WELCOME TO THE SEARCH AND REUNION MESSAGE BOARD!
General Searching Information for Adoptees born in Canada and taken to the USA.
If anyone was born in Canada and adopted by American adoptive parents and taken to the United States, contact the US Dept. of Immigration and obtain a copy of your Entry Visa. This form should show your full birthname. This is required for all persons taking up permanent residence in the U.S.
How to Contact the Vital Statistics Agency
Public office hours are 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday at all offices.
General Inquiries:
250-952-2681 (Victoria),
604-660-2937 (Vancouver)
Fax at 250-952-2527
Ordering by Credit Card 250-952-2557
Fax at 250-952-2182
Mailing Address:
British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency
PO BOX 9657 STN PROV GOVT
Victoria BC V8W 9P3
Office Locations:
VICTORIA
818 Fort Street
Phone: 250-952-2681
Fax: 250-952-2527
VANCOUVER
605 Robson Street
Room 250
Phone: 604-660-2937
Fax: 604-660-2645
KELOWNA101
1475 Ellis Street
Phone: 250-712-7562
Fax: 250-712-7598
PRINCE GEORGE
433 Queensway
Phone: 250-565-7105
Fax: 250-565-7106
This guide explains how to file a disclosure veto or no-contact declaration under the new Adoption Act. A Disclosure Veto and Statement Form and No-Contact Declaration and Statement Form can be obtained from any Vital Statistics Agency or Government Agent office in the province. Staff in those offices are available to provide information and guidance regarding the requirements for filing a disclosure veto or no-contact declaration.
The Vital Statistics adoption records information line is 250-952-2681, Vancouver residents may call 604-660-2937.
Confidentiality and Access to Information
Over the last few decades societal attitudes toward adoption have changed. People involved in adoptions want greater openness and access to information. Many adopted people want to know about their biological origins and cultural heritage. Many birth parents want information about the current health and well being of children they placed for adoption. Many adopted people and birth parents also want to meet one another.
The Adoption Act provides for greater openness in adoption. Current legislation states that an adopted person 19 years of age or older may apply to the Vital Statistics Agency to obtain a copy of their birth registration and adoption order. These documents will include the name of their birth parents at the time of birth. Birth parents of adopted people, who are 19 years of age or older, may apply to the Vital Statistics Agency for a copy of the adopted person's birth registration and adoption order to learn the person's name on adoption.
The Adoption Act strikes a balance, however, between providing access to information and respecting past promises of confidentiality in the legislation. Individuals wishing to maintain their privacy under the new Act have the option of filing a disclosure veto, or a no-contact declaration.
What is a Disclosure Veto?
A disclosure veto filed with the Vital Statistics Agency will prevent the release by the Vital Statistics Agency of any birth registration or adoption order information identifying the person who has filed the veto.
Who May File a Disclosure Veto?
The option of filing a disclosure veto is available to birth parents and adopted people involved in adoptions that were completed before the new Act took effect in 1996. A disclosure veto may be filed with the Vital Statistics Agency by adopted people when they reach 18 years of age or by birth parents when the adopted people have reached 18 years of age.
What is a No-Contact Declaration?
A no-contact declaration filed with the Vital Statistics Agency will prohibit any contact with the person who has filed the no-contact declaration. The person seeking the access to birth registration and adoption order records through the Vital Statistics Agency will be required to sign a statutory declaration promising that they will not contact the other person as long as the no-contact declaration is in effect. Under the new Adoption Act, anyone who violates a no-contact declaration will face a maximum penalty, on conviction, of six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $10,000.
Who May File a No-Contact Declaration?
The option of filing a no-contact declaration is available to birth parents and adopted people for any adoptions completed under the new or any previous adoption legislation. A no-contact declaration may be filed with the Vital Statistics Agency by adopted people 18 years of age or older or by birth parents of adopted people.
Written Statement
In recognition of the importance that information on the other person has for an adopted person or birth parent, the person filing a disclosure veto or no-contact declaration has the option of filing a written statement with the Vital Statistics Agency. This written statement may include social, medical, and health information, and possibly, information on why contact or disclosure of identifying information is not desired at this time. Where a written statement has been filed by an adopted person or a birth parent who has filed a disclosure veto or no-contact declaration, the Vital Statistics Agency will forward this statement to the other party on their application for birth registration and adoption order information.
Filing a Disclosure Veto or No-Contact Declaration
If you wish to ensure confidentiality or privacy under the Adoption Act, you may file a disclosure veto or no-contact declaration with the Vital Statistics Agency.
Under the Act a disclosure veto or no-contact declaration will remain in existence until it is lifted or until two years after the death of the person who filed it. A disclosure veto or no-contact declaration may be canceled at any time by the person who filed it by contacting or writing a Vital Statistics Agency office. The cancellation must be done in writing and a fee for service will apply.
