family members directly affected by this disaster in Haiti (specifically, spouses, common-law and conjugal partners, dependent or adoptive children, parents, grandparents and orphaned family members within the meaning of the Family Class);
• New and existing applications for permanent residence in Canada in the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class and the Permit Holder Class from people who are including close family members* directly affected by this disaster in their application.

As capacity for immigration services resumes, priority processing will be available for Family Class applications already in process in Port-au-Prince from people directly affected.


Q2. Who is considered family class?

Family Class members are defined in part 1 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. Members of the Family Class can be sponsored to come to Canada on the basis of their relationship to their Canadian citizen or permanent resident sponsor in Canada.

The Family Class applicant must be the sponsor's:

• Spouse, common-law or conjugal partner;
• dependent child, including a child adopted abroad;
• child under 18 to be adopted in Canada;
• parent or grandparent; or
• orphaned child under 18 who is a brother, sister, niece, nephew or grandchild and not a spouse or common-law partner.

Q3. How can I be assured that my application will be processed as a priority?

It remains the applicant or sponsor’s responsibility to demonstrate that the applicant is significantly and adversely affected by the situation. New sponsorship applications should have “Haiti” written prominently on the mailing envelope. For what to do about applications already in the system, please see below.


Q4. How can I demonstrate on my application that I or a family member is significantly affected by the earthquake?

These decisions are made on a case by case basis and depend on individual circumstances. Sponsors and applicants presently in Canada who have applications in process should notify the CIC Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100 (in Canada only, from 7 am to 7 pm ET Monday through Friday) or by email at question-Haiti@cic.gc.ca to identify their existing applications, if they or the family they have sponsored have been significantly and adversely affected. Email inquiries should include any pertinent information on the application and relatives being sponsored.


Q5. How soon can I expect my application to be processed?

CIC is working to process applications as quickly as possible. However, the Embassy of Canada has also been affected by the recent earthquake and services are extremely limited. The Government of Canada’s current priority is to assist Canadian citizens. Given the circumstances on the ground, and the challenges of reduced staff and damage to the visa office, it will take some time to process applications.
CIC is making arrangements to resume services in the area, including opening another office in the area. As services resume, CIC will provide information on where people normally served by the office in Port-au-Prince should submit their questions and applications.

Haitians outside of their home country seeking a temporary resident visa may apply to any Canadian visa office.


Permanent Residence Applications


Q6. How can I apply to sponsor a close family member?

Family sponsorship applications should be sent to the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga.
New sponsorship applications should have “Haiti” prominently written on the mailing envelope to receive priority handling. It is the sponsor’s responsibility to demonstrate that his or her family member is significantly and adversely affected by the situation.

For further information, please call 1-888-242-2100 or consult the website.


Q7. How can I verify the status of a permanent residence or sponsorship application of a family member in Haiti?

There are two ways to check the status of an application:

• use the e-Client Application Status service on our website, or
• if you are in Canada, contact our Call Centre at1-888-242-2100 (in Canada only, from 7 am to 7 pm ET Monday through Friday), or by email at question-Haiti@cic.gc.ca. Email inquiries should include any pertinent information on the application and relatives being sponsored.

Q8. Will adoption cases also be expedited?

Yes. Because adopted children are included in the Family Class they will be processed as a priority.


Q9. Is CIC waiving processing fees for permanent residence applications?

No, fees for family class permanent residence applications are not being waived.


Applications for Temporary Residence


Q10. Who can apply to come to Canada temporarily?

The Embassy of Canada has been affected by the recent earthquake and services are extremely limited. The Government of Canada’s current priority is to work with its partners to provide assistance to Canadians in the area.
CIC is making arrangements to resume these services, including opening another office in the area. As services resume, CIC will provide information on where people normally served by the office in Port-au-Prince should submit their applications and follow-up questions.


Q11. Can another person apply on my behalf if I am in Haiti and cannot get to the visa office?

Applicants must complete the application, but another individual may submit it on their behalf. At this time, the Canadian Embassy is not able to accept applications. CIC is making arrangements to resume services in the area, including opening another office in the area. As services resume, CIC will provide information on where people normally served by the office in Port-au-Prince should submit their applications and follow-up questions.


Existing applications


Q12. What about people who have already submitted sponsorship applications from Haiti? How can they be assured their applications will be given priority?

Sponsors and in-Canada permanent residence applicants whose applications include people residing in Haiti who have been directly and significantly affected by the situation should notify the Call Centre at1-888-242-2100 (in Canada only, from 7 am to 7 pm ET Monday through Friday), or by email at question-Haiti@cic.gc.ca. Email inquiries should include any pertinent information on the application and relatives being sponsored.
This information will be forwarded to the appropriate Case Processing Centre or local office, which will retrieve the application and take appropriate action.
CIC is making arrangements to resume services on a limited basis in Port-au-Prince, including opening another office in the area. As services resume, CIC will provide information on where people normally served by the office in Port-au-Prince should submit their applications and follow-up questions.


Q13. I was not affected by the earthquake in Port-au-Prince, but I have submitted an application for temporary or permanent residence. What should I do?

The Government of Canada’s current priority is to provide assistance to Canadians in the area, and then to resume visa and immigration services as soon as possible, starting with the Family Class.
CIC is making arrangements to resume these services, including opening another office in the area. As services resume, CIC will provide information on where people normally served by the office in Port-au-Prince should submit their questions and applications.


Nationals from Haiti in Canada


Q14. I have temporary resident status (e.g., a study permit, work permit or temporary resident visa) which is due to expire shortly. What should I do?

Temporary residents already in Canada may apply to extend their temporary status according to normal procedures, and these applications will be considered on an expedited basis and, effective today, fees associated with these applications will be waived.
Should temporary residents identify a hardship due to the situation in Haiti, the Case Processing Centre in Vegreville will consider this as an additional factor within existing guidelines.


Q15. Is CIC waiving processing fees for extending temporary status?

Yes, fees for extending temporary status in Canada are being waived.


Q16. Are removals to Haiti continuing?

A temporary suspension of removals is already in place for Haiti. A suspension of removals is put in place when a country’s general conditions (for example, war or a natural disaster) put the safety of the general population at risk.
When a suspension of removals is in place, most people who would normally be returned to their home countries are allowed to stay in Canada until the suspension of removals is lifted.
Although the Government of Canada does not normally deport people to Haiti except in limited circumstances, this now applies in all cases.


Screening

Q17. Will background check requirements be waived for people applying from Haiti?

No. All applicants must meet the standard admissibility requirements. We are working closely with our partners to expedite this process.


Q18. Will medical requirements be waived for people applying from Haiti?

No. People will still be required to meet medical requirements. However, in cases where a medical condition does not represent a risk to public health, medical inadmissibility will be waived. CIC works closely with Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, the provinces and territories and other partners on medical matters.


Q19. I have already applied for an extension of my status in Canada. What should I do?

You can check processing times on CIC’s website. If processing of your application is taking longer than the time lines indicate on the website, you can contact the Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100 (in Canada only, from 7 am to 7 pm ET Monday through Friday), or by email at question-Haiti@cic.gc.ca. Email inquiries should include any pertinent information on the application and relatives being sponsored.