Moving back to Canada with US-born children

[jberd126]

My wife and I are naturally-born Canadian citizens living in US with two children born in California. We spontaneously decided to move back to Canada a few months ago but we neglected to get proof of our children's citizenship while living in the US. Although they are Canadian citizen's per Immigration Canada, we don't have the "Proof of Canadian Citizenship" document. They do have American passports and birth certificates.

With our move date only days away I'm very concerned. Will there be any problems getting through the border?

[Leon]

They shouldn't deny you entry because the children are visa exempt to visit Canada but if you have any proof that you are about to apply for their proof of citizenship, it might help if you show that too.  Fill out the forms and bring them with you as you enter.  You can say you are planning to mail them when you arrive in Canada.

[cindyloveschris]

follow up question: if we decided to have the baby here in the philippines.. considering that i am not married with my boyfriend for legal constraints (we dont have divorce here in the philippines) i believe that my boyfriend can acknowledge our child by signing at the bak of the child's philippine birth certificate. how do i apply for canadian birth certificate and canadian citizenship for our new born? do i have to apply here in manila (canadian embassy manila) or does he need to do it in toronto?

[Leon]

I believe the father should apply for it because he is in the Canadian.  He can apply at the embassy in Manila.  The baby will not get a Canadian birth certificate because it is not born in Canada but it will get a citizenship card.

[cindyloveschris]

thanks leon

[jberd126]

 @ Leon, I got through to Immigration Canada and, as you already mentioned, there will not be a problem if we bring their US birth certificates that list us as the birth parents. I will take your advice and bring pre-filled the Proof of Canadian Citizenship forms with us to the border when we drive across as added insurance.

[can_usa_97]

Also, when I applied. I remarked a request to expedite because we were moving and did not want the toddlers to be without any health care for longer than needed. We got ours back in like 2 weeks. It was crazy because the time frame normally is longer. However we were going to a province that had a 3 month wait.

[jberd126]

 @ can_usa_97 - How did you request it to be expedited? Was there a procedure or did you simply place a note in it asking?

[can_usa_97]

I just included a note saying we were going to be moving and were worried about their healthcare needs, as we'd started the process in July of last year, estimating my PR in Oct/Nov (It came in Nov) and then the first 3 months of their wait being Nov, Dec and Jan and that if there was any way to expedite it, we'd be grateful- and had my husband -the Canadian sign it.

[jberd126]

Ironically the easiest part of the move was getting through the border. Other than filling out paperwork to import our belongings and a vehicle, we only needed to show our passports.