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International Adoption
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The Office of Children's Issues in the Bureau of Consular Affairs provides brochures
describing the adoption process in numerous countries.
General Adoption Information
If you have questions, you can call them at 202-736-9130. You may also fax them at 202-736-9080, or write them at: Office of Children's Issues SA-29 U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street, NW Washington, DC 20520-2818 The State Department CAN:
The information provided below is designed to provide a sampling of the many organizations involved in adoption. The agencies listed are not placement agencies. The Department of State does not endorse or recommend any particular organization.
Magazines and Books
National Adoption Organizations and Parent Support Groups * National Adoption Information Clearinghouse (NAIC) P.O. Box 1182 Washington, DC 20013-1182 Tel: 703-352-3488 / 888-251-0075 Fax: 703-385-3206 E-mail: naic@calib.com *This organization was established by Congress to provide the general public with easily accessible information on all aspects of adoption. NAIC publishes a variety of fact sheets on adoption issues, directories of adoption-related services, and a catalog of audiovisual materials on adoptions. NAIC does not place children for adoption or provide counseling. It does, however, make referrals for such services. Adoptive Families Magazine P.O. Box 5159 Brentwood, TN 37024 Tel: 212-877-1839 1-800-372-3300 Committee for Single Adoptive Parents, Inc. P.O. Box 15084 Chevy Chase, MD 20825 Tel: 202-966-6367 FACE (Families Adopting Children Everywhere) Face Inc. P.O. Box 28058 Baltimore, MD 21239 Tel: 410-488-2656 (Help-line) International Concerns Committee for Children 911 Cypress Drive Boulder, CO 80303 Tel: 303-494-8333 Joint Council on International Children's Services 1320 19th St., NW, Suite 200 Washington, DC 20036 Tel: 202-429-0400 *North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) 970 Raymond Avenue, Suite 106 St. Paul, MN 55114 Tel: 651-644-3036 Fax: 651-644-9848 *This organization can provide a list of parent support groups in a specific region of the United States. National Council for Adoption 225 N. Washington Street Alexandria, VA 22314 Tel: 703-299-6633
Magazines
Adoptive Families (formerly OURS magazine) 1-800-372-3300 Complimentary copy available by calling the above number ODS News Open Door Society of Massachusetts 1-800-93A-DOPT Single Parents With Adopted Kids 4108 Washington Rd. #101 Kenosha, WI 53144
Books
General Information
The Foreign Adoption Process
Although adoption procedures vary from country to country, most countries require that prior to any court action, a child placed for adoption be legally recognized as an orphan or, in the case where a parent is living, be legally and irrevocably released for adoption in a manner provided for under local foreign law. In addition, the adoption laws in most countries require the full adoption of the child in the foreign court after the child has been declared an orphan or released by the living parent to an appropriate foreign authority. Some countries do allow simple adoption, which means that the adopting parent(s) can be granted guardianship of the child by the foreign court. This will permit the child to leave the foreign country to be adopted in the country of the adopting parent(s). A few countries do allow adoptive parents to adopt through a third party without actually traveling to that country. It is important to note that a foreign country's determination that the child is an orphan does not guarantee that the child will be considered an orphan under the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act, since the foreign country may use different standards. Questions, which involve interpretation of specific foreign laws, should be addressed to a foreign attorney operating in the country where the adoption will take place.
Some countries accept the properly authenticated home study of the prospective adoptive parent(s) at face value, while other countries also require a personal appearance by the adoptive parent(s) before the foreign court. Sometimes, countries require a period of residence by one or both adoptive parents. In these cases, prospective adoptive parents may find it necessary to spend an extended period in the foreign country awaiting the completion of the foreign adoption documents. Additionally, several countries require a post-adoption follow-up conducted by the adoption agency or the foreign country's consul in the United States. In most cases, the formal adoption of a child in a foreign court is legally acceptable in the United States. A U.S. state court, however, is not required to automatically recognize a foreign adoption decree. This does not suggest that the United States does not respect foreign procedures or recognize the authority of the foreign country in relation to the child. Nonetheless, the status of the involved child may be subject to challenge in state court unless an adoption decree is entered in a state in the United States. Many adoption practitioners recommend that the child adopted abroad be re-adopted in a court of his/her state of residence in the United States as a precautionary measure. Following a re-adoption in the state court, parents can request that a state birth certificate be issued. This should be recognized in all other U.S. states. In some instances, re-adoption of the child in the United States is required. This often occurs if the adoptive parent (or only one of a married couple) did not see the child prior to or during the adoption proceedings abroad. The child must be re-adopted in the U.S. in such circumstances, even if a full final adoption decree has been issued in the foreign country. Adoption in India
Historically, adoption was not a popular or traditional concept in India, and the few adoptions that were permitted were limited to a child within the extended family. These adoptions were governed by the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act of 1956. The Act prohibited non-Hindus (including foreigners) from adopting Indian children within India. While foreign nationals are not permitted to adopt Indian children in India, in the late 1970's the Government of India introduced a provision for legal guardianship. A foreign national is now permitted to apply for and obtain legal guardianship of a child who is declared by the courts to be destitute and abandoned. The child may then be taken out of India to be adopted, and must be adopted within two years.
The standard procedure, therefore, is for an American citizen interested in adopting an Indian orphan to (a) select an Indian orphan child using the services of a U.S. adoption agency recognized in India; (b) apply for guardianship or adoption of the orphan, and once this is granted by the Indian court, (c) to apply for an orphan immigrant visa for the child to go to the U.S. Indian adoption agencies Specific information about adoption in India Additional Information on Adoptions and Foreign Travel
Section 1: Government Information
Mail In Requests
All of the flyers available on the automated fax service are also available in printed form. The order form, section two below can be used to obtain these flyers. Simply circle the flyer(s) that you wish and send the order form to: Office of Children's Issues SA-29 U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street, NW Washington, DC 20520-28181 Phone: 1-888-407-4747 Fax: (202) 312-9743 Please enclose a large stamped, self-addressed envelope. For printed copies of Travel Warnings, Public Announcements, Consular Information Sheets and other general travel-related information, send a 8 1/2 X 11 inch self-addressed envelope with $3 in stamps attached to the Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management, U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20520-2818.
Section II: Country-Specific Adoption Information Flyers
Section III: TWENTY-FIVE SOURCE COUNTRIES
Countries of Nationality Ranked by Number of U. S. Adoption Visas Issued*
Section IV: Document Checklist
The adoption agency, attorney, U.S. embassy, USCIS or the state may require some or all of the following items.
Some countries require legalization of documents. This process is called authentication. Generally, U.S. civil records, such as birth, death, and marriage certificates must bear the seal of the issuing office, state capitol, then by the U.S. Department of State Authentication's Office. The U.S. Department of State Authentication's Office is located at 518 23rd Street, NW, State Annex 1, Washington, DC 20520, Tel: 202-647-5002. Walk-in service is available 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., Monday-Friday, except holidays. The Department charges $5.00 per document for this service, payable in the form of a check drawn on a U.S. bank or money order made payable to the U.S. Department of State. |
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