Canadian (in USA) with 2 adopted (US) children - how do I arrange immigration?

[PA-2-BC-SingleAdoptedDad]

I've read through pages on the CIC website. And I've spent hours reading post after post here - and I'm more confused and disoriented than when I started! LOL.

I'm a Canadian-born citizen, I'm not married, and never was. I moved to the USA in 2006 and received US Permanent Residence in 2008. I've lived here ever since. A couple of years ago I adopted two boys from foster care who are US citizens. (I was a foster parent for several years here in the USA, my two sons were not able to return to their birth families, so I adopted them as my own). Both boys (aged 11 and 13 now) have US passports and we have traveled twice to Canada with me for vacations, since their adoptions, to visit and get to know my family who all live in British Columbia, where I grew up. I am finishing my doctoral degree in clinical psychology that I started in 2009, and plan to move back to Canada, with my two adopted children, when i graduate in August 2016.

I have no idea where to start in the process of making arrangements for my two children to move permanently back to Canada with me. Help - I need some advice getting started, where to start, and if anyone knows that process I'm up against. I couldn't find any stories similar to mine in the posts and threads I've been reading here or elsewhere.

Can anyone help me? DO I need a lawyer?

PA-2-BC

 

[1Wayne1]

Yes...talk to a lawyer or an immigration consultant. Consultants are cheaper and just as good. It all comes down to paperwork. Pay a consultant (or lawyer) a couple hundred dollars to sit down with you and show you what forms you need to fill out and what documentation you will have to get. Once you have that list of forms and documents required, you can go ahead and do it yourself. If you don't have time, and don't mind paying someone , just hire a lawyer or consultant to do all the paperwork for you. Get on it asap though. ... I'd ask if I could move to Canada with my kids before starting the application process too. Maybe you all can move here, then get the apps started for the kids , instead of moving in the middle of the process.

 

[PA-2-BC-SingleAdoptedDad]

Thanks 1Wayne1,

I don't now how to proceed. Where do you even find a lawyer to do this? Should I get an American attorney here in Philly, or hire a Canadian attorney and do all this remotely from the US?

Can you move first (with the kids) and ask these questions later? Moving first sounds rife with possibilities for Immigration Canada de deport the kids back to the USA. ???? Blech.. LOL

Has anyone had a similar experience? Most of the threads here are to do with spousal questions, or other family members, not non-Canadian children already adopted to Canadian citizens.

 

[scylla]

I believe they derive Canadian citizenship from you by being adopted. You most likely don't need a lawyer.

Take a look at this application for direct grants of citizenship due to adoption:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/cit-adoption.asp

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Can you move first (with the kids) and ask these questions later? Moving first sounds rife with possibilities for Immigration Canada de deport the kids back to the USA. ???? Blech.. LOL

Has anyone had a similar experience? Most of the threads here are to do with spousal questions, or other family members, not non-Canadian children already adopted to Canadian citizens.

As scylla said above, you don't really need a lawyer. You can do the applications yourself.

Technically, the children can't "move" to Canada until they are granted citizenship. However, you should have no issues bringing them to Canada as visitors. They will not be deported, so don't worry about that. Depending on the province you are in, you may face issues getting them health coverage until they get their citizenship proof.

 

[PA-2-BC-SingleAdoptedDad]

SO, I sent off the CIT 0010 form (Part 1 - Confirmation of Canadian Citizenship of the Adoptive Parent).

Once my Canadian citizenship is approved I will submit the CIT 0014 (Application for Canadian Citizenship for a Person Adopted by a Canadian Citizen - Part 2 - Adoptee’s Application)

Does anybody have ANY idea what kind of timeline I'm looking at???