Hurray!!! 
I received a letter today from the Los Angeles Consulate advising me that my application for Canadian citizenship for my two (American) adopted boys was approved. It really can happen! Reading the stories on this forum served as the backbone of encouragement I've needed over these past few months - now that I have my own success story I wanted to share it with all of you who are going through the wonder and uncertainty of waiting and waiting month after month. Here's my story:
I am a Canadian citizen by birth. I moved to the US under an H1B visa in 2006, got my Green Card in 2008, and adopted James (2012) and Sam (2014) from foster care (in Philadelphia, PA). I submitted an “Application for Canadian Citizenship for a Person Adopted by a Canadian Citizen” (the 2-part process) for both boys in September 2015. I received acknowledgement of receipt of my application in November 2015. Part A (proving I had the right to pass my Canadian citizenship on to my children) was approved in May 2016. I got a letter regarding Part B of the process (verifying that the boys are legally my sons and that the adoption was legal and followed the Hague Convention) in July 2016 giving me 8 weeks to petition the judge in Philadelphia's Family Court to request the release notarized photocopies of several court documents, including the termination of parental rights documents for both boys, and several other documents that had nothing to do with the adoption. Some of the documents (including the homestudy which was paid for and belonged to SWAN (State Wide Adoption Network)) I had no legal right to have, and had never been given access to. I had to pay an attorney to draft a motion and had her petition the court to release nearly 200 pages of court documents, AND have EACH PAGE notarized by the court as "true and authentic copies." I spent over $2000 getting this additional paperwork, and just barely made the 8 week deadline to return them to the Consulate General's office. And then I heard nothing for another 6 months.
As of today it has been 16 months since I couriered that first application package. The website will tell you it normally takes 12 months or less. BUT - today I opened my mailbox and found two letters - one for each boy - congratulating me, that both had been granted Canadian citizenship, and their citizenship certificates would be delivered shortly.
YAY!! But good grief! what a lot of nail biting for these past 16 months. Hang in there - and if you need an attorney get a GOOD ONE. And be prepared for some absolutely ridiculous requests for documentation and paperwork! Just do it, get an attorney to help you out if you need to, but more FAST. It made all the difference in my case.
Grant ;D
I received a letter today from the Los Angeles Consulate advising me that my application for Canadian citizenship for my two (American) adopted boys was approved. It really can happen! Reading the stories on this forum served as the backbone of encouragement I've needed over these past few months - now that I have my own success story I wanted to share it with all of you who are going through the wonder and uncertainty of waiting and waiting month after month. Here's my story:
I am a Canadian citizen by birth. I moved to the US under an H1B visa in 2006, got my Green Card in 2008, and adopted James (2012) and Sam (2014) from foster care (in Philadelphia, PA). I submitted an “Application for Canadian Citizenship for a Person Adopted by a Canadian Citizen” (the 2-part process) for both boys in September 2015. I received acknowledgement of receipt of my application in November 2015. Part A (proving I had the right to pass my Canadian citizenship on to my children) was approved in May 2016. I got a letter regarding Part B of the process (verifying that the boys are legally my sons and that the adoption was legal and followed the Hague Convention) in July 2016 giving me 8 weeks to petition the judge in Philadelphia's Family Court to request the release notarized photocopies of several court documents, including the termination of parental rights documents for both boys, and several other documents that had nothing to do with the adoption. Some of the documents (including the homestudy which was paid for and belonged to SWAN (State Wide Adoption Network)) I had no legal right to have, and had never been given access to. I had to pay an attorney to draft a motion and had her petition the court to release nearly 200 pages of court documents, AND have EACH PAGE notarized by the court as "true and authentic copies." I spent over $2000 getting this additional paperwork, and just barely made the 8 week deadline to return them to the Consulate General's office. And then I heard nothing for another 6 months.
As of today it has been 16 months since I couriered that first application package. The website will tell you it normally takes 12 months or less. BUT - today I opened my mailbox and found two letters - one for each boy - congratulating me, that both had been granted Canadian citizenship, and their citizenship certificates would be delivered shortly.
YAY!! But good grief! what a lot of nail biting for these past 16 months. Hang in there - and if you need an attorney get a GOOD ONE. And be prepared for some absolutely ridiculous requests for documentation and paperwork! Just do it, get an attorney to help you out if you need to, but more FAST. It made all the difference in my case.
Grant ;D
