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Adoption Laws

From "What laws would you like to see modernized, reformed or introduced for the benefit of Bermuda?"

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The adoption laws need to be updated to provide equal rights to children adopted by Bermudians. I have assisted others like myself who were adopted as infants or young children by Bermudian parent/s only to find out at age 18 that our status was uncertain and had to apply and pay for status in order to seek scholarships, employment opportunities, etc.

Similarly, I know that the laws are being addressed for mixed status families - but this too is of considerable concern as the challenge is that Bermudians are being adversely affected when their immediate family members are not permitted the same resident rights as those with citizenship.

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Agree! Support wholeheartedly
  • 1 like
Is this a legit question or are you being facetious? Adoption laws are specifically outlined for adopting "children" as defined in the act and adoption approval must involve social services. So no labour force will flourish through that means.
  • 1 like
What would stop people from adopting a labor force?
    @Bryan Harvey Adoption is only permitted of minors. Adoption means the child adopts the nationality and rights of their parents, but unlike my 4 siblings who are birth children of my father, I did not have the same rights, even though he is the only father I have known, this is the only home I have known, and adoption should automatically mean I have equal rights. The application for status citizenship at age 18 is redundant. Hope that helps understand. (It is a lot more detailed but that's a brief intro to the challenges).
    • 4 likes
    Agree. In other jurisdictions, citizenship is immediately conferred (as with a birth child and without cost) upon the child of an approved/legal adoption . In Bermuda, while there has recently been an update to the Immigration Act, there remains additional process and cost equating to several hundred dollars to apply for Bermuda citizenship (application fee; sworn affidavit; stamp duties etc.).
    • 3 likes
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