{"id":33869,"date":"2017-05-01T16:39:15","date_gmt":"2017-05-01T16:39:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/immigrationca.staging.wpengine.com\/op-3-adoptions\/"},"modified":"2021-08-30T02:56:53","modified_gmt":"2021-08-30T06:56:53","slug":"op-3-adoptions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/fr\/op-3-adoptions\/","title":{"rendered":"Operational Bulletin 3 &#8211; Adoptions May &#8211; 1, 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"33869\" class=\"elementor elementor-33869 elementor-33752\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7d4f8a15 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7d4f8a15\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-57fb2ffe\" data-id=\"57fb2ffe\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-515077e0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"515077e0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada frequently publishes immigration policy manuals for its personnel to provide guidance in the exercise of their functions. Below we include annotated summaries of Canada immigration policy manuals.<\/p>\n<h3>What This Chapter is About<\/h3>\n<p>This chapter provides policy and functional guidance to officers for processing permanent residence applications under the family class in the case of intercountry adoptions and orphaned relatives. This document provides details on:<\/p>\n<ul>\n \t<li>The regulatory requirements for intercountry adoptions to be valid for immigration purposes<\/li>\n \t<li>The role of the provinces and territories (PTs) in international adoptions<\/li>\n \t<li>The impact of the <i>Hague Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption<\/i> on immigration processing and,<\/li>\n \t<li>The manner in which officers would need to process permanent residence applications in the case of intercountry adoptions and orphaned relatives<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Which Immigration Category Does This Chapter Affect?<\/p>\n\n<p>It is worth highlighting that the policies and guidelines on intercountry adoptions specified in this chapter apply primarily to applications for permanent resident visas made in the family class category for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n \t<li>Adopted children<\/li>\n \t<li>Children to be adopted in Canada and,<\/li>\n \t<li>Orphaned relatives<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>However, this chapter might possess certain additional information of interest to the officers processing applications in other categories. This would typically be the case where officers are processing applications involving dependent children who have received adoption.<\/p>\n\n<p>Where Could Officers Typically Find Guidelines Pertaining to Family Sponsorships?<\/p>\n\n<p>The table that follows specified the chapters where officers could find guidelines concerning policies and guidelines that pertain to adoptions.<\/p>\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\"><b>The Related Procedures<\/b><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><b>The Manual Chapter<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Processing applications to sponsor members of the family class<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">See IP 2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Processing permanent residence applications for members of the family class living outside Canada<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">See OP 02`<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">The Grant of Canadian citizenship for people adopted by Canadian citizens on or after January 01, 1947<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">See CP 14<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3>The Program Objectives<\/h3>\n<p>The family class immigration program intends to facilitate the reunion of Canadian citizens and permanent residents with their close relatives. It intends to ensure that the regulations protect the best interests of the child as well. This is especially so when it comes to intercountry adoptions.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b2b5a6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-accordion\" data-id=\"0b2b5a6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1171\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1171\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act(IRPA) and the Regulations<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1171\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1171\"><p>The authorities passed the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Act <\/i>(IRPA) on November 01, 2001. The accompanying Regulations came into effect on June 28, 2002. These replace the provisions specified in the <i>Immigration Act, 1976 <\/i>and the <i>Immigration Regulations, 1978<\/i>.<\/p>\n\n<p>The following table provides details on the provisions that apply to adoptions.<\/p>\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\"><b>The Provision<\/b><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><b>The Reference in the Act or the Regulations<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">The Objective Relating to Family Reunification<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">A3 (1) (d)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">The Sponsorship of a Foreign National<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">A13<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">The Right to Appeal a Family Class Refusal<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">A63 (1)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">The Definition of a Dependent Child<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">R2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">The Definition of the Hague Convention on Adoption<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">R2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">The Interpretation of the Term \u2018Adoption\u2019<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">R3 (2)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Bad Faith (Adoptions of Convenience)<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">R4 (2)\n\nR117 (1) (g) (i)\n\nR117 (2) (b)\n\nR117 (4) (c)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">The Definition of a Member of the Family Class<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">R117 (1)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">The Dependent Child (Including an Adopted Child)<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">R117 (1) (b)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">The Orphaned Child<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">R117 (1) (f)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">The Child to be Adopted in Canada<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">R117 (1) (g)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Adoptions Under 18 Years of Age<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">R117 (2)\n\nR117 (3)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">The Best Interests of the Child<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">R117 (3)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Adoptions Over 18 Years of Age<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">R117 (4)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">The Provincial Statement<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">R117 (7)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">New Evidence<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">R117 (8)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">The Information on the Medical Condition of the Child<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">R118<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">The Adopted Sponsor<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">R133 (5)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\nThe Forms Required\n\nThe table that follows lists the forms typically required under the family member class.\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\"><b>The Form Title<\/b><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><b>The Form Number<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">The Application to Sponsor and Undertaking<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">IMM 1344A<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">The Sponsorship Agreement<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">IMM 1344B<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">The Generic Application Form for Canada<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">IMM 0008<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">The Medical Report Section A \u2013 EDE \/ EFE<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">IMM 1017 \u2013 SCL<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">The Medical Condition Statement<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The Fees<\/p>\n\n<p>It is worth highlighting that each sponsorship application for an adopted child will need to include the applicable processing fees. For further information, officers will need to refer to the fees and cost recovery instructions.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1172\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1172\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Instruments and Delegations<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1172\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1172\"><p>The provisions specified in subsection A6 (1) provide the Minister with various authorisations. In particular, they authorise the Minister to designate officers for carrying out specific duties and power, in addition to delegating certain authorities. These provisions state those ministerial authorities that the Minister cannot delegate as well. Such ministerial authorities would typically relate to national interest or security certificates.<\/p>\n\n<p>Pursuant to the provisions specified in A6 (2) of the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Act <\/i>(IRPA), the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (CIC) has delegated powers and designated certain officials to carry out any purpose of any provisions legislative or regulatory in instrument IL 3 \u2013 Delegation and Designation.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1173\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1173\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Departmental Policy<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1173\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1173\"><p>The Intercountry Adoption Process \u2013 Immigration and Citizenship Streams<\/p>\n\n<p>It is worth highlighting that intercountry adoption is a two step process. It typically comprises:<\/p>\n<ul>\n \t<li>The adoption process and,<\/li>\n \t<li>The immigration or citizenship process<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The authorities have provided adoptive parents with two streams for obtaining status in Canada for their adopted child. These streams include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n \t<li>The immigration process via the provisions specified in the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Act <\/i>(IRPA) and the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations <\/i>(IRPR) and,<\/li>\n \t<li>The citizenship process via the provisions specified in the <i>Citizenship Act<\/i><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nThe adoptive parents could consider using the immigration process for:\n<ul>\n \t<li>Dependent children who are under the age of 18 years at the time of the adoption i.e. refer to the provisions specified in R117 (2)<\/li>\n \t<li>Dependent children who are 18 years of age or over at the time of the adoption i.e. refer to the provisions specified in R117 (4) or,<\/li>\n \t<li>Children who are to be adopted in Canada i.e. refer to the provisions specified in R117 (1) (g)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Similarly, Canadian adoptive parents could consider using the citizenship process to apply directly for Canadian citizenship for their adopted child. The authorities have provided additional details on the citizenship process in chapter CP 14.<\/p>\n\n<p>It is worth mentioning that the criteria for granting citizenship to foreign born adopted children of Canadian citizens under the provisions specified in the <i>Citizenship Act<\/i> and its Regulations are similar to those for granting permanent resident status to adopted children under the provisions specified in the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Act <\/i>(IRPA) and the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations <\/i>(IRPR).<\/p>\n\n<p>The adoptive parents will need to choose the process that best corresponds to their situation. The table that follows summarises the main distinctions between the two processes.<\/p>\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\"><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><b>The Immigration Process<\/b><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><b>The Citizenship Process<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\"><b>Who Can Apply?<\/b><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">An adoptive parent, who is a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident who resides in Canada or a Canadian citizen who intends to reside in Canada once the immigration process is complete<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">An adoptive parent who is a Canadian citizen born or naturalised in Canada at the time of the adoption<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\"><b>The Child\u2019s Status at the End of the Process<\/b><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Permanent resident<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Canadian citizen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\"><b>Foreign Citizenship<\/b><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">The adopted person does not lose their foreign citizenship once they become a permanent resident of Canada<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">In some countries, the adopted person could lose their foreign citizenship once they become a Canadian citizen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\"><b>The First Generation Limit<\/b><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">The first generation limit does not apply to the adopted person\u2019s children in case the children are born outside of Canada<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">The first generation limit does apply to the adopted person\u2019s children in case the children are born outside of Canada<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1174\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1174\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Provincial and Federal Adoption Authorities<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1174\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1174\"><p>In Canada, the provinces and territories (PTs) are responsible for adoption and child welfare. As such, provincial and territorial legislation and procedures protect the rights and the welfare of children.<\/p>\n\n<p>The provisions specified in the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations <\/i>(IRPR) reflect the provincial and territorial jurisdiction. They require that the child welfare authority of the province or territory (PT) to which the child is destined, provide a written statement that they do not object to the adoption. The authorities require a written statement to this effect in all cases where provincial or territorial jurisdiction applies. Provinces and territories (PTs) typically require a home study of the prospective adoptive parents. Only after this will they approve intercountry adoptions.<\/p>\n\n<p>The Intercountry Adoption Services (IAS) is a unit within Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). It is also Canada\u2019s federal central adoption authority under the Hague Convention. The Intercountry Adoption Services (IAS) is typically responsible for intercountry adoption matters at the national and international levels. Therefore, it works directly with the provinces and territories (PTs) for providing information and guidance. But, provinces and territories (PTs) usually make the decisions pertaining to eligibility. In addition, they assist Canadians in their efforts to adopt.<\/p>\n\n<p>The role of the Intercountry Adoption Services (IAS) in intercountry adoption typically comprises:<\/p>\n<ul>\n \t<li>The facilitation of communication and cooperation between various adoption authorities at the federal, provincial or territorial and international levels<\/li>\n \t<li>The facilitation of issue resolution and the development of pan-Canadian responses on matters such as unethical and irregular adoption practices<\/li>\n \t<li>The ability to provide advice on or to develop legislation, regulations, policies, procedures, standards and guidelines pertaining to intercountry adoption and,<\/li>\n \t<li>The collection and dissemination of information pertaining to intercountry adoption such as:\n<ul>\n \t<li>The adoption legislation<\/li>\n \t<li>The policies and practices of countries of origin and,<\/li>\n \t<li>Statistical data and research<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Officers might feel the need to obtain additional information on the responsible central adoption authorities in the provinces and territories (PTs). For this, they would need to refer to the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). In addition, they will need to refer to Appendix A for more details on province-specific legislation.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1175\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1175\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Canada\u2019s International Commitments on Adoptions<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1175\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1175\"><p>The Hague Convention<\/p>\n\n<p>Canada ratified the Hague <i>Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Inter-Country Adoption<\/i> (hereinafter referred to as the Hague Convention) on December 19, 1996.<\/p>\n\n<p>In Canada, adoption is a provincial or territorial (PT) responsibility. Because of this, Canada extended the application of the Hague Convention to the Canadian provinces and territories (PTs) progressively, once each jurisdiction had enacted implementing legislation and established a central adoption authority. Since February 2006, the Hague Convention applies all over Canada. As such, provincial and territorial (PT) laws give effect to the provisions of the Hague Convention.<\/p>\n\n<p>In Canada, the authorities have amended immigration and citizenship legislation for supporting Canada\u2019s obligations under the Hague Convention. The provisions specified in the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations <\/i>(IRPR) reflect the provincial and territorial jurisdiction. The main provisions of the Hague Convention are to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n \t<li>Establish the necessary safeguards for ensuring that intercountry adoptions take place in the best interests of the child and with respect for their fundamental rights<\/li>\n \t<li>Establish a system of cooperation between contracting states for ensuring that those safeguards are respected, thereby preventing the abduction, sale of or traffic in children and,<\/li>\n \t<li>Secure the recognition in contracting states of adoptions made in accordance with the provisions specified in the Hague Convention<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It is worth mentioning that the Hague Convention only covers adoptions that create a permanent parent-child relationship. As such, the Hague Convention applies where a child habitually residing in one Contracting State i.e. the state of origin, has been, is being or will be moving to another Contracting State i.e. the receiving state (or Canada), either after their adoption in the state of origin by spouses or a person habitually resident in the receiving state i.e. Canada, or for the purposes of such an adoption in the receiving state i.e. Canada or in the state of origin.<\/p>\n\n<p>Situations could arise where the situation does not meet either of the two conditions. In this scenario, officers would need to remember that in such cases the provisions specified in the Hague Convention do not apply. However, the authorities generally accept that states party to the Hague Convention will need to extend the application of its principles to non-Hague Convention adoptions.<\/p>\n\n<p>The table given below highlights the countries that are party to the Hague Convention and their date of membership.