Responses to Information Requests

​​​​​​​Responses to Information Requests (RIRs) are research reports on country conditions. They are requested by IRB decision-makers.

The database contains a seven-year archive of English and French RIRs. Earlier RIRs may be found on the European Country of Origin Information Network website.

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Disclaimer

Responses to Information Requests (RIRs) cite publicly accessible information available at the time of publication and within time constraints. A list of references and additional sources consulted are included in each RIR. Sources cited are considered the most current information available as of the date of the RIR.            

RIRs are not, and do not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Rather, they are intended to support the refugee determination process. More information on the methodology used by the Research Directorate can be found here.          

The assessment and weight to be given to the information in the RIRs are the responsibility of independent IRB members (decision-makers) after considering the evidence and arguments presented by the parties.           

The information presented in RIRs solely reflects the views and perspectives of the sources cited and does not necessarily reflect the position of the IRB or the Government of Canada.          

13 February 2008

HTI102710.FE

Haiti: Documents that a parent must present, and the procedure that a parent must follow in order to travel abroad with his or her minor child without the presence or consent of the other parent
Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

According to a migration integrity officer from the immigration section of the Embassy of Canada in Haiti, a Haitian parent who wants to travel abroad with his or her minor child without the presence or consent of the other parent does not require authorization to do so (Canada 15 Jan. 2008; Canada 17 Jan. 2008a). This practice is consistent with the Haitian constitution, under which no visa is required to leave the country (Haiti 10 Mar. 1987, Art. 41.1).

Since 1 June 2000, the Haitian immigration service has required that any person accompanying a minor with a Haitian passport who is not the parent of the child must have a letter of permission issued by the Institute for Social Well-Being and Research (Institut du bien-être social et de recherches) (Canada 15 Jan. 2008; ibid. 17 Jan. 2008b). According to a migration integrity officer at the Embassy of Canada in Haiti, this measure aims to prevent cases of child kidnapping (ibid. 15 Jan. 2008) since Haiti is not a member of the 25 October 1980 Convention on the Civil Aspects of Internation Child Abduction (HCCH 16 Jan. 2008).

Destination countries can impose their own requirements (Canada 17 Jan. 2008b). For example, the Canadian immigration authorities require proof of custody or permission (a letter or notarized authorization) from the non-accompanying parent of a child under the age of 16 years in order to issue a temporary resident visa (ibid. n.d., 11; ibid. 15 Jan. 2008; ibid. 17 Jan. 2008a).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Canada. 17 January 2008a. Embassy of Canada in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Correspondence sent to the Research Directorate by a migration integrity officer.

______. 17 January 2008b. Embassy of Canada in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Telephone interview with a migration integrity officer.

______. 15 January 2008. Embassy of Canada in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Correspondence sent to the Research Directorate by a migration integrity officer.

______. N.d. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). OP11: Résidents temporaires. <http://www.cic.gc.ca/francais/ressources/guides/op/op11f.pdf> [Accessed 4 Feb. 2008]

Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH). 16 January 2008. “Conventions de La Haye : signatures, ratifications et adhésions état au 16 janvier 2008.” <http://www.hcch.net/upload/statmtrx_f.pdf> [Accessed 8 Feb. 2008]

Haiti. 10 March 1987. Constitution de la République d’Haïti. <http://www.haiti.org/official_documents/constitution87/doc_tm_constitution.html> [Accessed 8 Feb. 2008]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: The Unité d’appui au programme de la coopération canadienne did not respond to a request for information within the time constraints of this Response.

Internet sites, including: Collectif Haïti de France, International Organization for Migration (IOM).

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