Had a very frustrating experience at Service Canada today. I went to Service Ontario first of all to request a new health card in Matteo's new name. No difficulty there...while I brought my adoption documents, all she wanted was the legal name change certificate and a piece of ID from me. At Service Canada, in the same building, my request for a new SIN number was more complicated. She wanted my own SIN and/or piece of ID....and then she wanted my mother's maiden name? and then she had me fill out this form and she kept saying that the form needed information on Matteo's birth mother. I told her I don't have that information and then she said it was my birth mother she wanted? So I started to add my mother's name, not being sure why..and then she interrupted me and then tried to explain again, always saying birth mother..and finally just "you're his mother"....in the end, what she wanted was my information as Matteo's mother, though she didn't know enough to say she wanted the adopted mother's information, and kept saying birth mother. I'm still not sure if this was a language problem, as in she was French and she did not have the English vocabulary to say adopted mother, or she just wasn't sure what to call me in the proper adoption language. But it was frustrating and maddening to have to repeat to her a few times, I do not have my son's birth family information as he is adopted. I left somehow feeling that my mine and Matteo's privacy were somehow invaded...as of course people waiting behind us could hear the conversation. It spoiled the next couple of hours of my afternoon as I fumed about such an awful experience and then getting very angry that I could not have gotten Matteo's name changed through the adoption. I somehow feel that the paperwork for the adoption is not yet over as I go through these next hurdles for new documentation...
1. New Health card - 30 days
2. New SIN card - 10 days
3. New Passport - 10 days if done in person (which I will) (whole new passport/photos/fees)
4. New Citizenship card - 10 months plus (new photos etc.)
5. Registering at Revenue Canada the name change - 6-8 weeks.
6. RESP name change...
Have I forgotten anything?......so frustrating!!!
....the paperwork continues....
I did not go through any of that for the SIN. Had the health card/SIN same morning and was completely done by 9:15. Strange. I didn't even fill out a form. she did something on the computer, printed it out and I signed it. The passport was more complicated for us, mostly because of the line up and the wait with a toddler. I have chosen not to change the citizenship card. The original along with the name change certificate is adequate (for JK registration for example) and it is the only original i.d. left since they kept the white passport. RESP? Hmmm...just emailed the scanned namechange certificate. Never did anything with revenue canada...simply sent in a copy of the name change with my tax return through the accountant.
ReplyDeleteHi Bev, yes the health card was done in 5 minutes...we had a bit of a wait to get to the service canada rep. and Matteo started acting out, so was trying to settle him while dealing with this woman who kept repeating Birth family...??....anyhow the form I filled out, I think was mostly where I wanted the SIN sent, but they already had my address, and she kept the old SIN...and photocopied the name change as well as my birth certificate, and then wanted me to add my SIN number to the form...can't even remember if I had to sign, but don't think so...and yes she did all kinds of things on the computer etc...was a bit thrown by the experience for sure, as when I applied for Matteo's SIN it was quite easy and I remember asking about the legal name change and she said to just bring the certificate of the name change???...Anyhow I think I will change the citizenship as well....even though they are backlogged, but before sending it away as you say, I can use it and will use it for the passport....as for the RESP...my financial advisor needs a copy of the new SIN, a copy of the legal name change and they've sent me an additional form to sign....for Revenue Canada, I need to send them a copy of the legal name change in order to change the name on the Child benefit form etc....today's experience brought me back to those knots in my stomach about paperwork....am considering sending a note to Service Canada about the language issue and how difficult this was when it should not have been!
DeleteHaaaa ceux qui parlent français, c'est pas toujours facile hein lolll
ReplyDeleteJe n'en reviens pas comment ça été difficile pour ton SIN, moi c'est le document qui a été le plus facile à avoir, elle a à peine regarder les papiers.
Mais au moins c'est fini, tu as tout fait et il ne reste qu'à attendre !
Yes Chantal,Yes when I applied for the SIN it was very very easy...still not sure why I had this kind of experience.... I hope it is all done and now I wait. I did however write a note to complain about the experience....have not heard back from anyone, but hope noone else has to go through that..xoxoxo
DeleteHi Francesca,
ReplyDeleteThanks for getting back to me. I really appreciate it. I read your post with an almost sinking feeling. I thought, "Oh my goodness, the paperwork doesn't even end when I bring my child home. I will still be at like you are." I have been advised to bring my child home the citizenship route as I guess this is easier. I am a bit of a worrier so think, "What happens if they are living or working outside of Canada when they have children?" I then tell myself not to go there as things could change by then.
Thanks again for getting back to me,
Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth...yes I would go with the citizenship route...we did...and as for the additional paperwork....I think in BC you don't have to wait a year to legally change your child's name, like we have to here in Ontario...I think you can do it much quicker so you will have the paperwork over and done with sooner!! hang in there!!
Delete