‘We’re so grateful’: Visa approved for B.C. family’s adopted granddaughter from Kenya

The holidays should be merry and bright for Liz and Geoff Bruce after the Canadian government approved a travel visa for their adopted granddaughter from Kenya.

The Ladner, B.C., residents decided to speak out after the first two visa applications for five-year-old Chloe were rejected.

One of those applications was refused because the child “didn’t have sufficient assets to support her stay,” according to the child’s adoptive father.

“We were very surprised,” Liz told CTV News last week. “And then we were kind of angry, to be honest.”

The family has since learned Chloe—who was legally adopted in March by the Bruces’ son and daughter-in-law, who live in Nairobi—has been allowed to visit for the holidays.

Liz said they found out Friday after receiving an early morning phone call from their son in Africa.

“He said, ‘Why aren’t you answering your texts?’” Liz recounted. “I said, ‘Because I’m asleep!’ And he said, ‘Well can we come home for Christmas?’”

The Ladner couple hopes to host the family for a couple weeks, and that Chloe might be able to experience her first snowfall with them this year.

“We’re so grateful,” Liz said.

With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Shannon Paterson