Questions about adopting my nieces and sponsoring them

[katie_van]

Hi, I have some questions about adopting my nieces and sponsoring them.

My brother and sister-in-law are not able to take care of my 2 nieces(7&12years). They are in South Korea. My brother and sister-in-law hope I can take care of them in Canada since they know I'm the one who love them and I can provide safe environment for them.

1. If I adopt them in Korea legally, can I sponsor them to move to Canada? I have a permanent resident, I'm married, have a toddler. What I understand is that there is high chance of refusal if their parents are alive, but what if the parents dont have ability to take care of them? Would it be the same?

2. I have checked the processing time and it will take 32 months. I wish they could come and stay with us as soon as possible, can they come to Canada and go to schools while the applicaions is on process?

Any information that you can give me would be helpful. Thank you!

 

[Aquakitty]

Inter-country adoptions are complex, and there are a ton of rules depending on what province you live in. I believe your husband must be a Canadian citizen, since you are a PR. Have you been married for more than 3 years? Single or new couples aren't even allowed to adopt while living outside the country. They also have extreme health and age rules, and a quota on how many adoptions they accept per year. That's just the South Korean rules, you also have to satisfy your provinces rules. I don't know if there are exceptions if the adoption is within the family.

I'm no expert on this, but I think it would be easier to get them minor child study visas. Then, you just have to be a custodian of the children.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/study-minors.asp

 

[Rob_TO]

After you adopt them, would the parents still want to be involved in their lives? Get updates on how they're doing? Take visits to see them or expect you to bring them to Korea occasionally as they grow up? If so then this is not really an adoption, its more a guardianship role. Other than the legal issues of adopting them, the problem in sponsoring them is that CIC may see it as an adoption of convenience (one done mainly for immigration purposes to get them PR status).

Of course the final say is up to CIC. May be worthwhile to talk to an immigration lawyer experienced with adoption of family members.

Regarding schooling, they can probably attend public school here however you may need to get them study permits and pay international student fees for them while they are here waiting for the PR process. This is really up to the individual schools, I've heard some will accept the students for free while PR app is submitted. You would need to talk to specific schools to ask them their policies.