A Canadian/US baby

[canadianroots75 0]

Hi all- just wondering if you all applied for a Canadaian passport for a new baby recently? I am due in May 2009 and this will be a US birth to a Canadian mom.....daddy is US citizen. How long did it take to get a US passport and then a Canadian one? I figure at least 3 months to get the US one. Any one do this in the past couple moonths for a time line?

[Karly-n-Bruce 0]

I had a baby (I'm canadian, DH is american) this past September (2008) and am about to start the passport process. I contacted the Canadian consulate for my area and was advised to get the US passport, then apply for his citizenship certificate from Canada then apply for his Canadian passport (need the canadian citizenship certificate in to prove he's Canadian for the passport). I have no idea about timelines, but someone I know who also had a baby in Sept applied for a US passport for her baby and got it in 2 weeks. I'm hoping we get the same treatment. Good luck!

[Cristy 4]

Our little one was born in August. I have not applied for anything in Canada for her....I honestly did not even think I had to. yikes! What do I need to do to make sure she is a Canadian as well?

[Der Bücherwurm 1]

Congrats on the Canuckican. It usually only takes 2-4 weeks for Americans to get a passport.

[trailmix 77]

Our little one was born in August. I have not applied for anything in Canada for her....I honestly did not even think I had to. yikes! What do I need to do to make sure she is a Canadian as well?

She is Canadian, you may just want to get a document to prove that:

Proof of citizenship

Sometimes you need to prove that you are a Canadian citizen. You may need to do this when you:

vote

apply for a passport

apply for certain jobs or

apply to obtain certain government entitlements.

If you were born in Canada, a birth certificate issued by the province or territory of your birth is often enough to prove that you are a Canadian citizen.

If you were born outside Canada, you get a citizenship certificate when you become a Canadian citizen.

If you were born outside Canada and one of your parents was a Canadian citizen when you were born, you need to apply for a citizenship certificate to prove you are a Canadian citizen.

A citizenship certificate is proof of citizenship. It is not a travel document. Any Canadian citizen wanting to travel outside Canada should obtain a Canadian passport.

The citizenship certificate is a wallet-sized card that has your photograph on it.

Who can apply

How to apply

After applying

Citizenship and Immigration Canada

www.cic.gc.ca

[zyggy 9]

To get a Canadian passport for the baby, You have to first apply for a Citizenship Certificate for the child through CIC. After you have the citizenship certificate, you can then apply for a passport. The citizenship certificate takes about 6 months to get.

[neiks 19]

My first baby was born in Canada. He has his Manitoba birth certificate that proves his Canadian citizenship and we applied for his US passport to prove US citizenship. It was quite easy to get his US passport thru his American father and it came within 4 weeks. Our next baby is going to be born in the US. He/she will have a US birth certificate but we will also apply for a US passport. I will apply for a Canadian citizenship card for him/her to prove Canadian citizenship. I opt for getting them US passports as they seem easier to optain and cost less. Plus when they are older they are valid for a longer period of time. Canadian birth certificates and citizenship cards never expire.

[neiks 19]

Our little one was born in August. I have not applied for anything in Canada for her....I honestly did not even think I had to. yikes! What do I need to do to make sure she is a Canadian as well?

You technically don't have to apply for anything but then again your little one will never have any proof they are Canadian unless you are always going to be traveling with them with your proof that you are Canadian and their birth certificate that you are the Canadian mother/father. Canadian citizenship for you little one will be implied thru the Canadian parent but having a citizen card gives the proof they are if the Canadain parent isn't present.

[ruby_mtl 0]

To get a Canadian passport for the baby, You have to first apply for a Citizenship Certificate for the child through CIC. After you have the citizenship certificate, you can then apply for a passport. The citizenship certificate takes about 6 months to get.

WOW! i'm glad the girls were born here (Canada)! seems to be easier to get stuff on the US side.

[new orleans bound 0]

I had a baby (I'm canadian, DH is american) this past September (2008) and am about to start the passport process. I contacted the Canadian consulate for my area and was advised to get the US passport, then apply for his citizenship certificate from Canada then apply for his Canadian passport (need the canadian citizenship certificate in to prove he's Canadian for the passport). I have no idea about timelines, but someone I know who also had a baby in Sept applied for a US passport for her baby and got it in 2 weeks. I'm hoping we get the same treatment. Good luck!

Hey Karly, I'm trying to apply for the Canadian Citizenship certificate for my baby too. I'm wonderign if you've already started the application process. I have the forms filled out but having a lot of trouble with what they need as supporting documents. Can you give me any advice?

Joanna

[antda 13]

Hi Canadianroots75 (and Everyone),

Congratulations on your pregnancy. Likewise, I'm pregnant too (due in July 2009), and am wondering the same thing too, as it's a US birth to a Canadian Mom and a US Dad...

Though in our situation, it's probably best that the Baby (and me as well) gets an American passport, as the Canadian one is very difficult to get...See other posts on VJ about the difficulties of renewing/getting "Canadian Passports", as posted through here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=167865.

Lol...I figure if I can't renew my Canadian passport (which expires next week..eek!), then what makes me think that I can get a Canadian passport for the Baby too?...Impossible task...ha!

