Canadian child in USA - Citizenship

[JillA 2]

Hi All,

I hope everyone is doing well, I haven't been around in so long

So my son was born here in the US almost a year ago. Since I am Canadian, he is also Canadian. I am trying to get his Canadian Citizenship certificate, so if we should move back to Canada in the future or he decides to on his own when he's older, he has the paperwork in order to do so. I found the form online, but that form is for children currently living in Canada as permanent residents. I can't find anything for children that live outside Canada, how to get their Citizenship paperwork. I need that first, so I can go ahead and apply for his passport. He IS Canadian, but I want the paperwork that says so.

Has anyone on this forum that lives in the US and has American born children applied for Canadian Citizenship for their children?

Thanks for any advice!!

[aaron2020 11,651]

Google "Canada Consulate Texas." Follow the link for the consulate and look at the tab "Services for Canadians." You'll find the instructions on how to claim Canadian citizenship for your child.

[Lemonslice 4,567]

Just so you know, it does take a while (about 12 months) to get it. What you are looking at is for immigrant who want to become citizens; your son already is Canadian, he just needs a "proof" of that.

www.cic.gc.ca - then Citizenship - Proof of citizenship. Steps to apply - and you can download the forms and guide, pay online, etc. It has to be mailed directly to Nova Scotia. American passport can be the ID with picture.

When you get the certificate, you can also request his SIN card from the USA by mail.

Edited December 11, 2013 by Boston~Montreal

[Ontarkie 13,922]

Just so you know, it does take a while (about 12 months) to get it. What you are looking at is for immigrant who want to become citizens; your son already is Canadian, he just needs a "proof" of that.

www.cic.gc.ca - then Citizenship - Proof of citizenship. Steps to apply - and you can download the forms and guide, pay online, etc. It has to be mailed directly to Nova Scotia. American passport can be the ID with picture.

When you get the certificate, you can also request his SIN card from the USA by mail.

She is not filling in Canada so she does not mail to Nova Scotia. I can't remember all the places but I send to Texas.

Edited December 11, 2013 by Ontarkie

[Lemonslice 4,567]

She is not filling in Canada so she does not mail to Nova Scotia. I can't remember all the places but I send to Texas.

The change is recent. Since September this year, all applications from the USA have to be mailed to Nova Scotia... consulates do not help anymore - see: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/proof-how.asp

Submit the application

If you live in Canada or the United States, mail your filled-out application form and all documents to this address:

Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Case Processing Centre—Proof

P.O. Box 10000

Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 7C1

If you live outside Canada and outside the United States, mail your filled-out application form and all documents to the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate that serves your area.

[Ontarkie 13,922]

The change is recent. Since September this year, all applications from the USA have to be mailed to Nova Scotia... consulates do not help anymore - see: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/proof-how.asp

Submit the application

If you live in Canada or the United States, mail your filled-out application form and all documents to this address:

Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Case Processing Centre—Proof

P.O. Box 10000

Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 7C1

If you live outside Canada and outside the United States, mail your filled-out application form and all documents to the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate that serves your area.

Oh wow good catch. I looked it up and the link was not working guess that is why.

[Lemonslice 4,567]

I wish it was easier / free / all-in-one with the passport request

[JillA 2]

Thanks so much for your help and the links. I really appreciate it!!

[Kimbear 53]

Hey Jilla, i'm actually in the middle of doing that. Caihla was born October 25th, and i have had all the paperwork printed and filled out for the most part since September lol. And ya the change to Nova Scotia is recent for the mailing. I finally got her SSN# so now i can get her us passport and use that as an ID as well as copies of her Birth Certificates here.

[JillA 2]

Kimbear, are you sending in originals of anything? I really don't want to send in my son's original birth certificate, if it's going to take a year to process! I don't want to be without it for a whole year Would a good quality photocopy be acceptable do you think? Also, what are you going to do for your baby's photo? Obviously it won't meet the specific criteria that Canada has for photos, I hope they are more lenient for children?

Edited December 11, 2013 by JillA

[Lemonslice 4,567]

JillA, certified copies are acceptable - it is recommended to send those and not originals because it does take a long time. Who can certify copies is described in the Section 1 of the Instructions Guide, if I remember correctly. Photos are a bit different than the passport ones and we did the baby-laying-on-a-white-sheet pose at the photographer; so no shade and a plain background.

[Kimbear 53]

Kimbear, are you sending in originals of anything? I really don't want to send in my son's original birth certificate, if it's going to take a year to process! I don't want to be without it for a whole year Would a good quality photocopy be acceptable do you think? Also, what are you going to do for your baby's photo? Obviously it won't meet the specific criteria that Canada has for photos, I hope they are more lenient for children?

Birth certificates for me in Chicago are pretty cheap, 15$ for the first one 4$ for every other one as long as they are ordered same time, so i got like 5 all at once. I was just going to send off an original. As for the pics, my friend who works at walgreens said they could do them but ill find out when i get that done. First up is her US passport, and the post office here said they do the photos on site and can do them for babies.

[VeeNDee 44]

Birth certificates for me in Chicago are pretty cheap, 15$ for the first one 4$ for every other one as long as they are ordered same time, so i got like 5 all at once. I was just going to send off an original. As for the pics, my friend who works at walgreens said they could do them but ill find out when i get that done. First up is her US passport, and the post office here said they do the photos on site and can do them for babies.

We have to pay $20 per birth certificate - the extras aren't cheaper unfortunately. I ended up ordering 3- one for our visa /ROC paperwork, applying for passport, etc, one for us to take in our bags when we cross the border to visit family and one for 'just in case' or her baby book.

I was just at USPS today (for the lamest reason- I had to pay 20 cents to pick up a medical bill they had mailed to me that was slightly overweight due to the amount of paper inside- what the hey!!!!) and didn't see anywhere where they could take photos so we will probably end up going to Walgreens. I've been procrastinating the paperwork stuff since I haven't even sent out birth announcements yet!!!