News Release - New adoption legislation makes Sydney, Nova Scotia, first stop for citizenship applications

Sydney, February 19, 2008 —The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today met with the people who are helping foreign-born adopted children become Canadians under new citizenship rules.

The case processing centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia, is the first stop for people applying for citizenship for children adopted abroad.

In the first step of a two-step application process for citizenship, employees in Sydney confirm that at least one of the adoptive parents of the child is a Canadian citizen. Once one of the parents is confirmed as such, the parents are advised to continue with step two and apply for citizenship. So far, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has received 273 step-one applications for citizenship for adopted children.

“This case processing centre and the people who work here make a difference in the lives of thousands of people every year and I am proud of the contribution they make to families adopting foreign-born children,” Minister Finley said.

Under new legislation, as of December 23, 2007, foreign-born adopted children may now become Canadian citizens without first becoming permanent residents. Citizenship can be granted to adopted children after the adoption is complete, provided that an application for citizenship is submitted and the legislative requirements have been met.

“Our government supports families and parents. For parents, the process of adopting a foreign-born child can be long and difficult. We are helping by making it easier for these parents to get Canadian citizenship for their children,” added the Minister.

More than 250 people work in the case processing centre, handling applications for permanent resident cards and citizenship. Since June 28, 2002, almost 2.3 million permanent resident cards have been issued to new and existing permanent residents by officers at this centre. In the past five years, an average of 221,000 citizenship applications and 67,000 proof of citizenship applications were received at the centre each year.

The officers at the Sydney case processing centre also counsel clients who are not sure of their citizenship status, and they identify cases that require the Minister’s immediate attention.

CIC has case processing centres in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Mississauga, Ontario, and Vegreville, Alberta. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the centre in Sydney, which opened in the fall of 1983.

For further information (media only), please contact:

Tim Vail
Press Secretary
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064

Doug Kellam
Spokesperson, Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650