<\/p>\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"><b>State<\/b><\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"><b>Member since<\/b><\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"><b>State<\/b><\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"><b>Member since<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Austria<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">15-Jul-1955<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Canada<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">07-Oct-1968<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Belgium<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">15-Jul-1955<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Argentina<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">28-Apr-1972<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Denmark<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">15-Jul-1955<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Australia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">01-Nov-1973<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Netherlands<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">15-Jul-1955<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Suriname<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">07-Oct-1977<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Norway<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">15-Jul-1955<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Venezuela<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">25-Jul-1979<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Portugal<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">15-Jul-1955<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Uruguay<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">27-Jul-1983<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Spain<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">15-Jul-1955<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Poland<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">29-May-1984<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Sweden<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">15-Jul-1955<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Cyprus<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">08-Oct-1984<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> United Kingdom<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">15-Jul-1955<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Mexico<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">18-Mar-1986<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Greece<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">26-Aug-1955<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Chile<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">25-Apr-1986<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Ireland<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">26-Aug-1955<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Hungary<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">06-Jan-1987<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Turkey<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">26-Aug-1955<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> China<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">03-Jul-1987<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Finland<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">02-Dec-1955<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Romania<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">10-Apr-1991<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Germany<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">14-Dec-1955<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Slovenia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">18-Jun-1992<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Luxembourg<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">12-Mar-1956<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Latvia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">11-Aug-1992<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">  Switzerland<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">06-May-1957<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Czech Republic<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">28-Jan-1993<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Italy<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">26-Jun-1957<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Slovakia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">26-Apr-1993<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Japan<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">27-Jun-1957<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Morocco<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">06-Sep-1993<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Egypt<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">24-Apr-1961<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Republic of Macedonia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">20-Sep-1993<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> France<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">20-Apr-1964<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Malta<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">30-Jan-1995<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Israel<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">24-Sep-1964<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Croatia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">12-Jun-1995<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> United States<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">15-Oct-1964<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Monaco<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">08-Aug-1996<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Republic of Korea<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">20-Aug-1997<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Ukraine<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">03-Dec-2003<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Estonia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">13-May-1998<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Paraguay<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">28-Jun-2005<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Bulgaria<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">22-Apr-1999<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Montenegro<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">01-Mar-2007<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Peru<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">29-Jan-2001<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> European Union<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">03-Apr-2007<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Brazil<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">23-Feb-2001<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Ecuador<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">02-Nov-2007<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Serbia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">26-Apr-2001<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> India<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">13-Mar-2008<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Georgia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">28-May-2001<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Philippines<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">14-Jul-2010<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">07-Jun-2001<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Mauritius<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">19-Jan-2011<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Jordan<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">13-Jun-2001<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Costa Rica<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">27-Jan-2011<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Belarus<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">12-Jul-2001<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Vietnam<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">10-Apr-2013<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Sri Lanka<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">27-Sep-2001<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Zambia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">17-May-2013<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Lithuania<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">23-Oct-2001<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Burkina Faso<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">16-Oct-2013<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Russia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">06-Dec-2001<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Singapore<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">09-Apr-2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> New Zealand<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">05-Feb-2002<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Azerbaijan<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">29-Jul-2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> South Africa<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">14-Feb-2002<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Tunisia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">04-Nov-2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Panama<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">29-May-2002<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Armenia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">28-Apr-2015<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Albania<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">04-Jun-2002<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Andorra<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">11-Jun-2015<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Malaysia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">02-Oct-2002<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Republic of Moldova<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">16-Mar-2016<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Iceland<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">14-Nov-2003<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"> Saudi Arabia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">19-Oct-2016<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Under the provisions specified in the Hague Convention, countries typically designate a central adoption authority. This authority is responsible for administering intercountry adoptions in a manner consistent with its provisions. In the case of Canada, the authorities have designated provinces and territories (PTs) as such authorities with case management responsibilities. The federal central adoption authority\u2019s role is to facilitate communication and cooperation between Canadian central adoption authorities in the provinces and territories (PTs) and those of foreign governments.  As such, the central adoption authorities of the provinces and territories (PTs) will need to determine whether the provisions specified in the Hague Convention apply to a particular case.<\/p>\n\n<p>The provisions specified in the Hague Convention require the central adoption authorities in the country where the adoption is taking place i.e. the sending country, to fulfil certain responsibilities. As such, the central adoption authorities in the countries where the adoption is taking place will need to ensure that:<\/p>\n<ul>\n \t<li>The child is legally free for adoption<\/li>\n \t<li>The institutions and authorities whose consent is essential for adoption have provided their consent freely in the required legal form and expressed in writing<\/li>\n \t<li>The birth parents have given their consent to the adoption and understand the consequences for their parental rights<\/li>\n \t<li>The decision to place a child for adoption does not have financial gain as its underlying intention and,<\/li>\n \t<li>The child\u2019s consent to the adoption, in cases where such consent is necessary, has been given freely, in the required legal form and expressed or evidenced in writing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In addition, the provisions specified in the Hague Convention require the central adoption authority in the adoptive parents\u2019 country of residence i.e. the receiving country to fulfill certain responsibilities too. As such, the central adoption authorities in the adoptive parents\u2019 country of residence will need to ensure that:<\/p>\n<ul>\n \t<li>The adoptive parents are eligible and suitable to adopt a child and,<\/li>\n \t<li>The appropriate authorities have decided that the child can enter and live permanently in the receiving country<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In a Hague Convention case, the authorities will only be able to finalise an adoption after the sending and receiving countries have verified the above-mentioned information. The provisions specified in the Hague Convention only permit the adoption to take place in either state of origin or the receiving state.<\/p>\n\n<p>Officers might require additional details pertaining to the provisions specified in the Hague Convention. For this, they will need to refer to the following sections that appear subsequently in this document:<\/p>\n<ul>\n \t<li>The section titled \u2018The Procedures that Officers Should Follow in Hague Convention Cases\u2019 i.e. section 7.1 of OP 3 and,<\/li>\n \t<li>Appendix E for the complete process for Hague Convention Cases\n<ul>\n \t<li>This includes details on the roles of Canadian and foreign central adoption authorities<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Officers might need to refer to the full text of the Hague Convention as well. For this, they will need to visit the website of the Hague Conference on Private International Law.<\/p>\n\n<p>For more details on this, officers would need to refer to the following sections that appear subsequently in this document:<\/p>\n<ul>\n \t<li>The section titled \u2018The Definitions\u2019 i.e. section 6 of OP 3 and,<\/li>\n \t<li>The section titled \u2018The Procedures\u2019 i.e. section 7 of OP 3<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<b>Note:<\/b>\n<ul>\n \t<li>It is worth highlighting that the country where the child habitually resides determines whether the Hague Convention applies and not the country of the child\u2019s nationality<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)<\/p>\n\n<p>Canada is party to the <i>United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child<\/i> (CRC) as well. With respect to adoptions, article 21 of the <i>United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child<\/i> (CRC) specifies that \u2018States Parties that recognise and \/ or permit the system of adoption shall ensure that the best interests of the child shall be the paramount consideration\u2019.<\/p>\n\n<p>It is worth mentioning that the provisions specified in the Hague Convention give proper effect to article 21 of the <i>United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child<\/i> (CRC) too. It does this by adding substantive safeguards and procedures to the broad principles and standards specified in the <i>United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child<\/i> (CRC). In addition, Canada\u2019s commitments as a party to the <i>United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child<\/i> (CRC) exist regardless of whether the child in an intercountry adoption resides in a country that has implemented the <i>United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child<\/i> (CRC).<\/p>\n\n<p>The provisions specified in the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations <\/i>(IRPR) also serve to promote consistency when officers assess the best interests of children. This serves to maintain Canada\u2019s commitments as signatory to both the Hague Convention and the <i>United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child<\/i> (CRC).<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1176\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1176\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Regulatory Requirements for Adoptions to be Valid for Immigration Purposes<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1176\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1176\">The table that follows lists the regulatory requirements without which adoptions will not be valid for immigration purposes.\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\"><b>The Requirement<\/b><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><b>Adoption Under 18 Years of Age<\/b>\n\n<b>R117 (2) and<\/b>\n\n<b>R117 (3)<\/b><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><b>To be Adopted<\/b>\n\n<b>R117 (1) (g)<\/b><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><b>Adoption Over 18 Years of Age<\/b>\n\n<b>R117 (4)<\/b><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><b>The References Given in OP 3<\/b><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><b>The Regulations<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Full adoption<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Yes<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">No<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Yes<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Section 6<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">R3 (2)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Home study<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Yes<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">No\n\nRefer to Note 1<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">No<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Section 5.5\n\nSection 7.5<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">R117 (3) (a)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Free and informed consent of biological parents<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Yes<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">No\n\nRefer to Note 2<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">No<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Section 5.16<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">R117 (3) (b)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Genuine parent-child relationship\n\n(In the case of an adoption of a child over 18 years of age: before the child turned 18 years and at the time of adoption)<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Yes<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">No<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Yes<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Section 5.10<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">R117 (3) (c)\n\nR117 (4) (b)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Adoption in accordance with the laws of the place where the adoption took place<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Yes<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">No<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Yes<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Section 5.8<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">R117 (3) (d)\n\nR117 (4) (a)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Adoption in accordance with the laws of the country of residence of the adoptive parents<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Yes<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">No<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Yes<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Section 5.12<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">R117 (3) (e)\n\nR117 (4) (a)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Notification in writing from the province or territory (PT) where the adoptive parents reside that the child is authorised to enter and reside permanently in the province or territory (PT) for non-Hague Convention countries<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Yes<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Yes<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">No<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Section 5.6<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">R117 (1) (g) (iii) (B)\n\nR117 (3) (e)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Notification in writing that the country where the adoption took place and the province or territory (PT) of the adopted person\u2019s intended residence approve the adoption as conforming to the provisions specified in the Hague Convention for Hague Convention countries<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Yes<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Yes<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">No<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Section 5.6<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">R117 (1) (g) (ii)\n\nR117 (3) (f)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Meets the requirements or the spirit of the Hague Convention provisions<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Yes<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Yes<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">No<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Section 5.13\n\nSection 6<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">A3 (3) (f)\n\nR117 (1) (g) (ii)\n\nR117 (1) (g) (iii) (A)\n\nR117 (3) (f)\n\nR117 (3) (g)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">No evidence of undue gain or child trafficking<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Yes<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Yes<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">No<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Section 5.13<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">R117 (1) (g) (iii) (A)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Adoption not entered into primarily for the purpose of acquiring a status or privilege (i.e. not an adoption of convenience)<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Yes<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Yes<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Yes<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Section 5.9\n\nSection 7.9\n\nSection 7.17<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">R117 (1) (g) (i)\n\nR117 (2) (b)\n\nR117 (4) (c)\n\nR4 (2)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Child placed for adoption or otherwise legally available for adoption<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">No<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Yes (in non-Hague Convention cases)<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">No<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Section 7.3<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">R117 (1) (g) (iii) (A)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Adoptive parents have signed a statement stating that they have information on the child\u2019s medical condition<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Yes<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Yes<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">No<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Section 5.15\n\nSection 7.8<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">R118<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<b>Note 1:<\/b>\n<ul>\n \t<li>The provincial and territorial (PT) central adoption authorities for adoptions usually require a home study<\/li>\n \t<li>This enables them to complete adoptions in Canada<\/li>\n \t<li>Officers will be able to find more details on this in the section titled \u2018The Guidelines for a Home Study Conducted by a Competent Authority\u2019 that appears subsequently in this document i.e. section 5.5 of OP 3<\/li>\n \t<li>It is worth mentioning that home study is not a requirement specified in the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations <\/i>(IRPR)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<b>Note 2:<\/b>\n<ul>\n \t<li>It is worth mentioning that the consent of the biological parents is not an explicit <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations <\/i>(IRPR) requirement for the authorities to complete adoptions in Canada<\/li>\n \t<li>But, this is a requirement specified in the Hague Convention<\/li>\n \t<li>The authorities will require consent for a child to be legally available for adoption in non-Hague Convention cases for the adoption of a child in Canada as well<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1177\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1177\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Guidelines for a Home Study Conducted by a Competent Authority<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1177\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1177\"><p>The provincial or territorial (PT) central adoption authority is responsible for carrying out an assessment of prospective adoptive parents with respect to their suitability to adopt. This is a pre-condition to the adoption.<\/p>\n\n<p>For immigration purposes, the provisions specified in the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations <\/i>(IRPR) specify that a competent authority will need to conduct a home survey. This is especially so in the case of an adoption completed outside of Canada. This is in accordance with the provisions specified in R117 (3) (a). In Canada, competent authorities would typically comprise provincial or territorial (PT) authorities. They could also include individuals authorised by those authorities, such as accredited social workers. A letter of no objection or a notice of agreement from the province or territory (PT) approving the intercountry adoption would serve as a confirmation that the authorities have completed an acceptable home study. Situations could arise where officers require more details on the case processing centre procedures for requesting the letter of no objection. They would be able to find this in the section titled \u2018The Guidelines for Information on the Child\u2019s Medical Condition\u2019 that appears subsequently in this document i.e. section 7.5 of OP 3.<\/p>\n\n<p>It is worth highlighting however, that the provisions specified in the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations <\/i>(IRPR) do not require the authorities to conduct a home study in cases where the child is to be adopted in Canada. However, the provisions specified in the Hague Convention require that central adoption authorities in the receiving state ensure that the adoptive parents are eligible and suitable to adopt.<\/p>\n\n<p>Provincial and territorial (PT) central adoption authorities usually require a home study for adoptions completed either in the state of origin or in their province or territory (PT). Thereafter, they confirm this in their letter of no objection or notice of agreement by stating that the competent authority has completed the home study.<\/p>\n\n<p>Situations could arise where the provincial or territorial (PT) central adoption authorities do not require a home study. This is especially so in cases where these authorities have no jurisdiction. Provinces and territories (PTs) might have no jurisdiction in the following instances:<\/p>\n<ul>\n \t<li>In cases where the adoptive parents are not habitual residents of a province or territory (PT) at the time of completion of the adoption<\/li>\n \t<li>In cases where the child to be adopted is over 18 years of age and,<\/li>\n \t<li>In cases of relative adoption<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nOfficers would be able to find more details on this in the following sections that appear subsequently in this document:\n<ul>\n \t<li>The section titled \u2018The Guidelines for Relative Adoptions\u2019 i.e. section 5.23 of OP 3 and,<\/li>\n \t<li>Appendix A<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nIn some cases, it is possible that the province or territory (PT) does not provide a letter of no objection. As such, the officer might not have evidence that any competent authority conducted a home study. In this scenario, the officer would need to:\n<ul>\n \t<li>Ask the sponsor to provide proof that an accredited social worker in the province or territory (PT) of residence of the parents has conducted a home study\n<ul>\n \t<li>It is worth mentioning that the provincial or territorial (PT) central adoption authorities could provide a list of their accredited social workers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li>Ask the sponsor to provide proof that the local child welfare authority or an accredited social worker in the country of residence of the parents (in case the parents reside outside of Canada and the adoption took place outside of Canada) conducted and approve a home study\n<ul>\n \t<li>In some cases, it might be clear that the authorities did not conduct a home study\n<ul>\n \t<li>In this scenario, the officer will need to request that the sponsor obtain a home study from a competent authority or an accredited social worker in the place of residence of the adoptive parents and,<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li>Refer the sponsor to an International Social Service (ISS) in the country of residence of the parents, in case such a service is not available in the sending state\n<ul>\n \t<li>Thereafter, the officer will need to arrange for the authorities to conduct a home study to determine the suitability of the adoptive parents<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1178\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"8\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1178\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Provincial Notification Letters<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1178\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"8\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1178\">The table that follows describes the various types of provincial notification letters:\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\"><b>The Type of Letter<\/b><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><b>The Description<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">The Letter (or Notice) of Agreement<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">In Hague Convention cases, the concerned provincial or territorial (PT) central adoption authorities typically forward a letter (or notice) of agreement to the visa office. In addition, they will usually send a copy to the central adoption authority of the applicant\u2019s country of residence. This serves to indicate that the province or territory (PT) and the prospective adoptive parents agree to the adoption.\n\nThis notification serves to establish that the adoption conforms to the provisions specified in the Hague Convention. In addition, it establishes that the adoption fulfils the requirements specified in subparagraph R117 (1) (g) (ii) or paragraph R117 (3) (f).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">The Letter of No Objection<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Situations could arise where the provisions specified in the Hague Convention do not apply. In addition, it is possible that the adoptive parents might be residing in a province or territory (PT) at the time of the adoption. In this scenario, the authorities will usually ask the central adoption authority of that province or territory (PT) for a letter of no objection. This letter would serve to confirm that the central adoption authority of that province or territory (PT) does not object to the adoption.\n\nThe letter of no objective typically indicates that the central adoption authority of that province or territory (PT) agrees to the adoption. In addition, this letter indicates that the adoptive parents have met all the prescribed requirements of the central adoption authority of that province or territory (PT). People usually refer to this letter as the letter of no objection. In accordance with the provisions specified in the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations <\/i>(IRPR), this letter forms conclusive evidence for the authorities.\n\nThe provisions specified in clause R117 (1) (g) (iii) (B) and paragraph R117 (3) (e) require that the central adoption authority in the province or territory (PT) of destination specify in writing that they have no objection to the adoption.\n\nIt is worth highlighting that the requirement for a letter of no objection applies only to children adopted abroad by sponsors residing in Canada (with respect to adopted children). Situations could arise where a sponsor resides abroad and an adoption takes place abroad. In this scenario, the provincial or territorial (PT) central adoption authorities will not normally provide a letter of no objection. This is because these adoptions are not intercountry adoptions.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">The Letter of No Involvement<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Provincial or territorial (PT) central adoption authorities could, on occasions, provide a letter of no involvement in certain cases. They would typically do this in cases where the sponsor has submitted a sponsorship application for an adopted child, but the province or territory (PT) has no jurisdiction.\n\nFor instance, this could usually occur in cases where the sponsor finalised the adoption abroad, while the adoptive parents resided outside of Canada. Alternatively, this scenario could play itself out in cases of relative adoptions.\n\nAs such, a letter of no involvement might indicate that the sponsor has met some of the prescribed requirements. In addition, it could indicate that the province or territory (PT) is aware of the adoption and that, in case the authorities grant the child permanent resident status, the province or territory (PT) would recognise the adoption once the child arrives in Canada.\n\nIt is worth highlighting that letters stating that the province or territory (PT) is not involved with the adoption do not meet any of the requirements specified in the provisions given in section R117. As such, no one can equate the letter of no involvement to the approval or letter of no objection from the competent central adoption authority.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1179\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"9\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1179\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Provincial or Territorial (PT) Letter of Agreement or Letter of No Objection<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1179\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"9\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1179\"><p>Provincial or territorial (PT) central adoption authorities are responsible for issuing a letter or agreement or a letter of no objection for adoptions. Visa officers would need to accept these letters as conclusive evidence that the sponsors and the adoptive parents have met the following requirements:<\/p>\n<ul>\n \t<li>The requirements specified in clause R117 (1) (g) (iii) (A) for a child to be adopted in Canada or.<\/li>\n \t<li>The requirements specified in paragraphs R117 (3) (a), R117 (3) (b), R117 (3) (c), R117 (3) (d), R117 (3) (e) and R117 (3) (g) for an adopted child<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This is in accordance with the provisions specified in subsection R117 (7).<\/p>\n\n<p>The central adoption authorities will typically provide the written statement (a letter of agreement or a letter of no objection to an adoption) to the visa officer. In case the officer receives evidence that the applicants do not meet the requirements specified below, the officer has the authority to suspend the processing of the application. The processing of the application will remain suspended until the officer provides that evidence to the competent authority of the province or territory (PT), after which that authority will confirm or revise its written statement. More details on this are available in subsection R117 (8). Situations could arise where the province or territory (PT) confirms that the letter of agreement or letter of no objection is still valid. In this scenario, the officer will need to determine whether to issue a visa or to refuse the case.<\/p>\n\n<p>The officer will typically check whether the applicant meets all the following requirements. However, it is worth highlighting that the list given below is not exhaustive. The officer will need to check whether:<\/p>\n<ul>\n \t<li>The child was not legally available for adoption<\/li>\n \t<li>The parents did not give their free and informed consent to the adoption<\/li>\n \t<li>The adoption is for the purpose of child trafficking or undue gain within the meaning of the Hague Convention<\/li>\n \t<li>The adoption did not create a genuine parent-child relationship or,<\/li>\n \t<li>The adoption was not in accordance with the laws of the place where the adoption took place<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It is worth highlighting that the letter of agreement or letter of no objection does not indicate whether the adoption is primarily for the purpose of obtaining status or privilege under the provisions given in the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Act <\/i>(IRPA). As such, visa officers bear the responsibility for making this determination. This is in accordance with the provisions specified in subparagraph R117 (1) (g) (i), paragraph R117 (2) (b) or paragraph R117 (4) (c).<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11710\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"10\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11710\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Laws of the Place Where the Adoption Took Place<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11710\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"10\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11710\"><p>Each country has its own requirements and procedures for intercountry adoptions. As such, the submission of a valid adoption order issued by the competent authority is satisfactory evidence that the applicants have met the applicable foreign legal adoption requirements. This is applicable unless there is some information to the contrary. This is in accordance with the provisions specified in R117 (3) (d). As stated in the previous section titled \u2018The Provincial or Territorial (PT) Letter of Agreement or Letter of No Objection\u2019, the letter of no objection from the province or territory (PT) is conclusive evidence that the applicants have met the requirements specified in paragraph R117 (3) (d).<\/p>\n\n<p>The authorities require officers to be especially vigilant when they assess adoptions where:<\/p>\n<ul>\n \t<li>The registration of the adoption order is not a legal requirement<\/li>\n \t<li>The applicants have not strictly followed the requirements of the applicable adoption laws and,<\/li>\n \t<li>The country does not authorise international adoptions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In any of these circumstances, officers will need to carefully consider whether the adoption fully complies with the laws of the country where it took place. In addition, the officers will need to consider whether the adoption creates a genuine parent-child relationship as well. In some cases, the officers might have some concerns. In this scenario, they would need to communicate these concerns to the provincial or territorial (PT) central adoption authorities. For more details on this, officers will need to go through the section titled \u2018The Guidelines for a Genuine Parent-Child Relationship\u2019 that appears subsequently in this document i.e. section 5.10 of OP 3.<\/p>\n\n<p>The authorities provide recognition to adoptions legally recognised where they occur in all provinces and territories (PTs) of Canada except Quebec. In Quebec, tribunals will need to grant recognition after the child arrives in Canada. However, this process does not have any impact on immigration processing. For more details on this, officers will need to refer to Appendix A.<\/p>\n\n<p>Officers have the authority to refuse applications in case the adoption does not comply with the laws of the country where it took place, and as a result, the province or territory (PT) did not issue a letter of no objection. In such cases, the adoption of the child will not take place and thus, the child will not be a member of the family class.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11711\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"11\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11711\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Guidelines for Adoptions of Convenience<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11711\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"11\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11711\"><p>The authorities have moved this content as part of the Department\u2019s efforts to modernise operational guidance to staff. It forms part of the <i>Program Integrity<\/i> section currently.<\/p>\n\n<p>The Guidelines for a Genuine Parent-Child Relationship<\/p>\n\n<p>The provisions specified in paragraph R117 (3) (c) require that an adoption should create a genuine parent-child relationship. This is especially in the case of the adoption of a minor child. In order to meet this criterion, an adoption order will need to create a genuine parent-child relationship both in law as well as in fact.<\/p>\n\n<p>Officers will need to take the letter of agreement or the letter of no objection from the provincial or territorial (PT) central adoption authorities as conclusive evidence that the adoptive parents meet this requirement. This is in accordance with the provisions specified in subsection R117 (7).<\/p>\n\n<p>The provisions specified in paragraph R117 (4) (b) mandate the existence of a genuine parent-child relationship at the time of the adoption. In particular, it expects the genuine parent-child relationship to have existed before the child reached the age of 18 years. This is especially so in the case of an adult adoption.