As for our Baby being a Canadian (even though it's somewhat implied), legally, we're probably let them decide for themselves when they are old enough to as to if/when they want to be Canadian too, as we don't think that it's fair to impose any additional citizenship on them as a minor (other than the one that they are born with they can't choose anyways). So when they legally are an adult (and I think they have until age 28 to do this, someone correct me if I'm wrong), they can do that for themselves instead, and we'll support them from there...

By the way can our Baby become a Canadian citizen if they wanted to later on, even though I was a Naturalized Canadian citizen? And will they get a Canadian birth certificate too, or just a Naturalization/Citizenship card when they become a Canadian citizen? And if they do get a Naturalization/Citizenship card, will they have to renew it? ( I know I didn't have to renew mine, even though I got it as a small child, but do they have to renew theirs?)

Anyways, good luck with the rest of your pregnancy, and in getting Canadian citizenship for you little one. And good luck with the rest of your immigration journey too.

Ant (Still waiting at the VSC, Still waiting for Baby...)

P.S. To Everyone: Feel free to PM me too, if you want to talk about pregnancy/baby issues as well...

Hi all- just wondering if you all applied for a Canadaian passport for a new baby recently? I am due in May 2009 and this will be a US birth to a Canadian mom.....daddy is US citizen. How long did it take to get a US passport and then a Canadian one? I figure at least 3 months to get the US one. Any one do this in the past couple moonths for a time line?

Edited January 8, 2009 by AntandD

[trailmix 77]

Hi Ant,

Yes, because you were also born outside Canada, you would have to register their birth before age 28, plus they will have to meet the criteria below. They will not get a Canadian birth certificate (you can only get a birth certificate in a country you were physically born in).

note: these guidelines are only for the 2nd generation born outside of Canada to at least 1 Canadian parent.

How do I retain Canadian citizenship?

You must

Register as a Canadian citizen, and

Make an application to retain citizenship, and

Be under 28 years of age.

Live in Canada for at least one year immediately before filing your application, or

Have a substantial connection with Canada in one of the following ways:

for at least two of the four years immediately before filing your application, you worked for the federal or a provincial government, or

you were a member of the Canadian Forces or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP),

or you were a Canadian representative to the United Nations or one of its affiliated agencies,

or you have basic knowledge of English or French to be able to carry on a simple conversation, and your knowledge of Canada’s history, geography, government and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship to pass a test,

and

for at least one year after turning 14 years of age, you attended a recognized secondary or post-secondary educational institution in Canada, or

you lived in Canada with a family member.

[Karly-n-Bruce 0]

I had a baby (I'm canadian, DH is american) this past September (2008) and am about to start the passport process. I contacted the Canadian consulate for my area and was advised to get the US passport, then apply for his citizenship certificate from Canada then apply for his Canadian passport (need the canadian citizenship certificate in to prove he's Canadian for the passport). I have no idea about timelines, but someone I know who also had a baby in Sept applied for a US passport for her baby and got it in 2 weeks. I'm hoping we get the same treatment. Good luck!

Hey Karly, I'm trying to apply for the Canadian Citizenship certificate for my baby too. I'm wonderign if you've already started the application process. I have the forms filled out but having a lot of trouble with what they need as supporting documents. Can you give me any advice?

Joanna

I've been procrastinating so I haven't started the process yet, but when I contacted the canadian consulate, I was informed I could use his SS card as proof of identity and that one form of ID may be sufficient evidence for an infant (along w/ birth cert). I'm thinking of using his US passport (when we get it) and his SS card. Hopefully that'll be enough. Sorry I couldn't be more help. Good luck!!

[zyggy 9]

Hi Ant,

Yes, because you were also born outside Canada, you would have to register their birth before age 28, plus they will have to meet the criteria below. They will not get a Canadian birth certificate (you can only get a birth certificate in a country you were physically born in).

note: these guidelines are only for the 2nd generation born outside of Canada to at least 1 Canadian parent.

How do I retain Canadian citizenship?

You must

Register as a Canadian citizen, and

Make an application to retain citizenship, and

Be under 28 years of age.

Live in Canada for at least one year immediately before filing your application, or

Have a substantial connection with Canada in one of the following ways:

for at least two of the four years immediately before filing your application, you worked for the federal or a provincial government, or

you were a member of the Canadian Forces or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP),

or you were a Canadian representative to the United Nations or one of its affiliated agencies,

or you have basic knowledge of English or French to be able to carry on a simple conversation, and your knowledge of Canada's history, geography, government and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship to pass a test,

and

for at least one year after turning 14 years of age, you attended a recognized secondary or post-secondary educational institution in Canada, or

you lived in Canada with a family member.

Actually this does not apply to naturalized citizens. Your baby will be considered the first generation born abroad, so Citizenship can pass to your baby. You must file for a Citizenship Certificate.

Based on the new naturalization act, your child will not be able to pass Canadian Citizenship to her children unless the children are born in Canada.

[trailmix 77]

Actually this does not apply to naturalized citizens. Your baby will be considered the first generation born abroad, so Citizenship can pass to your baby. You must file for a Citizenship Certificate.

Based on the new naturalization act, your child will not be able to pass Canadian Citizenship to her children unless the children are born in Canada.

You are right, I went back and reviewed it and this is correct and also very interesting.