Burundi and the Hague Convention

Burundian women rearing goats.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

Burundi is party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention). Intercountry adoption processing in Hague countries is done in accordance with the requirements of the Convention; the U.S. implementing legislation, the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA); and the IAA’s implementing regulations, as well as the implementing legislation and regulations of Burundi.

Burundian courts may issue guardianship orders, but not for the purpose of immigrating to the United States for adoption. Prospective adoptive parents therefore should expect to finalize the adoption in Burundi and for the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi to only issue IH-3 visas to Burundian children who are legally adopted in Burundi.

NOTE: Special transition provisions apply to adoptions initiated before April 1, 2008. Read about Transition Cases.

U.S. IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTIONS

To bring an adopted child to the United States from Burundii, you must meet eligibility and suitability requirements. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) determines who is eligible to adopt under U.S. immigration law. Additionally, a child must meet the definition of Convention adoptee under U.S. law in order to immigrate to the United States on an IH-3 immigrant visa.

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