New Canadian Citizenship Law
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A new amendment, Bill C-37, to the Citizenship Act became effective April 17, 2009. The new law restores Canadian citizenship to certain individuals who lost their citizenship and includes others who will be granted Canadian citizenship for the first time. The new law also restricts who can acquire Canadian citizenship by descent. Additionally, Bill C-37 affects acquisition of citizenship for adopted children. The controversial amendments come after concerns about the previous law which permitted Canadians to endlessly pass along their Canadian citizenship to generations of children born outside of Canada.
Limitation of Citizenship. The new law limits Canadian citizenship to the first generation born to Canadian parents outside Canada. What this means is that children born outside of Canada on or after April 17, 2009 will only acquire Canadian citizenship at birth if they are born to a Canadian parent who was either (1) born in Canada, or (2) immigrated to Canada as a permanent resident and naturalized to acquire Canadian citizenship. In most cases, the new law limits citizenship by descent to one generation born outside Canada. There are exceptions to this rule, so it is important to contact our law firm at 1-800-993-9971 to help you determine if your family is affected by the new law.
Restoration and Granting Citizenship. Some people who lost their Canadian citizenship under the previous laws will be automatically granted Canadian Citizenship. This would include people who became Canadian citizens on or after January 1, 1947 and who later lost their citizenship; these individuals would automatically have their Canadian citizenship restored effective to the date they initially lost it. In addition, individuals who are first generation born outside of Canada to a Canadian parent, who never had Canadian citizenship, will now become Canadians. Their status as Canadian citizens will date back to their date of birth.
More information about the new law can be found at http://www.cic.gc.ca or by contacting our immigration law firm at 1-800-993-9971.
One Comment to “New Canadian Citizenship Law”
Shaker
This law is yet another blow to civil rights. Canadian Citizen ship is a right to the children of Canadian Citizenship holders. It is not a privilage. We live in a global world, global talent are on the move all the time. Remember, just as Canadian talents are working abroad, other global talents are also working in Canada.
THis is part of a conservative agenda to push Canada further into utlra-nationalism. The conservative party has never ceased to stop its eratic policies againt immigration.