<\/p>\n\n<p>As such, the authorities require officers to assess whether an adoption has created a genuine parent-child relationship. To assess this, officers will need to look closely at the effects of the adoption to determine:<\/p>\n<ul>\n \t<li>Whether the adoption completely severs the adopted child\u2019s former legal ties with their biological parents and thereby, creates a new legal parent-child relationship<\/li>\n \t<li>The authenticity of the parent-child relationship, the establishment of which is the primary purpose of an adoption i.e. officers will need to ensure that an adoption is not a means for a child to gain admission to Canada and,<\/li>\n \t<li>Whether the adoption is in accordance with the laws of the place where the adoption took place and the laws of the place of residence of the adoptive parents\n<ul>\n \t<li>For more details on this, officers will need to go through:\n<ul>\n \t<li>The section titled \u2018The Laws of the Place Where the Adoption Took Place\u2019 i.e. section 5.8 of OP 3 and,<\/li>\n \t<li>The section titled \u2018The Laws of the Place of Residence of the Prospective Adoptive Parents\u2019 that appears subsequently in this document i.e. section 5.12 of OP 3<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nIt is worth mentioning that an assessment of the severing of pre-existing legal parent-child ties only applies where there are living parents with whom the child has a legal parent-child relationship at the time the adoption takes place. This requirement is not relevant in cases of orphaned or abandoned children. This is because such cases will usually not feature any pre-existing parent-child relationship.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11712\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"12\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11712\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Guidelines Pertaining to the Best Interests of the Child<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11712\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"12\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11712\"><p>The term \u2018best interests of the child\u2019 is a concept that many legal instruments pertaining to children\u2019s issues typically contain. For instance, the provisions in the Hague Convention and the <i>Canada Divorce Act<\/i> refer to this term frequently. The provisions given in the Hague Convention contain certain rules to ensure that adoptions take place in the best interests of the child and with due respect for their fundamental rights. These rules include the principle of subsidiary i.e. consider solutions in the country of origin first. They serve to ensure that the child is adoptable, after thoroughly evaluating the prospective adoptive parents and matching the child with a suitable family.<\/p>\n\n<p>The provisions specified in the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations <\/i>(IRPR) require that the provincial or territorial (PT) central adoption authorities provide documentary evidence to satisfy visa officers that the adoption is in the best interests of the child. Similarly, in the case of a child who resides in a country that is a party to the Hague Convention, the authorities require that the central adoption authority of that country provide documentary evidence to satisfy visa officers that the adoption is in the best interests of the child. To satisfy this requirement, the provincial or territorial (PT) child welfare authority will typically need to issue a letter of no objection. The letter of no objection is conclusive evidence that the adoptive parents have met the requirements specified in subsection R117 (3) in order for the authorities to consider the adoption as being in the best interests of the child.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11713\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"13\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11713\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Laws of the Place of Residence of the Prospective Adoptive Parents<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11713\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"13\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11713\"><p>The provisions specified in paragraph R117 (3) (e) require that adoptions conform to the laws of the place of residence of the prospective adoptive parents.<\/p>\n\n<p>Thus, as a starting point, officers will need to first determine the prospective adoptive parents\u2019 place of residence. In the vast majority of cases, this will usually be a province or territory (PT) in Canada. Situations could arise where it is not clear that the adoptive parents\u2019 country of residence is Canada. In this scenario, the officers will need to determine residency. For this, they will need to carry out an assessment of all the circumstances of the case. In particular, the officers will need to take the following factors into consideration:<\/p>\n<ul>\n \t<li>Whether the authorities would be right in saying that a particular country of residence is the place where the prospective adoptive parents regularly, normally or customarily reside and,<\/li>\n \t<li>Whether a particular country of residence is the country in which the prospective adoptive parents have centralised their mode of existence<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11714\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"14\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11714\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Guidelines in Case the Parents Reside in Canada<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11714\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"14\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11714\"><p>In some cases, the officers might conclude that the prospective adoptive parents reside in Canada. In this scenario, they would need to ensure that the adoption complies with all the applicable adoption laws of the province or territory (PT). Usually, provincial or territorial (PT) notification letters specify in writing that the adoption complies with the adoption laws of the province or territory (PT) in which the prospective adoptive parents reside or intend to reside. Officers would be able to find more details on this in the section titled \u2018The Provincial Notification Letters\u2019.<\/p>\n\n<p>However, certain cases might warrant the involvement of the provincial or territorial (PT) central adoption authorities. This would usually be the case if the adoptive parents reside in Canada at the time the adoption takes place.<\/p>\n\n<p>For more information on adoption legislation in specific provinces and territories (PTs), officers will need to refer to Appendix A.<\/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11715\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"15\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11715\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Guidelines in Case the Parents Reside Outside Canada<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11715\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"15\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11715\"><p>Situations could arise where the prospective adoptive parents are not habitual residents of Canada. However, these individuals would still need to meet the regulatory requirements for receiving a permanent resident visa under the family class for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n \t<li>An adopted child<\/li>\n \t<li>A child to be adopted in Canada or,<\/li>\n \t<li>An adopted adult<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It is worth mentioning that in such cases, the provincial or territorial (PT) central adoption authorities do not have any jurisdiction. As such, they will not be providing a letter of no objection.<\/p>\n\n<p>The authorities require a person who wishes to sponsor a member of the family class to reside in Canada. This is in accordance with the provisions specified in paragraph R130 (1) (b). A Canadian adoptive parent who resides abroad and has adopted a child outside Canada could be exempt from the requirement of residing in Canada. But, these individuals will need to satisfy immigration officials that they will reside in Canada once their adopted child becomes a permanent resident in Canada. This is in accordance with the provisions specified in paragraph R130 (2).<\/p>\n\n<p>It is worth mentioning that this exemption does not apply to sponsors who are permanent residents. This is because the authorities require them to reside in Canada in order to be eligible to sponsor. This exception typically applies to adopted children who meet the definition of a dependent child under the provisions specified in section R2. In addition, a sponsor of a child intended to be adopted in Canada does not quality for the exceptions specified in subsection R130 (2). This is because the child does not meet the definition of a dependent child.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11716\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"16\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11716\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Guidelines Pertaining to Child Trafficking and Undue Gain<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11716\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"16\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11716\"><p>Child trafficking and undue gains serve to contravene the laws of most countries. This is why the authorities require that all adoptions take place in accordance with the intent and the spirit of the provisions specified in the Hague Convention. This is applicable even if an adoption is from a country that has not ratified the Convention.<\/p>\n\n<p>Situations could arise where an officer has evidence that child trafficking has taken place. Similarly, in some cases, officers might feel that there was undue gain in the process i.e. people sold a child or an improper financial gain took place. In both these scenarios, the officers will need to refuse the case on the basis that the applicants did not meet the adoption requirements according to the spirit and the intent of the Hague Convention. For more information on this, officers will need to go through the following sections:<\/p>\n<ul>\n \t<li>Subparagraph R117 (1) (g) (ii)<\/li>\n \t<li>Clause R117 (1) (g) (iii) (A)<\/li>\n \t<li>Paragraph R117 (3) (f) and,<\/li>\n \t<li>Paragraph R117 (3) (g)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nIn addition, the officers would need to inform the appropriate local authorities of the criminal activities (if applicable). Thereafter, they would need to advise the following Canadian authorities as well:\n<ul>\n \t<li>The Canadian central authority for child abduction via the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development<\/li>\n \t<li>Our Missing Children, via the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and,<\/li>\n \t<li>The provincial or territorial (PT) child welfare authority (in case the child is in Canada)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Guidelines Pertaining to the Suspension or Closure of Intercountry Adoptions by a Province or Territory (PT)<\/p>\n\n<p>In certain situations, suspensions or closures of intercountry adoption programs with a country might be the only recourse for protecting children and their families. This step might help in stopping unethical or irregular activities in that country as well. In the view of the authorities, the following situations are of primary concern:<\/p>\n<ul>\n \t<li>Situations of child abduction and trafficking<\/li>\n \t<li>The removal of children from their families without proper parental consent and,<\/li>\n \t<li>Situations where the prospects for improvement in the country in the absence of international pressure appear remote<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As mentioned earlier, provinces and territories (PTs) have jurisdiction over adoption. However, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), through its Intercountry Adoption Services, works with the provincial or territorial (PT) central adoption authorities for reaching a pan-Canadian decision for imposing a suspension or a closure of intercountry adoption activity with a given country. However, provinces and territories (PTs) have the ability to individually close adoptions from certain countries without the consent of other provinces and territories (PTs) too.<\/p>\n\n<p>Following the imposition of a suspension or closure on adoptions from a specific country, the provincial or territorial (PT) central adoption authorities will decline to issue letters that the provisions specified in the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations <\/i>(IRPR) typically requires for the approval of a case. As such, officers will need to refuse such cases based on the non-approval of the province or territory (PT).<\/p>\n\n<p>Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) typically works with provinces and territories (PTs) to consider the lifting of a suspension. However, it will only do this when sufficient evidence exists of reform and safeguards for protecting the best interests of children in the country.<\/p>\n\n<p>Situations could arise where provincial or territorial (PT) jurisdiction does not apply. This would typically be the scenario when the adoptive parents do not reside in a Canadian province or territory (PT) at the time of the adoption and have undertaken a domestic adoption abroad. In this scenario, officers will need to scrutinise the adoption carefully. This would enable them to ensure that the adoptive parents have met all the prescribed regulatory requirements. It would help them to ensure that the adoption helps in protecting the best interests of the child as well.<\/p>\n\n<p>Officers will need to refer to the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to obtain a list of countries on which the authorities have placed a suspension or closure.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11717\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"17\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11717\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Guidelines Pertaining to Cases Where the Parents Are Fully and Reliably Informed About All Aspects of a Child\u2019s Medical Condition<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11717\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"17\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11717\"><p>The provisions specified in section R118 require that adoptive parents provide a written statement to the visa office. This statement will serve as a confirmation that the adoptive parents have obtained complete information about the child\u2019s medical condition. It is worth mentioning that many adoptions have failed and have resulted in child abandonment when the prospective family was not equipped to deal with a particular medical condition or was misinformed. For more details on this, officers will need to go through the section titled \u2018The Procedures Pertaining to Multiple Adoptions\u2019 that appears subsequently in this document i.e. section 7.8 of OP 3.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11718\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"18\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11718\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Guidelines Pertaining to the Consent of the Biological Parents<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11718\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"18\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11718\"><p>In all cases of adoption, the genuine and informed consent of the biological parents (where applicable) will need to be available. This is in accordance with the provisions specified in paragraph R117 (3) (b). The letter of no objection serves as conclusive evidence that the adoptive parents have met this requirement. This is in accordance with the provisions specified in subsection R117 (7).<\/p>\n\n<p>In case both the biological parents are alive, both will need to give their consent. Situations could arise where only one parent gives consent to an adoption. In this scenario, the officer will need to be satisfied that the second parent has no legal rights with respect to the child.<\/p>\n\n<p>In foreign jurisdictions, some adoption laws might lack clarity about the full and permanent severing of ties. In some cases, the cultural milieu might embrace the sharing of parental responsibilities. In such cases, it is especially important for officers to ensure that the biological parents fully comprehend that the adoption of the child by Canadian parents will fully and permanently sever pre-existing parental ties. This is final in accordance with Canadian law.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11719\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"19\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11719\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Guidelines in Case the Biological Parents Cannot Receive Sponsorship<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11719\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"19\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11719\"><p>It is worth highlighting that a full adoption will sever a child\u2019s legal relationship to their birth parents. This is in accordance with the provisions specified in paragraph R3 (2). As such, an adopted child will not be able to sponsor a birth parent subsequently. A full adoption also has the effect of severing ties to other members of the biological family i.e. brothers, sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins etc.<\/p>\n\n<p>In some cases, officers could come across cases of adoption by step-parents for jointly becoming the parent of the child of their spouse or partner. In this scenario, the relationship between the child and the remaining biological or legal parent does not require any severance.<\/p>\n\n<p>Officers at the case processing centre will need to verify that sponsors submitting an IMM 1344 form for relatives are not in these kinds of situations. Situations could arise where officers have doubts about a specific case. In this scenario, they would need to check for an immigration file for the sponsor.<\/p>\n\n<p>Officers would need to inform the case processing centre in case a child who was adopted outside of Canada has sponsored a birth parent. The case processing centre staff will need to tell the sponsors that they are ineligible. This is because the biological family members of an adopted person do not qualify as members of the family class.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11720\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"20\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11720\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Guidelines Pertaining to the Revocation of an Adoption<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11720\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"20\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11720\"><p>Situations could arise where foreign and Canadian adoptions authorities might revoke foreign adoptions. An adoption revocation refers to a court decree that voids the adoption order. Once the authorities revoke the adoption, the child assumes the status that the child had prior to the adoption proceedings. In some cases, it might be evident that the revocation took place in order to facilitate the sponsorship. In this scenario, the officers will not find the sponsor eligible. This is in accordance with the provisions specified in paragraph R133 (5).<\/p>\n\n<p>In some cases, the case processing centre could become aware that the sponsor was previously adopted. This would usually take place during the assessment of the sponsor\u2019s eligibility for a family class application. In this scenario, the sponsor will need to provide a copy of the court decree revoking the adoption. This would enable the case processing centre to assess whether the sponsor is eligible to sponsor their biological family members.<\/p>\n\n<p>The sponsorship application will proceed as usual if the officers are satisfied that the sponsor did not undertake the revocation in order to facilitate the sponsorship of a biological family member under the family class. However, in some cases, the visa officers might feel that they have reason to believe that the reason for the revocation was to facilitate the sponsorship of a biological family member under the family class. In this scenario, the officer will need to request additional information. In addition, the officers could conduct investigations or interviews as required (if necessary), for determining whether this was a revocation of convenience. In some jurisdictions, the authorities cannot revoke an adoption. Therefore, it is necessary for officers to check with the visa office responsible for the country in which the adoption took place for determining whether a revocation is possible.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11721\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"21\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11721\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Guidelines Pertaining to Guardianship<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11721\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"21\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11721\"><p>It is worth highlighting that the current provisions specified in the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations <\/i>(IRPR) do not include guardianship arrangements under the family class. As such, legal guardians will not be able to sponsor children under their guardianship as adopted children. For more details on this, officers will need to refer to the section titled \u2018The Definitions\u2019 that appears subsequently in this document i.e. section 6 of OP 3.