Notice – Processing is Suspended for Adoption Applications from South Africa

Notice – Processing is Suspended for Adoption Applications from South Africa

August 15, 2012 — Due to an investigation by South African authorities to review possible irregularities in intercountry adoptions, our visa office in Pretoria has suspended the processing of adoption applications.We understand that parents may be anxious to adopt from South Africa. Intercountry adoption procedures established by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) are intended to protect both the child and prospective parents.Canada and South Africa are parties to the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption which has established legal and procedural safeguards to ensure that intercountry adoptions take place in the best interests of the child and with respect to his or her fundamental rights.One of the requirements in all adoption cases is confirmation that the adoption is in accordance with the laws of both countries, in this case, South Africa and Canada. The visa office, therefore, cannot finalize any cases until South African authorities confirm that the adoption was in accordance with South Africa’s adoption laws.Updates will be posted on the CIC website when available.Parents who have already submitted an application to the visa office in Pretoria will be informed of the status of their application.We strongly recommend that prospective adoptive parents do not travel to South Africa until their adoption is finalized and all immigration or citizenship requirements have been met.