Canada - Faster visa processing for those orphaned by Tsunami

07 January 2005

The Canadian Government is looking at easing adoption rules so that children orphaned by the tsunami tragedy can be adopted by relatives living in Canada, the website chinaview.cn reports.

Canada's Immigration Minister Judy Sgro said on January 5 that these applications would be made a priority, as Government and social services agencies have been swamped by enquiries from anxious relatives.

Also on January 5, the Canadian province of Ontario said it is reviewing adoption procedures to assist the placement of tsunami orphans with their families in Ontario.

In recent days the minister has announced that applications for family reunion immigration between close family members of Canadians in the tsunami area will be speeded up, and Prime Minister Paul Martin has indicated that the concessions may also be applied to extended family.

See our Canada immigration pages for further information about entering Canada.