More December news - meet our newest citizen!!

December also brought us the joyous news that Angelique is now officially a Canadian citizen!!! We are so thrilled!

Unlike in the US, where a child adopted from another country becomes a citizen the moment s/he lands on US soil, Canada's requirements are long and a bit silly. First we filled out one document, added 3 pieces of my own ID and a 3 month wait just to confirm that one of us (parents) are in fact Canadian citizens...... um hello, don't you have any record of my birth, ID, taxes etc? Is it really that difficult for one government department to talk to another government department?
Then we filled in another long document about Angelique, and added records of her birth and our court-approved adoption of her (which are of course in Russian and so need a certified translation), plus her landed immigrant info and 3 strands of hair (just kidding). Then another 3 month wait.

Finally last week we received a BEAUTIFUL document with our government's logo and the words: "Angelique, Welcome to the Canadian family." We are so proud!