Colombian girlfriend pregnant, how to bring baby to Canada

[bob212]

I'm a Canadian citizen by birth and live in Canada. My girlfriend who lives in Colombia is pregnant with my child. We do NOT plan on living together or getting married. She wants to give the child to me to raise in Canada. The baby will hold dual citizenship but what is my best option? For her to acquire a TRV and deliver the baby here? OR Deliver the baby in Colombia and then I bring the baby back to Canada? Considering time, money and logistics, which option is better? The baby is priority!

 

[Leon]

If you bring her to Canada on a TRV, that is if she can even get a TRV, you will be paying for all her medical expenses and the delivery of your child out of pocket. It could easily end up being over $10,000.

If she has the baby in Colombia, as long as you are either a born or naturalized citizen, you can pass on citizenship to the child. As you are not married, you may have to prove with a DNA test that it is your child. Then you can apply for the childs proof of citizenship, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/proof.asp Once you have done that, you can apply for a temporary passport for the child.

If you yourself are born outside Canada to Canadian parents and gained citizenship based on heritage, you would not be able to pass on citizenship but you could sponsor your child for PR.

 

[bob212]

Thanks Leon, I'm Canadian born. Yes... I considered the out of pocket expense of having the baby delivered in Canada and the difficulty my Colombian girlfriend may have in getting a TRV.

I was leaning more towards her having the baby in Colombia and I would definitely get DNA testing to prove the baby is mine however I had concerns over obtaining the Canadian Certificate of Citizenship for the baby and then applying for a temporary passport for the baby (assuming at the embassy in Bogota?).

How long would obtaining the documents take? And... more importantly, would I need documentation from the mother giving me permission to bring the baby back to Canada with me?

My fear is being stuck in a motel in Colombia for several weeks while waiting for documentation (passport & certificate) for the baby or being held up by CIC / CBSA upon re-entry because I didn't have a note from the mom or some legal documents or something. Thank you very much! This advice is priceless!!

 

[Leon]

You should get some legal documents done that you are getting full custody of the baby. If she wants you to take the baby to Canada, I suppose she will have no problem doing that. With those papers, it should not be a problem bringing the baby with you to Canada.

As for the waiting time, you would have to talk to the Canadian embassy in Bogota, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/missions/bogota.asp Generally, it is enough to apply for the citizenship certificate and then you can apply for the temporary passport right away. I don't know if they would ask for the DNA test immediately, even before the temporary passport. Maybe they will ask for it during the processing of the citizenship card. Maybe they will not ask for it at all.