<\/p>\n\n<p>In some foreign jurisdictions, the system of guardianship in place neither terminates the birth parent-child relationship. Nor does it grant full parental rights to the guardian. Similarly, the laws of the jurisdiction where the child resides might not allow for a legal adoption to take place. In this scenario, the provincial or territorial (PT) central adoption authorities will not issue a letter of no objection. As such, the authorities will consider that the applicants do not meet the provisions specified in the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations <\/i>(IRPR) for either an adopted child or for a child to be adopted in Canada.<\/p>\n\n<p>Similarly, the laws of some countries might have a guardianship system in place. But, they might not permit adoptions in their jurisdiction. But, they might permit children to be legally available for adoption in Canada. In this scenario, it might be possible for Canadians and permanent residents to sponsor children to be adopted in Canada.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11722\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"22\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11722\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Guidelines Pertaining to Orphaned Relatives<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11722\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"22\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11722\">The authorities permit sponsors to sponsor orphaned relatives. However, the orphaned relatives must:\n<ul>\n \t<li>Be under 18 years of age<\/li>\n \t<li>Be unmarried<\/li>\n \t<li>Not be in a common-law relationship and,<\/li>\n \t<li>Be the sponsor\u2019s brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nThis is in accordance with the provisions specified in paragraph R117 (1) (f).\n\nIn all cases of orphaned relatives, officers will need to request written consent of the appropriate authorities in the child\u2019s country of residence. Only after obtaining this will the authorities permit the removal of the child from that country. In addition, the authorities require the adoptive parents to obtain the written consent of any legal guardians as well.\n\nSponsors residing in Quebec will need to contact the office of the Minist\u00e8re de l\u2019Immigration, de la Diversit\u00e9 et de l\u2019Inclusion (MIDI) for ascertaining the sponsorship requirements in Quebec. The Minist\u00e8re de l\u2019Immigration, de la Diversit\u00e9 et de l\u2019Inclusion (MIDI) might approve engagements for orphans on receipt of a positive recommendation from a representative from Centre Jeunesse, who will typically conduct a home study prior to making the recommendation.\n\nOn receiving an application from an orphaned relative, the visa office will need to:\n<ul>\n \t<li>Verify that the child is:\n<ul>\n \t<li>An orphan<\/li>\n \t<li>Under 18 years of age on the date on which the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga (CPC-M) received the IMM 1344 form with the correct and complete processing fees<\/li>\n \t<li>Not a spouse or a common-law partner and,<\/li>\n \t<li>Related to the sponsor as specified in paragraph R117 (1) (f) and,<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li>Issue the appropriate medical instructions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<b>Note:<\/b>\n<ul>\n \t<li>It is worth mentioning that the question of guardianship typically arises in the case of young foreign nationals who are not accompanied or are not destined to a legal guardian<\/li>\n \t<li>Therefore, officers could request for written consent from the appropriate authorities in the child\u2019s country of residence prior to permitting the removal of the child from that country for the child\u2019s protection and well-being<\/li>\n \t<li>In addition, officers could counsel sponsors to obtain legal guardianship of the child when the child arrives in the province or territory (PT) of residence<\/li>\n \t<li>This would go a long way towards ensuring that the sponsor has legal obligations towards the sponsored child<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11723\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"23\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11723\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Guidelines Pertaining to the Sponsorships of Unnamed Children<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11723\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"23\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11723\"><p>Situations could arise where some adoptive parents do not have the full name and the date of birth of the child to be adopted at the time of application. In this scenario, the adoptive parents will need to follow the instructions for the sponsorship of children who are not yet identified. The authorities have provided these details in Appendix A of the sponsor\u2019s guide i.e. IMM 5196. Thereafter, the adoptive parents would need to complete the IMM 0008 form with as much information as possible. The adoptive parents will need to leave the name field blank in case they do not know the name of the child.<\/p>\n\n<p>The Case Processing Centre in Mississauga (CPC-M) will treat applications to sponsor unnamed children in the same manner as it does for applications having named children.<\/p>\n\n<p>The authorities encourage officers to create unnamed children applications in the Global Case Management System (GCMS). For this, the officers will need to include the information specified in the IMM 0008 form received with the sponsorship application. This information could comprise the following details:\n<ul>\n \t<li>The Family Name \u2013 the last name (s) of the sponsor or the adoptive parents<\/li>\n \t<li>The Name (s) \u2013 blank, \u2018baby\u2019 or \u2018child\u2019<\/li>\n \t<li>The Date of Birth &#8211; ** asterisks **<\/li>\n \t<li>The Gender \u2013 unknown<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It is worth highlighting that the sponsor bears the responsibility for notifying the appropriate visa office once the sponsor has identified the child. Thereafter, the visa officers would need to proceed to updating the name of the child in the application originally created in the Global Case Management System (GCMS).<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11724\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"24\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11724\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Guidelines Pertaining to Processing Priorities<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11724\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"24\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11724\"><p>Officers typically process sponsorship applications for an adopted child or for a child to be adopted based on priority by the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga (CPC-M) and visa offices. This applies to sponsorship applications for orphaned relatives as well.<\/p>\n\n<p>When it comes to processing priorities, visa offices would need to remember that cases involving adoption could involve minors who have been abandoned and placed with child welfare authorities. Many of these children will be without parental care. As such, the visa offices would need to accord priority to such cases.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11725\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"25\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11725\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Guidelines Pertaining to Relative Adoptions<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11725\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"25\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11725\"><p>Situations could arise where the adopted child is related to the adoptive parents. In this scenario, the authorities will need to sever the pre-existing legal parent-child relationship under the law. This means that the biological parent should no longer be acting as a parent after the adoption has taken place. But, it is likely that an ongoing relationship and contact with the biological parent and the extended family could continue taking place.<\/p>\n\n<p>However, the new parent-child relationship between the adopted child and the adoptive parents should be evident. In particular, it must not simply exist in law. In addition, the officers will need to have evidence that the biological parents entirely comprehend the effects of a full adoption. In particular, the officers will need to have the written consent to the adoption provided by the biological parents too. Besides this, the biological parents will need to support a determination that they have met all the requirements specified in the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Act <\/i>(IRPA) and the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations <\/i>(IRPR). It is worth mentioning that a home study might not be a requirement for relative adoptions in all provinces and territories (PTs).<\/p>\n\n<p>In some cases, a provincial or territorial (PT) court might complete relative adoptions in Canada. In this scenario, the corresponding central adoption authority will not be involved. This authority will need to issue a letter of no involvement. It is worth mentioning that a home study might not be a requirement for domestic relative adoptions in all provinces and territories (PTs). As such, it is possible to use the adoption order as evidence that the adoption took place in accordance with the laws of the province or territory (PT) where it took place.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11726\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"26\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11726\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Guidelines Pertaining to Adult Adoptions<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11726\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"26\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11726\">The guidelines specified in subsection R117 (4) provide for the sponsorship of an adopted child of 18 years of age or older. In such cases, the officers will need to ensure that the applicants meet the following requirements:\n<ul>\n \t<li>The adoption will need to be in accordance with the laws of the location where it takes place\n<ul>\n \t<li>In case the sponsor resides in Canada at the time of the adoption, the adoption will need to be in accordance with the laws of the province or territory (PT) in which the sponsor resides<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li>The case must be one that attests to the establishment of a genuine parent-child relationship before the applicant turned 18 years of age\n<ul>\n \t<li>In addition, this parent-child relationship must continue to exist and,<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li>The adoption must not have been undertaken to accomplish the primary objective of gaining status or privilege in Canada based on the provisions specified in the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Act <\/i>(IRPA)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nA foreign national, whose adoption takes place when the child is 18 years of age or older, will need to satisfy the definition of a dependent child specified in section R2. This would enable the authorities to consider the foreign national as a member of the family class in accordance with the provisions specified in subsection R117 (1). For more details on this, officers will need to refer to the section titled \u2018The Definitions\u2019 that appears subsequently in this document i.e. section 6 of OP 3.\n\nAn example of adult adoption is when a person adopts an individual as a foster child after the individual turns 18 years of age. In this case, the adoptive parent goes by the term of foster parent.\n\nOfficers could request applicants to provide additional evidence in certain cases. This evidence must prove that there was a parent-child relationship before the applicant turned 18 years of age and at the time the adoption of the applicant took place.\n\n<b>Note:<\/b>\n<ul>\n \t<li>It is worth highlighting that some provinces and territories (PTs) do not have laws regarding adult adoption<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11727\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"27\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11727\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Guidelines Pertaining to Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&amp;C) Considerations<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11727\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"27\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11727\"><p>In some exceptional cases, officers might find that the applicant does not meet all the requirements specified in the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Act <\/i>(IRPA) and the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations <\/i>(IRPR). But, officers would need to remember that the applicant might be exempt from these requirements based on Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&amp;C) considerations. As such, officers will need to take these considerations into account for the best interests of the child.<\/p>\n\n<p>The provisions specified in section A25 require officers and delegated authorities to examine Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&amp;C) factors on the applicant\u2019s request. In some cases, the officers might believe that there are strong Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&amp;C) factors in the case. In this scenario, the officers would need to, on their own initiative, and without the applicant having specifically requested it, put the case forward to the appropriate delegated authority to approve the application of subsection A25 (1). For more details on this, officers would need to refer to the program delivery instructions on Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&amp;C) considerations.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11728\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"28\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11728\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Guidelines Pertaining to Surrogacy Cases with No Genetic or Biological Link to Either Prospective Parent<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11728\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"28\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11728\"><p>The authorities permit Canadian intending parents, who have no genetic or biological link to the child born through surrogacy arrangements undertaken by the Canadian intending parents, to adopt the child. But, officers will require the intending parents to go through a DNA test or disclosure. Thereafter, the parents could choose to pursue either a citizenship or immigration adoption. In some countries, the surrogacy laws require that the birth certificate name the intending parents. In these instances, the sponsor will not be able to sponsor the child. This is because the child is not eligible for adoption.\n\nIt is possible that a birth certificate presented in a surrogacy case might show the contracting parents as the birth parents. However, this is only evidence that the local authorities registered the child\u2019s birth in the names of the contracting parents. This does not constitute evidence that there is any legal, genetic or biological relationship. The birth mother could also provide a declaration by which the birth mother would surrender all her rights to the child in favour of the contracting parents. But, this is only valid as a contractual arrangement between those parties. It does not serve to establish that the contracting parents have legal custody of the child or the authority to remove the child from the country of origin.<\/p>\n\n<p>The authorities might not confer the entitlement to exclusive custody of the child to parents who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Thus, they might not have the authority to remove the child from the country of origin until a court of competent jurisdiction grants them that specific custody and authority. Officers might also come across situations where there is no genetic or biological link to the Canadian intending parents. In this scenario, the contracting parents will need to adopt the child by following the standard procedures for international adoption. Thus, they would need to obtain sponsorship, a home study and a provincial or territorial (PT) no objection letter.<\/p>\n\n<p>In exceptional cases, it might not be possible for the intending parents to adopt the child. In such cases, the officers could facilitate the child\u2019s return to Canada through discretionary citizenship or immigration case processing. In some cases, this might include a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) and Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&amp;C) permanent resident processing. In case the officers consider using Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&amp;C) considerations for the permanent residence application or the issuance of a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP), the officers will need to take into account factors such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n \t<li>The best interests of the child and,<\/li>\n \t<li>The provincial or territorial (PT) legislation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It is worth highlighting that some provinces and territories (PTs) might not recognise the parent-child relationship in surrogacy cases without any genetic link. In the province of Quebec, surrogacy agreements are null and as such, have no legal standing.<\/p>\n\n<p>For more information on surrogacy, officers will need to refer to the prohibitions related to surrogacy specified by Health Canada.<\/p>\n\n<p>For the guidelines on the interpretation of the term \u2018biological child\u2019 in situations that involve the use of human reproductive technology, officers would need to refer to section 5.14 in OP 2. For more details on how they could take into account Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&amp;C) considerations, officers would need to refer to the program delivery instructions on Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&amp;C) considerations.<\/p>\n\n<p>For information on citizenship policy in relation to assisted human reproduction, including surrogacy arrangements, officers would need to refer to the citizenship program delivery instructions.<\/p>\n\n<p><b>The Definitions<\/b><\/p>\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\"><b>The Term<\/b><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><b>The Definition<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Adoption\n\nR3 (2)<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">For the purposes of the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations <\/i>(IRPR), an adoption denotes an adoption that creates a legal parent-child relationship and severs the pre-existing legal parent-child relationship. The authorities consider this type of child placement to be a \u2018full adoption\u2019.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Biological Parent<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">This term refers to the natural or legal parent of the child at birth. Where applicable, this could refer to the legal parent prior to the issuance of an adoption order as well.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Central Adoption Authority<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Under the provisions specified in the Hague Convention, the states would be responsible for designating a central adoption authority. This authority would be responsible for administering intercountry adoptions in a manner consistent with the provisions of the Hague Convention. In the case of Canada, the provinces and territories (PTs) typically regulate adoptions in such a manner that each has designated such authority. It is the responsibility of the provincial or territorial (PT) central adoption authorities to determine whether the provisions specified in the Hague Convention apply to a particular case. Officers would need to refer to the website of the Hague Conference on Private International Law for a list of all the central adoption authorities for contracting states.