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Adoption Abroad
If you plan to adopt a child overseas, be aware that, in order to bring the child to the U.S. to live, the child must be issued a U.S. immigrant visa in the country of adoption. In addition to other requirements that must be met before a visa may be issued, U.S. law must be satisfied as to the legality of the adoption process that took place.
American citizens are seeking to adopt children in ever increasing numbers. With the reduction in children available for adoption in the United States, more and more U.S. citizens have adopted children from other countries. This year, thousands of children came to the United States from foreign countries, either adopted abroad by U.S. citizens or as potential adoptees. This page provides both information and guidance to U.S. citizens seeking information about intercountry adoptions.
The U.S. Government considers foreign adoptions to be a private, legal matter within the judicial sovereignty of the nation in which the child is residing. U.S. authorities have no right to intervene on behalf of American citizens in the courts of the country where the adoption takes place, and prospective parents must comply with the laws of that country.
However, the Department of State does provide extensive information about the adoption processes in various countries and the U.S. legal requirements to bring a
child adopted abroad to the United States. In addition to this website, The Office of Children''s Issues in the Bureau of Consular Affairs provides brochures describing the adoption process in numerous countries. In addition, we provide recorded information on intercountry adoption for several countries on a twenty-four hour basis through our recorded telephone messages at 1-888-407-4747.
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What the State Department Can Do:
- Provide information about intercountry adoption in countries around the world
- Provide general information about U.S. visa requirements for intercountry adoption
- Make inquiries of the U.S. consular section abroad regarding the status of a specific adoption case and clarify documentation
or other requirements
- Ensure that U.S. citizens are not discriminated against by foreign authorities or courts in accordance with local law on adoptions
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What the State Department Cannot Do:
- Become directly involved in the adoption process in another country
- Act as an attorney or represent adoptive parents in court
- Order that an adoption take place or that a visa be issued
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Last updated on: 11/14/2008
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