Vetoes Filed with the Adoption Reunion Registry
Vetoes filed with the Adoption Reunion Registry under the Adoption Act, 1979, have the same legal effect as a disclosure veto filed under the new Act. A record of these vetoes have been automatically transferred from the Registry to the Vital Statistics Agency.
Limitations
The Vital Statistics Agency will not release any identifying information in its records respecting a person who has filed a disclosure veto. If an adopted person or birth parent has filed a no-contact declaration, the Agency will not release identifying information in its records to the other person, until that person has signed a legal undertaking that they will not contact the person who has filed the no-contact declaration.
The filing of a disclosure veto or no-contact declaration applies only to records held by the Vital Statistics Agency. It is not a guarantee to privacy or confidentiality. The other person may choose to locate or identify you through other means.
ACCESS TO VITAL STATISTICS RECORDS
UNDER THE NEW ADOPTION ACT
This guide explains the release of records under the Adoption Act and how to file the Application for Service Pertaining to an Adopted Person or Birth Parent Form. Additional forms may be obtained from any British Columbia Vital Statistics or Government Agent office in the province. The addresses of Vital Statistics Agency Offices are listed on the back of the guide. Staff in those offices are available to provide information and guidance regarding the requirements for filing this application for service form.
Eligibility Under The Adoption Act
The option of filing an application for service is available to adopted people 19 years of age or older and to birth parents when the adopted person has reached 19 years of age.
What Records Are Available To Eligible Applicants?
Adopted people, who were born and adopted in British Columbia, will receive a copy of their original birth registration in their birth name (including the names of any birth parents on record) and a copy of their adoption order provided a disclosure veto has not been filed.
Birth parents of people born and adopted in British Columbia will receive a copy of the adopted person's original birth registration, a copy of the adopted person's birth registration following adoption including any change of name consequent to the adoption, and a copy of the adoption order.
Adopted people, who were not born in British Columbia but were adopted in the province, will receive a copy of the adoption order and any identification particulars of the adopted person. Similarly, birth parents of people adopted in British Columbia but not born in the province will receive a copy of the adoption order and any identification particulars of the adopted person following the adoption.
Before any adoption record is released to a birth parent, all identifying information pertaining to adoptive parents is deleted to protect their right to privacy.
What Are The Fees And Accompanying Identification Required For This Service?
For each search of records and a copy of a birth registration and adoption order the genealogy search fee of $50 will apply. As proof of identity, applicants are required to attach a photocopy of their birth certificate to the Application for Service Pertaining to an Adopted Person or Birth Parent Form. All applicants are requested to fill out this form to the best of their ability.
Limitations
When a search for adoption records is successful but a disclosure veto filed under Section 65 of the Adoption Act exists (as annotated on the birth event), the Vital Statistics Agency will release adoption records provided the information contained in the records does not allow for the identification of the person filing the disclosure veto. Where a written statement has been filed by an adopted person or a birth parent who has filed a disclosure veto, the Vital Statistics Agency will forward this statement to the other applicant.
When a search for adoption records is successful but a no-contact declaration filed under Section 66 of the Adoption Act exists (as annotated on the birth event), the Vital Statistics Agency will contact the applicant and advise them of the situation. The applicant will be provided with a Statutory Declaration and Undertaking Form (that will require notarization of the undertaking), that specifies the conditions under which information will be released. Only after processing the undertaking will the adoption information be released including a copy of any written statement filed with the no-contact declaration. Failure to submit the undertaking in the form required will result in the information not being released. In addition, failure to submit the undertaking within 90 days of notification by the Vital Statistics Agency will result in the forfeiture of the service fee. Subsequent requests will be assessed the normal service fee.
The filing of a disclosure veto or no-contact declaration applies only to records held by the Vital Statistics Agency. For more information on disclosure vetoes and no-contact declarations, please request a copy of our pamphlet on these subjects from any Vital Statistics Agency or Government Agent's office in the province.
Written Statement
In recognition of the importance of information to an adopted person or birth parent, the person filing a disclosure veto or no-contact declaration has the option of filing a written statement with the Vital Statistics Agency. This written statement may include social, medical, and health information, and possibly, information on why contact or disclosure of identifying information is not desired at this time. Where a written statement has been filed by an adopted person or a birth parent who has filed a disclosure veto or no-contact declaration, the Vital Statistics Agency will forward this statement to the applicant upon completion of the processing of their application for birth registration and adoption order information.
Other great websites to check out:
http://www.adoptionchat.com
http://www.adoptionlists.com
http://www.adoption.com
http://www.adopting.org
http://registry.adoption.com/