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Dependent Child\n\n(R2)<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">In respect of a parent, the term \u2018dependent child\u2019 refers to a child who:\n<ol>\n \t<li>Has one of the following relationships with the parent, namely:\n<ol>\n \t<li>Is the biological child of the parent, in case the child has not been adopted by a person other than the spouse or common-law partner of the parent, or,<\/li>\n \t<li>Is the adopted child of the parent and,<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n \t<li>Is in one of the following situations of dependency, namely:\n<ol>\n \t<li>Is less than 19 years of age and is not a spouse or a common-law partner or,<\/li>\n \t<li>Is 19 years of age or older and has depended substantially on the financial support of the parent since before the age of 19 years and is unable to be financially self-supporting because of a physical or a mental condition<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Orphaned Child or Relative<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">The term \u2018orphaned child or relative\u2019 denotes a person whose parents are deceased, who is below 18 years of age, who is not a spouse or a common-law partner and who is:\n<ul>\n \t<li>A child of the sponsor\u2019s mother or father<\/li>\n \t<li>A child of a child of the sponsor\u2019s mother or father or,<\/li>\n \t<li>A child of the sponsor\u2019s child<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Guardianship<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">A legal guardian refers to a person who has the legal authority and the corresponding duty to care for the personal interests of a child or an adult. It is worth mentioning that even if a child has a legal guardian, the relationship between the parents and the child could continue to remain active.\n\nIt is worth highlighting that guardianship does not constitute an adoption. For more information, officers would need to refer to the section titled \u2018The Guidelines Pertaining to Guardianship\u2019 i.e. section 5.19 of OP 3.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">The Hague Convention<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">The Hague Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-operation in respect of Intercountry Adoption sets in place certain minimum standards and procedures pertaining to adoptions between countries. The Hague Convention came about to put an end to unethical adoption practices. It serves to promote cooperation between countries as well. It puts in place procedures that minimise the chance of exploitation of children, birth parents or adoptive parents during the adoption process.\n\nFor more details on this, officers would need to go through the section titled \u2018Canada\u2019s International Commitments on Adoptions\u2019 i.e. section 5.3 of OP 3.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Home Study<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">A home study refers to a professional assessment of prospective adoptive parents\u2019 suitability to adopt a child<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Intercountry Adoption<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">This refers to the adoption of a child living in a different country from the adoptive parent (s).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Simple Adoption<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">A simple adoption refers to an adoption that establishes a new legal parent-child relationship between the child and their adoptive parents, without terminating the parent-child relationship that existed before the adoption. In such adoptions, the adoptive parents acquire parental responsibility for the child. This is in accordance with the provisions specified in the Hague Convention.<\/p>\n\n<p>It is worth highlighting that a simple adoption does not meet the requirements specified in the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Act <\/i>(IRPA) and the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations <\/i>(IRPR).<\/p><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11729\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"29\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11729\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Procedures Pertaining to Hague Convention Cases<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11729\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"29\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11729\">Contenu d\u2019accord\u00e9on<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11730\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"30\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11730\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Procedures Pertaining to Non-Hague Convention Cases<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11730\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"30\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11730\">Contenu d\u2019accord\u00e9on<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11731\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"31\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11731\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Procedures Pertaining to Children to be Adopted in Canada (FC6) Versus Adopted Children (FC9)<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11731\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"31\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11731\">Contenu d\u2019accord\u00e9on<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11732\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"32\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11732\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Case Processing Centre (CPC) Procedure for Requesting a Letter of No Objection<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11732\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"32\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11732\">It is worth highlighting that the officers do not require a letter of no objection or a notice of agreement in order to commence processing the IMM 1344 form. Once they receive a sponsorship application, the staff at the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga (CPC-M) will need to verify completion of the application. Thereafter, they will need to send a letter to the provincial or territorial (PT) central adoption authorities and request them to issue:\n<ul>\n \t<li>A letter of no objection \u2013 for non-Hague Convention cases or,<\/li>\n \t<li>A notification of agreement \u2013 for Hague Convention cases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nThe provincial or territorial (PT) central adoption authorities will need to make the determination between the two types of cases. Thereafter, they will need to inform the mission accordingly and contact the visa office directly.\n\nThe authorities have placed no requirement for a provincial or territorial (PT) statement for children adopted outside Canada in case the adoptive parents were not residing in a Canadian province or territory (PT) at the time of the adoption. The requirement for a provincial or territorial (PT) letter typically indicates the need for a written statement of no objection only in case the sponsor resided in Canada at the time the adoption took place. This is in accordance with the provisions specified in paragraph R117 (3) (e).\n\nIn some cases, officers might find that the sponsors reside in Quebec. They would need to refer to Appendix A for additional information.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11733\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"33\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11733\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Procedures Pertaining to Information on the Child\u2019s Medical Condition<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11733\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"33\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11733\">The authorities require adoptive parents to provide a written statement. In this written statement, the adoptive parents will need to acknowledge that they have obtained all the relevant medical information about the child they have adopted or intend to adopt. A visa officer will need to be in receipt of this statement. Only after the visa officer receives this statement will the authorities issue the permanent resident visa. The authorities issue a medical condition statement to sponsoring parents along with other permanent resident application material. The sponsoring parents will need to sign and return the statement to the mission after they receive the relevant medical information concerning their child. This is in accordance with the provisions specified in R118.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11734\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"34\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11734\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Procedures Applicable to High Profile or Contentious Cases<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11734\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"34\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11734\">Contenu d\u2019accord\u00e9on<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11735\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"35\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11735\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Procedures for Changing a Child\u2019s Name in the IMM 1344 Form<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11735\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"35\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11735\"><p>Situations could arise where a sponsored child is no longer available for adoption. In this scenario, the sponsors will need to ask the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga (CPC-M) to replace the name of the child given on the IMM 1344 form with the name of another child. The Case Processing Centre in Mississauga (CPC-M) will need to provide the new name to the visa office. In addition, the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga (CPC-M) will need to provide the new name to the provincial or territorial (PT) central adoption authorities.<\/p><p>In some cases, it is possible that the sponsors might contact the visa office first. In this scenario, the visa office will need to advice the sponsor to provide the name of the new child to the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga (CPC-M) as well as to the provincial or territorial (PT) central adoption authorities.<\/p><p>It is worth highlighting that the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga (CPC-M) does not charge a new processing fee when it replaces a name for this reason.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11736\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"36\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11736\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Procedures Pertaining to Multiple Adoptions<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11736\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"36\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11736\">Situations could arise where a sponsorship application in support of a child to be adopted is still pending for one unnamed child. Thereafter, the sponsor receives a notification that the birth resulted in multiple children or that there are other siblings available for adoption. In some cases, the sponsor might decide to adopt the second or more children. In this scenario, the authorities require the sponsor to complete a separate IMM 1344 form for each child for submission to the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga (CPC-M) along with the required documents. The sponsor will need to write \u2018SIBLING ADOPTION\u2019 on the envelope. This will be useful in facilitating the cross-referencing of the new application (s) to the existing one.\n\nLastly, the authorities require the sponsor to pay the appropriate fees for all additional new applications.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11737\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"37\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11737\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Procedures for Simultaneous Citizenship and Permanent Residence Applications<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11737\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"37\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11737\">Applicants have the ability to submit simultaneous applications for the same adopted person under the provisions specified in the <i>Citizenship Act<\/i> and the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Act <\/i>(IRPA). For more details on this, officers will need to refer to section 7.4 of CP 14.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11738\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"38\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11738\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Procedures Applicable to Improperly Documented Arrivals \u2013 Adoptions<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11738\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"38\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11738\">For more details on this, officers will need to refer to the section titled \u2018The Guidelines for Port of Entry (POE) Examinations\u2019 given in ENF 4.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11739\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"39\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11739\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Procedures for Establishing Identity and Relationship<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11739\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"39\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11739\">For more details on this, officers will need to refer to the section titled \u2018The Procedures for Processing Members of the Family Class\u2019 given in OP 2.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11740\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"40\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11740\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Procedures Pertaining to Identity and Relationship Documents<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11740\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"40\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11740\">In cases of adoption, the authorities require the applicants to provide the following documents to the visa office:\n<ul>\n \t<li>The identity documents for the child<\/li>\n \t<li>The documents that include the names of the biological parents of the child<\/li>\n \t<li>The final adoption order i.e. FC9 or the custody order to the adoptive parents for the purpose of adoption in Canada i.e. FC6 and,<\/li>\n \t<li>The passport or travel document for the child<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nIt is worth highlighting that the term \u2018assessment of relationship\u2019 does not merely refer to the legal relationship between the adoptive family and the child. It refers to the relationship of the child to the child\u2019s biological family as well.\n\nOfficers will need to request documents from the applicants such as the birth certificate of the child. This would enable them to ascertain the identity of the biological parents of the child.\n\nFor more details on the naming policy, officers will need to refer to the section titled \u2018The Naming Procedures \u2013 Establishing Name Records in Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Systems\u2019. For more details, they would need to refer to the section titled \u2018The Guidelines for Processing Members of the Family Class\u2019 in OP 2.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11741\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"41\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11741\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Admissibility Requirements<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11741\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"41\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11741\">Officers will need to feel satisfied that the applicants are not inadmissible and meet all the requirements prescribed in the family class. This is in accordance with the provisions specified in A11 (1).\n\nThe provisions specified in section R30 require foreign nationals to undergo a medical examination in case they are applying for permanent residence. Officers will need to go through the provisions specified in the section titled \u2018The Medical Requirements\u2019 for instructions on the medical requirements.\n\nIn some cases, the officers might find the adopted child or a child to be adopted to be inadmissible in Canada. In this scenario, the officers will need to refuse the application. The table that follows provides more clarity on this.\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\"><b>The Reason for Admissibility or Inadmissibility<\/b><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><b>The Details<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Medical<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">The authorities will not be able to deem a child who has been adopted outside Canada or who will be adopted in Canada as inadmissible on the basis of a condition that might cause an excessive demand on health or social services. This is in accordance with the provisions specified in A38 (2) (a). In some cases, the officers might find the child to be inadmissible for other medical reasons. In this scenario, the child will typically not meet the prescribed immigration requirements. As a result, the authorities will not be able to finalise the adoption. Thereafter, the officers will need to notify the provincial or territorial (PT) central adoption authorities and the sponsor.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Provincial or territorial (PT) Letter of No Objection<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">In case the authorities refuse a case on the basis that it does not comply with the requirement that the province or territory (PT) issue a letter of no objection, the sponsor has the right of appeal. This is in accordance with the provisions specified in clause R117 (1) (g) (iii) (B) or paragraph R117 (3) (e).\n\nHowever, the child to be adopted is not a member of the family class as described in the provisions specified in subsection R117 (1). Therefore, the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) will not consider Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&amp;C) grounds as being applicable in this scenario. This is in accordance with the provisions specified in A65.\n\nIt is worth highlighting that the Immigration Appeal Division (IAD) will not consider Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&amp;C) grounds as being applicable in this scenario until it decides that the foreign national is a member of the family class and that the sponsor of the foreign national is a sponsor in accordance with the meaning given in the <i>Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations <\/i>(IRPR).\n\nFor more details on this, officers would need to refer to the section titled \u2018The Provincial Notification Letters\u2019 i.e. section 5.6 of OP 3.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Adoption of Convenience<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Officers will need to refer to the program delivery instructions for ascertaining the manner in which they would be able to identify a relationship of convenience.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\">Not a Member of the Family Class<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\">Situations could arise where the officers find that the applicant is not a member of the family class as defined by the provisions given in subsection R117 (1). In this scenario, the officers would need to refuse the application.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11742\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"42\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11742\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">The Procedures Pertaining to Visa Issuance<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11742\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"42\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11742\">It is worth mentioning that officers might not issue a permanent resident visa to a child adopted from a country that has ratified or acceded to the provisions of the Hague Convention without a notification of agreement or a letter of non-objection from the provincial or territorial (PT) central adoption authorities.\n\nWhen a child meets all the prescribed immigration requirements:\n<ul>\n \t<li>The officer will need to advise the provincial or territorial (PT) central adoption authorities that the officer will be issuing a permanent resident visa, in a case in which the provisions specified in the Hague Convention apply\n<ul>\n \t<li>For more details, officers will need to refer to Appendix D<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li>And has a verifiable travel document, the officer might issue a permanent resident visa in case the sponsors have the authority to take the child to Canada<\/li>\n \t<li>And was adopted in the country of origin, the officer will need to use code FC9 i.e. for a child adopted abroad\n<ul>\n \t<li>In case the adoption is to take place in Canada, in the province or territory (PT) of destination, the officer will need to use code FC6 i.e. child to be adopted in Canada<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n \t<li>The officer will need to enter the abbreviation HAG in the special program field in the Global Case Management System (GCMS) application, in case the adoption is a Hague Convention case\n<ul>\n \t<li>The HAG special program code will also appear on the Confirmation of Permanent Residence<\/li>\n \t<li>This identification is necessary because Canada has an obligation to report the number of adoption cases it has dealt with under the Hague Convention<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11743\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"43\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11743\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Appendix A \u2013 Province Specific Information for Counselling<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11743\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"43\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11743\"><p>This section provides an overview of the legislations in place in the following provinces that have a direct effect on the processing of adoption cases:<\/p><ul><li>Alberta<\/li><li>British Columbia<\/li><li>Ontario and,<\/li><li>Quebec<\/li><\/ul><p>This information forms part of the counselling that officers typically provide the parents.<\/p><p>The Legislations Applicable in Alberta<\/p><p>The provisions specified in subsection 62 (3) of Alberta\u2019s <i>Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act<\/i> specify that:<\/p><p><i>\u201cNo application for an adoption order shall be filed in respect of a child unless the child is a Canadian citizen or has been lawfully admitted to Canada for permanent residence.\u201d<\/i><\/p><p>As such, the residents of Alberta will not be able to obtain an adoption order on behalf of a child who is not a permanent resident of Canada. In Alberta, the authorities prohibit the adoption of a child who comes to Canada on:<\/p><ul><li>A Temporary Resident Permit<\/li><li>A Temporary Resident Visa or,<\/li><li>A Student Visa<\/li><\/ul><p>A Canadian or permanent resident couple who has a legal guardianship order for a child will not be able to obtain an adoption order if the child has not obtained a permanent resident visa or Canadian citizenship prior to arriving in Canada. Alberta aims to ensure that the authorities have addressed all legal and birth-parent issues prior to the child\u2019s arrival in the province. As such, it requires the adoption to take place prior to arrival in Alberta or it requires officers outside Canada to review all the adoption arrangements.<\/p><p>The Legislations Applicable in British Columbia<\/p><p>The provisions specified in subsection 48 (1) of the <i>British Columbia Adoption Act<\/i> specify that:<\/p><p><i>\u201cBefore a child who is not a resident of British Columbia is brought into the province for adoption, the prospective adoptive parents must obtain the approval of a director or an adoption agency.\u201d<\/i><\/p><p>As such, the authorities in British Columbia require the adoption agency to possess a license issued by the province.<\/p><p>In addition, the provisions specified in subsection 48 (2) state that:<\/p><p><i>\u201cThe director or the adoption agency must grant approval if:<\/i><\/p><ol><li><i><\/i><i>the parent or other guardian placing the child for adoption has been provided with information about adoption and the alternatives to adoption,<\/i><\/li><li><i><\/i><i>the prospective adoptive parents have been provided with information about the medical and social history of the child\u2019s biological family,<\/i><\/li><li><i><\/i><i>a home study of the prospective adoptive parents has been completed in accordance with the regulations and the prospective adoptive parents have been approved on the basis of the home study, and<\/i><\/li><li><i><\/i><i>the consents have been obtained as required in the jurisdiction in which the child is resident\u201d<\/i><\/li><\/ol><p>As such, parents who have not obtained the approval prior to bringing the child to British Columbia will be contravening the <i>British Columbia Adoption Act<\/i>. Such an offence is punishable under the <i>Offences and Penalties<\/i> section of this Act.<\/p><p>The authorities have made exceptions to the provisions specified in section 48 of the <i>British Columbia Adoption Act<\/i> for:<\/p><ul><li>A child brought into British Columbia for adoption by a relative of the child or by a person who will become an adoptive parent jointly with the child\u2019s birth parent and,<\/li><li>A child who is a permanent ward of an extra-provincial agency<\/li><\/ul><p>The Legislations Applicable in Ontario<\/p><p>Under the provisions specified in the Ontario <i>Intercountry Adoption Act, 1998<\/i>, the prospective parents (including those parents who are adopting relatives) will need to:<\/p><ul><li>Make an application to adopt with an international adoption agency that has obtained a license issued by the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services<\/li><li>Have an adoption home study completed by an adoption practitioner who has the relevant approvals from a Ministry Director and,<\/li><li>Obtain the Ministry Director\u2019s approval of the eligibility and suitability to adopt based on the home study report<\/li><\/ul><p>It is worth mentioning that it is an offence for an Ontario resident to leave the province for adopting internationally. In addition, it is an offence for an Ontario resident to finalise an international adoption without satisfying each of the above-mentioned requirements. The penalty for contravention of this provision is, on conviction, a fine of up to $2,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both.<\/p><p>Only international adoption agencies having licenses issued by the Ministry of Community and Social Services under the provisions specified in the Ontario <i>Intercountry Adoption Act, 1998<\/i>, can operate in Ontario for facilitating international adoptions finalised outside Ontario. As such, it is an offence for any other person or organisation to provide this service.<\/p><p>In some cases, the child\u2019s country of origin might require Ontario\u2019s approval before the finalisation of the adoption. In this scenario, the proposed adoption placement will require the approval of the Ministry Director.<\/p><p>The Legislations Applicable in Quebec<\/p><p>The Case Processing Centre in Mississauga (CPC-M) will usually forward a copy of the undertaking i.e. IMM 1344 to the Minist\u00e8re de l\u2019Immigration, de la Diversit\u00e9 et et de l\u2019Inclusion (MIDI) for sponsors residing in Quebec. The Case Processing Centre in Mississauga (CPC-M) will send a letter to the sponsors as well. In this letter, the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga (CPC-M) will instruct the sponsors to download the Minist\u00e8re de l\u2019Immigration, de la Diversit\u00e9 et et de l\u2019Inclusion (MIDI) engagement application and submit it directly to the Minist\u00e8re de l\u2019Immigration, de la Diversit\u00e9 et de l\u2019Inclusion (MIDI) along with a copy of the letter issued by the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga (CPC-M).<\/p><p>The Minist\u00e8re de l\u2019Immigration, de la Diversit\u00e9 et de l\u2019Inclusion (MIDI) will need to assess the sponsors first. Thereafter, it will need to issue a Quebec Selection Certificate (QSC) for the child, once it finds that the sponsors have met all the prescribed requirements. The Minist\u00e8re de l\u2019Immigration, de la Diversit\u00e9 et de l\u2019Inclusion (MIDI) will send the required documents to the corresponding visa office for the country of origin as well. It is worth mentioning that the Secr\u00e9tariat \u00e0 l\u2019adoption internationale du Qu\u00e9bec is responsible for issuing letters of no objection to the adopting parents directly.<\/p><p>The provisions specified in the Civil Code of Quebec govern the effects of adopting a child domiciled outside Quebec. As such, only a certified organisation can undertake the appropriate adoption procedures. Since February 01, 2006, to override this general rule, the authorities require the sponsor and the adopting parents to meet the criteria and the conditions specified in the Ministerial Order respecting the adoption without a certified body of a child domiciled outside Quebec by a person domiciled in Quebec.<\/p><p>Under the provisions specified in section 565 of the Civil Code of Quebec:<\/p><p><i>\u201c[&#8230;] A decision granted abroad must be recognized by the court in Qu\u00e9bec, unless the adoption has been certified by the competent authority of the State where it took place as having been made in accordance with the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption.\u201d<\/i><\/p><p>As a result, the authorities recognise adoptions legally recognised overseas in Quebec only when the child arrives in Canada and even then, only upon the completion of certain procedures in Quebec.<\/p><p>In some cases, officers might find that some provisions of the Hague Convention apply in the case. This would usually be the case when the provisions of the Hague Convention apply in the child\u2019s country of origin. In this scenario, the authorities in Quebec will simply accept the adoption judgment issued in that country.<\/p><p>In case the provisions specified in the Hague Convention do not apply in the child\u2019s country of origin, the adoptive parents will need to get the Youth Division of the Court of Quebec to recognise the foreign adoption judgment. Only this will make the adoption official in Quebec.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11744\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"44\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11744\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Appendix B \u2013 The Provincial and Territorial (PT) Information and Contacts for Adoption Cases<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11744\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"44\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11744\"><p><b>The Accredited Bodies in Canada<\/b><\/p>\n\n<p><b>For the province of Manitoba:<\/b><\/p>\n\n<p>Adoption Options Manitoba Inc.<\/p>\n\n<p>1313 Portage Avenue<\/p>\n\n<p>WINNIPEG, MB R3G 0V3<\/p>\n\n<p>[Licensed to provide services under The Adoption Act other than adoption of permanent wards under Division 1]<\/p>\n\n<p>UAS Eastern European Adoptions Inc.<\/p>\n\n<p>777 Prichard Avenue<\/p>\n\n<p>WINNIPEG, MB R2X 0E8<\/p>\n\n<p><b>For the province of Ontario:<\/b><\/p>\n\n<p>In Ontario, two pieces of legislation govern international adoptions. These comprise:<\/p>\n<ul>\n \t<li>The Child and Family Services Act (CFSA): This Act protects children and families involved in domestic adoptions. In addition, it protects children and families involved in international adoptions that are completed in Ontario as well.<\/li>\n \t<li>The Intercountry Adoption Act (IAA): This Act specifies the requirements for Ontario residents who are adopting a child whose adoptions will be completed in another country.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>For the province of British Columbia:<\/b><\/p>\n\n<p>The Adoption Center<\/p>\n\n<p>255 Lawrence Avenue<\/p>\n\n<p>Kelowna, B.C., V1Y 6L2<\/p>\n\n<p>Attn: Jennifer Wall, Administrator\/Executive Director<\/p>\n\n<p>Ph. +1 (250) 763 8002, <\/p><p>Toll Free: 1 800 935 4237<\/p>\n\n<p>Fax: + 1 (250) 763 6282<\/p>\n\n<p>E-mail: <a href=\"mailto:adoption@kcr.ca\">adoption@kcr.ca<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p>Choices Adoption and Counselling Services<\/p>\n\n<p>Suite 100 &#8211; 850 Blanshard Street<\/p>\n\n<p>Victoria, British Columbia<\/p>\n\n<p>Canada V8W 2H2<\/p>\n\n<p>Attn: Robin Pike, Executive Director<\/p>\n\n<p>Ph. +1 (250) 479 9811 <p>Toll Free: 1 888 479 9811<\/p>\n\n<p>Fax: + 1 (250) 479 9850<\/p>\n\n<p>E-mail: <a href=\"mailto:choices@choicesadoption.ca\">choices@choicesadoption.ca<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p>Family Services of Greater Vancouver<\/p>\n\n<p>301 &#8211; 1638 East Broadway Avenue<\/p>\n\n<p>Vancouver, British Columbia<\/p>\n\n<p>Canada V5N 1W1<\/p>\n\n<p>Attn: Cathy Loptson, Administrator<\/p>\n\n<p>Ph: + 1 (604) 736 7613<\/p> <p>Toll Free: 1 866 582 3678<\/p>\n\n<p>Fax: + 1 (604) 733 7009<\/p>\n\n<p>E-mail: <a href=\"mailto:adoptionservices@fsgv.ca\">adoptionservices@fsgv.ca<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p>Sunrise Family Services Society<\/p>\n\n<p>Suite 102 &#8211; 171 West Esplanade<\/p>\n\n<p>North Vancouver, British Columbia<\/p>\n\n<p>Canada V7M 3J9<\/p>\n\n<p>Attn: Natasha Chalke, Executive Director<\/p>\n\n<p>Ph: + 1 (604) 984 2488<\/p>\n\n<p>Fax: + 1 (604) 984 2498<\/p>\n\n<p>Toll Free: 1 888 984 2488<\/p>\n\n<p><b>The Central Authority in Canada<\/b><\/p>\n\n<p><b>For the federal government, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, is represented by:<\/b><\/p>\n\n<p>Mich\u00e8le Salmon<\/p>\n\n<p>NHQ &#8211; Operational Management and Coordination<\/p>\n\n<p>Citizenship and Immigration Canada<\/p>\n\n<p>365 Laurier Avenue West<\/p>\n\n<p>OTTAWA, Ontario<\/p>\n\n<p>Canada K1A 1L1<\/p>\n\n<p>Telephone number: +1 (613) 437 7145<\/p>\n\n<p>Telefax number: +1 (613) 941 7099<\/p>\n\n<p>E-mail: <a href=\"mailto:Michele.Salmon@cic.gc.ca\">Michele.Salmon@cic.gc.ca<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p><b>For the province of Alberta, the Minister of Children&rsquo;s Services is represented by:<\/b><\/p>\n\n<p>Ms. Anne Scully<\/p>\n\n<p>Program Manager, Adoption Services<\/p>\n\n<p>Ministry of Children&rsquo;s Services<\/p>\n\n<p>11th Floor, Sterling Place<\/p>\n\n<p>9940 &#8211; 106 Street<\/p>\n\n<p>EDMONTON, Alberta<\/p>\n\n<p>Canada T5K 2N2<\/p>\n\n<p>Telephone number: +1 (780) 644 3099<\/p>\n\n<p>Telefax number: +1 (780) 427 2048<\/p>\n\n<p>E-mail: <a href=\"mailto:anne.scully@gov.ab.ca\">anne.scully@gov.ab.ca<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p><b>For the province of British Columbia<\/b><\/p>\n\n<p>Ms. Anne Clayton, Provincial Director of Adoption<\/p>\n\n<p>Adoption Services<\/p>\n\n<p>Ministry of Children and Family Development<\/p>\n\n<p>P.O. Box 9705, Stn. Prov. Govt.<\/p>\n\n<p>VICTORIA, British Columbia<\/p>\n\n<p>Canada V8W 9S1<\/p>\n\n<p>Telephone number: +1 (250) 387 2281<\/p>\n\n<p>Telefax number: +1 (250) 356 0311<\/p>\n\n<p>E-mail: <a href=\"mailto:Anne.Clayton@gov.bc.ca\">Anne.Clayton@gov.bc.ca<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p><b>For the province of Manitoba, the Director of Child and Family Services is represented by:<\/b><\/p>\n\n<p>Janice M. Knight<\/p>\n\n<p>Provincial Manager<\/p>\n\n<p>Adoption\/Post-Adoption Services<\/p>\n\n<p>Manitoba Family Services<\/p>\n\n<p>777 Portage Avenue<\/p>\n\n<p>Winnipeg MB R3G 0N3<\/p>\n\n<p>Telephone number: 204 945 1186<\/p>\n\n<p>Telefax number: 204 948 2949<\/p>\n\n<p>E-mail: <a href=\"mailto:Janice.Knight@gov.mb.ca\">Janice.Knight@gov.mb.ca<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p><b>For the province of New Brunswick, the Minister of Family and Community Services is represented by:<\/b><\/p>\n\n<p>Ms. \u00c9laine Babineau<\/p>\n\n<p>Provincial Adoption Consultant<\/p>\n\n<p>Department of Family and Community Services<\/p>\n\n<p>Child Welfare and Youth Services<\/p>\n\n<p>P.O. Box 6000, 551 King Street<\/p>\n\n<p>FREDERICTON, New Brunswick<\/p>\n\n<p>Canada E3B 5H1<\/p>\n\n<p>Telephone number: +1 (506) 444 4516<\/p>\n\n<p>Telefax number: +1 (506) 453 2082<\/p>\n\n<p>E-mail: <a href=\"mailto:Elaine.babineau@gnb.ca\">Elaine.babineau@gnb.ca<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p><b>For Newfoundland and Labrador<\/b><\/p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Christine Osmond MSW, RSW<\/p>\n\n<p>Provincial Director of Adoptions,<\/p>\n\n<p>Child, Youth &amp; Family Services<\/p>\n\n<p>Department of Health &amp; Community Services<\/p>\n\n<p>Confederation Building<\/p>\n\n<p>PO Box 8700, 95 Elizabeth Ave<\/p>\n\n<p>St. John\u2019s, Newfoundland &amp; Labrador<\/p>\n\n<p>Canada<\/p>\n\n<p>A1B 4J6<\/p>\n\n<p>Telephone number: +1 709 729 3527<\/p>\n\n<p>Telefax number: +1 709 729 1853<\/p>\n\n<p>E-mail: <a href=\"mailto:christineosmond@gov.nl.ca\">christineosmond@gov.nl.ca<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p><b>For the Northwest Territories<\/b><\/p>\n\n<p>Ms. Bethan Williams-Simpson<\/p>\n\n<p>Director of Adoption &amp; Child &amp; Family Services,<\/p>\n\n<p>Dept. of Health &amp; Social Services,\n\n<p>Govt. of the Northwest Territories,<\/p>\n\n<p>PO Box 1320,<\/p>\n\n<p>Yellowknife NWT X1A 2L9<\/p>\n\n<p>Telephone number: +1 867 767 9061 Ext 49165<\/p>\n\n<p>Telefax number: +1 867 873 7706<\/p>\n\n<p>E-mail: <a href=\"mailto:williams-simpson@gov.nt.ca\">williams-simpson@gov.nt.ca<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p><b>For Nova Scotia, the Minister of Community Services is represented by:<\/b><\/p>\n\n<p>Ms. Janet Nearing<\/p>\n\n<p>A\/Manager of Adoption and Children in Care<\/p>\n\n<p>Family and Children&rsquo;s Services<\/p>\n\n<p>Department of Community Services<\/p>\n\n<p>P.O. Box 696<\/p>\n\n<p>5675 Spring Gardner Road<\/p>\n\n<p>HALIFAX, Nova Scotia<\/p>\n\n<p>Canada B3J 2T7<\/p>\n\n<p>Telephone number: +1 (902) 424 5367<\/p>\n\n<p>Telefax number: +1 (902) 424 0708<\/p>\n\n<p>E-mail: <a href=\"mailto:nearinjl@gov.ns.ca\">nearinjl@gov.ns.ca<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p><b>For Nunavut<\/b><\/p>\n\n<p>Mr. Mark Arnold<\/p>\n\n<p>A\/Deputy Director of Adoptions<\/p>\n\n<p>Government of Nunavut<\/p>\n\n<p>Department of Health &amp; Social Services,<\/p>\n\n<p>PO Box 1000, Stn. 1000<\/p>\n\n<p>Iqaluit, Nunavut<\/p>\n\n<p>Canada,<\/p>\n\n<p>X0A 0H0<\/p>\n\n<p>Telephone number: +1 867 975 5781<\/p>\n\n<p>Telefax number: +1 867 975 5722<\/p>\n\n<p>E-mail: <a href=\"mailto:marnold@gov.nu.ca\">marnold@gov.nu.ca<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p><b>For the province of Ontario, the Ministry of Community and Social Services is represented by:<\/b><\/p>\n\n<p>Ms Gloria Varghese, Director<\/p>\n\n<p>Private &amp; International Adoptions<\/p>\n\n<p>Ministry of Children and Youth Services<\/p>\n\n<p>101 Bloor St. W, 6th Floor<\/p>\n\n<p>TORONTO, Ontario<\/p>\n\n<p>Canada ON M5 2Z7<\/p>\n\n<p>Telephone number: +1 (416) 327 4736<\/p>\n\n<p>Telefax number: +1 (416) 212 6799<\/p>\n\n<p><b>For the province of Prince Edward Island, the Director of Child Welfare, Ronald D. Stanley, is represented by:<\/b><\/p>\n\n<p>Mrs. June McKinnon, BSW, RSW<\/p>\n\n<p>Provincial Adoption Coordinator<\/p>\n\n<p>Adoption Services<\/p>\n\n<p>Department of Social Services and Seniors<\/p>\n\n<p>161 St. Peter\u2019s Road<\/p>\n\n<p>PO Box 2000<\/p>\n\n<p>Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island<\/p>\n\n<p>Canada<\/p>\n\n<p>C1A 7N8<\/p>\n\n<p>Telephone number: +1 902 368 6514<\/p>\n\n<p>Telefax number: +1 902 620 3422<\/p>\n\n<p>E-mail: <a href=\"mailto:jmmckinnon@ihis.org\">jmmckinnon@ihis.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p><b>For the province of Quebec:<\/b><\/p>\n\n<p>Mme Jos\u00e9e-Anne Goupil<\/p>\n\n<p>Secr\u00e9taire \u00e0 l&rsquo;adoption internationale et directrice g\u00e9n\u00e9rale<\/p>\n\n<p>Secr\u00e9tariat \u00e0 l&rsquo;adoption internationale<\/p>\n\n<p>Bureau 1.02 201<\/p>\n\n<p>boulevard Cr\u00e9mazie est<\/p>\n\n<p>MONTR\u00c9AL (Qu\u00e9bec)<\/p>\n\n<p>Canada H2M 1L2<\/p>\n\n<p>Telephone number: +1 (514) 873 5226<\/p>\n\n<p>Telefax number: +1 (514) 873 1709<\/p>\n\n<p>E-mail: <a href=\"mailto:adoption.quebec@msss.gouv.qc.ca\">adoption.quebec@msss.gouv.qc.ca<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p><b>For the province of Saskatchewan, the Minister of Social Services is represented by:<\/b><\/p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Ellen McGuire,<\/p>\n\n<p>Director Child and Family Services<\/p>\n\n<p>Ministry of Social Services<\/p>\n\n<p>12th floor &#8211; 1920 Broad Street<\/p>\n\n<p>Regina, Saskatchewan<\/p>\n\n<p>Canada,<\/p>\n\n<p>S4P 3V6<\/p>\n\n<p>Telephone number: +1 306 787 5698<\/p>\n\n<p>Telefax number: +1 306 787 0925<\/p>\n\n<p>E-mail: <a href=\"mailto:ellen.mcguire@gov.sk.ca\">ellen.mcguire@gov.sk.ca<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p><b>For the Yukon Territory:<\/b><\/p>\n\n<p>Mrs. Simone Fournel<\/p>\n\n<p>Manager, Child Placement Services<\/p>\n\n<p>Department of Family &amp; Children\u2019s Services<\/p>\n\n<p>4114 &#8211; 4th Avenue, Suite 401<\/p>\n\n<p>Whitehorse, Yukon<\/p>\n\n<p>Canada,<\/p>\n\n<p>Y1A 4N7<\/p>\n\n<p>Telephone number: +1 867 667 3473<\/p>\n\n<p>Telefax number: +1 867 393 6204<\/p>\n\n<p><b>The Competent Authorities in Canada<\/b><\/p>\n\n<p><b>For the province of Alberta, the Minister of Children&rsquo;s Services is represented by:<\/b><\/p>\n\n<p>Ms. Anne Scully<\/p>\n\n<p>Program Manager, Adoption Services<\/p>\n\n<p>Ministry of Children&rsquo;s Services<\/p>\n\n<p>11th Floor, Sterling Place<\/p>\n\n<p>9940 &#8211; 106 Street<\/p>\n\n<p>EDMONTON, Alberta<\/p>\n\n<p>Canada T5K 2N2<\/p>\n\n<p>Telephone number: +1 (780) 644 3099<\/p>\n\n<p>Telefax number: +1 (780) 427 2048<\/p>\n\n<p>E-mail: <a href=\"mailto:anne.scully@gov.ab.ca\">anne.scully@gov.ab.ca<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p><b>For the province of Manitoba, the Director of Child and Family Services is represented by:<\/b><\/p>\n\n<p>Department of Family Services<\/p>\n\n<p>Child Protection and Support Services<\/p>\n\n<p>Suite 201 &#8211; 114 Garry Street<\/p>\n\n<p>WINNIPEG, Manitoba<\/p>\n\n<p>Canada R3C 4V5<\/p>\n\n<p><b>For the province of Ontario, the Ministry of Community and Social Services is represented by:<\/b><\/p>\n\n<p>Mili New<\/p>\n\n<p>101 Bloor St. W, 6th Floor<\/p>\n\n<p>TORONTO, Ontario<\/p>\n\n<p>Canada ON M5 2Z7<\/p>\n\n<p>Telephone number: +1 (416) 327 4736<\/p>\n\n<p>Telefax number: +1 (416) 212 6799<\/p>\n\n<p>E-mail: <a href=\"mailto:mili.new@ontario.ca\">mili.new@ontario.ca<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p><b>For the province of Saskatchewan, the Minister of Social Services is represented by:<\/b><\/p>\n\n<p>Beverly Wilson,<\/p>\n\n<p>Program Consultant, Intercountry Adoption. Central Office<\/p>\n\n<p>Family and Youth Services Division<\/p>\n\n<p>Saskatchewan Social Services<\/p>\n\n<p>12th floor &#8211; 1920 Broad Street<\/p>\n\n<p>Regina, Saskatchewan<\/p>\n\n<p>Canada,<\/p>\n\n<p>S4P 3V6<\/p>\n\n<p>Telephone number: +1 306 787 0008<\/p>\n\n<p>Telefax number: +1 306 787 0925<\/p>\n\n<p>E-mail: <a href=\"mailto:bev.wilson.ss@govmail.gov.sk.ca\">bev.wilson.ss@govmail.gov.sk.ca<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11745\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"45\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11745\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Appendix C \u2013 The List of Countries that Have Implemented the Provisions of the Hague Convention<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11745\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"45\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11745\">The table given below highlights the countries that are party to the Hague Convention and their date of membership.\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\"><b>State<\/b><\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"><b>Member since<\/b><\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"><b>State<\/b><\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"><b>Member since<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Austria<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">15-Jul-1955<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Canada<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">07-Oct-1968<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Belgium<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">15-Jul-1955<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Argentina<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">28-Apr-1972<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Denmark<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">15-Jul-1955<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Australia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">01-Nov-1973<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Netherlands<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">15-Jul-1955<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Suriname<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">07-Oct-1977<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Norway<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">15-Jul-1955<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Venezuela<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">25-Jul-1979<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Portugal<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">15-Jul-1955<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Uruguay<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">27-Jul-1983<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Spain<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">15-Jul-1955<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Poland<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">29-May-1984<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Sweden<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">15-Jul-1955<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Cyprus<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">08-Oct-1984<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">United Kingdom<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">15-Jul-1955<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Mexico<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">18-Mar-1986<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Greece<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">26-Aug-1955<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Chile<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">25-Apr-1986<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Ireland<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">26-Aug-1955<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Hungary<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">06-Jan-1987<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Turkey<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">26-Aug-1955<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">China<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">03-Jul-1987<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Finland<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">02-Dec-1955<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Romania<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">10-Apr-1991<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Germany<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">14-Dec-1955<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Slovenia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">18-Jun-1992<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Luxembourg<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">12-Mar-1956<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Latvia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">11-Aug-1992<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Switzerland<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">06-May-1957<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Czech Republic<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">28-Jan-1993<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Italy<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">26-Jun-1957<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Slovakia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">26-Apr-1993<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Japan<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">27-Jun-1957<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Morocco<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">06-Sep-1993<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Egypt<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">24-Apr-1961<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Republic of Macedonia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">20-Sep-1993<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">France<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">20-Apr-1964<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Malta<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">30-Jan-1995<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Israel<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">24-Sep-1964<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Croatia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">12-Jun-1995<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">United States<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">15-Oct-1964<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Monaco<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">08-Aug-1996<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Republic of Korea<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">20-Aug-1997<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Ukraine<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">03-Dec-2003<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Estonia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">13-May-1998<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Paraguay<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">28-Jun-2005<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Bulgaria<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">22-Apr-1999<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Montenegro<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">01-Mar-2007<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Peru<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">29-Jan-2001<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">European Union<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">03-Apr-2007<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Brazil<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">23-Feb-2001<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Ecuador<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">02-Nov-2007<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Serbia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">26-Apr-2001<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">India<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">13-Mar-2008<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Georgia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">28-May-2001<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Philippines<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">14-Jul-2010<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">07-Jun-2001<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Mauritius<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">19-Jan-2011<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Jordan<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">13-Jun-2001<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Costa Rica<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">27-Jan-2011<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Belarus<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">12-Jul-2001<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Vietnam<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">10-Apr-2013<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Sri Lanka<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">27-Sep-2001<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Zambia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">17-May-2013<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Lithuania<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">23-Oct-2001<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Burkina Faso<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">16-Oct-2013<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Russia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">06-Dec-2001<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Singapore<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">09-Apr-2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">New Zealand<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">05-Feb-2002<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Azerbaijan<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">29-Jul-2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">South Africa<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">14-Feb-2002<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Tunisia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">04-Nov-2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Panama<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">29-May-2002<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Armenia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">28-Apr-2015<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Albania<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">04-Jun-2002<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Andorra<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">11-Jun-2015<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Malaysia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">02-Oct-2002<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Republic of Moldova<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">16-Mar-2016<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Iceland<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">14-Nov-2003<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Saudi Arabia<\/td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">19-Oct-2016<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11746\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"46\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11746\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Appendix D \u2013 The Sample E-mail that the Visa Office Typically Sends to the Provincial or Territorial (PT) Central Adoption Authorities in Hague Convention Cases<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11746\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"46\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11746\"><p>Canadian Embassy<\/p>\n<p>Immigration section<\/p>\n<p>Provincial central authority<\/p>\n<p>Address<\/p>\n<p>Dear Sir or Madam:<\/p>\n<p>Subject: Child\u2019s name, date of birth, country of origin, file number; prospective adoptive parents\u2019 names<\/p>\n<p>This refers to the application for permanent residence in Canada of [child\u2019s name], whom [prospective parents\u2019 names] intend to adopt.<\/p>\n<p>As agreed with your Ministry with respect to the processing of an adoption case governed by the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, please be informed that [child\u2019s name] now meets the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and its Regulations. We invite you to contact the central authority in the child\u2019s country of origin and the prospective adoptive parents to initiate the legal procedures for adoption or custody of the child. Please send us your notification of agreement to the adoption proposal if it has not already been sent. A permanent resident visa will be issued to the child when we receive the travel document and the adoption order, if the child was adopted in the country of origin, or a confirmation that the transfer of the child to Canada has been authorized, if the adoption will take place in your province.<\/p>\n<p>Please be assured that the permanent residence application of [child\u2019s name] will receive prioritized processing.<\/p>\n<p>Yours sincerely,<\/p>\n<p>Visa officer<\/p>\n<p>c.c.: sponsor<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-11747\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"47\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-11747\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Appendix E \u2013 The Standard Process for Intercountry Adoption \u2013 the Hague Convention \u2013 Parents in Canada<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-11747\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"47\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-11747\"><ul><li>The prospective adoptive parents will need to contract the ministry or a licenced adoption agency of a province or territory (PT), after which:<ul><li>The provincial or territorial (PT) central adoption authorities will need to request a home study of the prospective parents from a competent authority for determining the suitability of the prospective parents<\/li><li>The central adoption authority will need to prepare a report on the competency of the prospective adoptive parents, on receiving the home study by the province or territory (PT), and forward it to the central adoption authority in the country where the child resides and,<\/li><li>The sponsorship process will typically commence once the province or territory (PT) makes a recommendation<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>The sponsor will need to submit the sponsorship application to the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga (CPC-M), indicating the sponsor\u2019s intention to adopt<ul><li>The application will need to name the child to be adopted<\/li><li>In case the child has not been identified, the application will need to indicate the country where the adoption will take place<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>The Case Processing Centre in Mississauga (CPC-M) will need to advise the central adoption authority in the province or territory (PT) of intended destination of the sponsor\u2019s intent to adopt<ul><li>Thereafter, the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga (CPC-M) will need to provide the relevant information related to the child or to the country where the adoption will take place<\/li><li>The Case Processing Centre in Mississauga (CPC-M) will also need to request a letter of no objection or notice of agreement<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>The Case Processing Centre in Mississauga (CPC-M) will need to create a permanent residence application in the Global Case Management System (GCMS) and forward the sponsorship recommendation to the visa office<\/li><li>The central adoption authority in the country where the child resides would need to review the report and the information on the prospective adoptive parents<ul><li>Thereafter, the central adoption authority will need to match the prospective adoptive parents to a child, prepare an adoption proposal and forward the proposal to the central adoption authority in the province or territory (PT) of destination<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>The provincial or territorial (PT) central adoption authorities will need to review and assess the information related to the child<ul><li>Thereafter, it would need to provide provincial or territorial (PT) agreement and submit the information to the prospective adoptive parents for their approval<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>The province or territory (PT) will need to prepare a notice of agreement signed by the prospective adoptive parents and forward it to the visa office and the central adoption authority in the child\u2019s country of residence<\/li><li>The visa office will typically combine the information on the immigration application, the sponsorship information and the notice of agreement to form a complete file and application<\/li><li>The prospective adoptive parents will need to complete and sign the <i>Medical Condition Statement<\/i>, which will serve to indicate their knowledge of the child\u2019s health condition, and send it to the visa office<\/li><li>Unless the visa office has reasonable grounds for believing that the process of the central adoption authority in the child\u2019s country of residence lacks integrity or competency, the officers will need to consider the notice of agreement as fulfilling the requirements specified in the provisions of subsection R117 (2)<ul><li>For more information on this, officers will need to go through the section titled \u2018The Provincial or Territorial (PT) Letter of Agreement or Letter of No Objection\u2019 i.e. section 5.7 of OP 3<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>The visa office will need to assess the child (or applicant) against the prescribed eligibility criteria, if it is satisfied with the notice of agreement<\/li><li>The visa office would need to inform the provincial or territorial (PT) central adoption authorities of the results (i.e. that the applicant meets the prescribed requirements)<ul><li>The provincial or territorial (PT) central adoption authorities, in turn, will need to inform the central adoption authority in the child\u2019s country of residence<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>The central adoption authority would need to complete the relevant adoption procedures, before issuing the adoption papers and forwarding them to the visa office<\/li><li>Upon completion of the prescribed adoption procedures, when the visa office receives the final adoption order, it will need to complete the immigration process and issue the visa<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ba19443 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"ba19443\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32b43fa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"32b43fa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<b>Source:<\/b> Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada frequently publishes immigration policy manuals for its personnel to provide guidance in the exercise of their functions. Below we include annotated summaries of Canada immigration policy manuals. What This Chapter is About This chapter provides policy and functional guidance to officers for processing permanent residence applications under the family class&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9496,4901],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33869","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-2017-c146-operational-bulletins-fr","category-c146-operational-bulletins-fr"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33869","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33869"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33869\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33869"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33869"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/immigration.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33869"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}