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Difference between revisions of "Adopting from Lesotho"

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{{#eimage:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/flags/large/lt-lgflag.gif|410x579px|thumb|'''The official flag of Lesotho.'''<BR/>Source: cia.gov.}}
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{{#eimage:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/flags/large/lt-lgflag.gif|410x579px|thumb|'''The official flag.'''<BR/>Source: cia.gov.}}
  
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{{#eimage:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/maps/lt-map.gif|410x579px|thumb|'''Map of Lesotho.'''<BR/>Source: cia.gov.}}
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{{#eimage:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/maps/lt-map.gif|410x579px|thumb|'''Map.'''<BR/>Source: cia.gov.}}
  
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/Parade_of_Basotho_women.jpg/518px-Parade_of_Basotho_women.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''Basotho women in Lesotho.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/Parade_of_Basotho_women.jpg/518px-Parade_of_Basotho_women.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''Basotho women.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
  
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Lesotho_class.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''Uniformed children in class in Ha Nqabeni primary school, Lesotho.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Lesotho_class.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''Uniformed children in class in Ha Nqabeni primary school.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
  
  
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=Lesotho Adoption Alert=
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'''Notice: As of July 14, 2014, all individuals and agencies facilitating [[international]] adoptions must be in compliance with the Intercountry [[Universal Accreditation Act]].'''
  
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<span style="color:red">'''Adoptions from Lesotho to Begin Under the Hague [[Adoption]] Convention (March 1, 2013)'''
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The information contained on this website is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the advice of a licensed and qualified professional. While the content of this website is frequently updated, information changes rapidly and therefore, some information may be out of date, and/or contain inaccuracies, omissions or typographical errors.
  
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The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry [[Adoption]] (Convention) entered into force for Lesotho on December 1, 2012.  At that time, Lesotho did not yet have a fully functional Convention process in place and elected to suspend intercountry adoptions.  The Government of Lesotho notified the U.S. Embassy in Maseru that the current suspension on intercountry adoptions will cease on February 28, 2013.  The United States determined that it will be able to process Convention intercountry adoptions initiated from Lesotho on or after March 1, 2013.  However, please note that minor delays may be encountered while the Ministry of Social Development finalizes its structure for in-country fees, which the Ministry expects to publish in April 2013. 
 
  
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=About Lesotho=
  
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The Government of Lesotho also notified the U.S. Embassy in Maseru that accredited [[Adoption Service Provider|adoption service provider]] Small World, Inc. is now authorized to provide services in Convention adoptions from Lesotho. This is the only U.S. [[Adoption Service Provider|adoption service provider]] currently authorized to operate in Lesotho. [[Adoption]] service providers interested in seeking authorization should contact Lesotho’s Ministry of Social Development.
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Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of [[Lesotho]] upon independence from the UK in 1966. The Basuto National Party ruled the country during its first two decades. King MOSHOESHOE was exiled in 1990, but returned to [[Lesotho]] in 1992 and was reinstated in 1995 and subsequently succeeded by his son, King LETSIE III, in 1996. To learn more please read [[About Lesotho]].
  
  
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The Department of State cautions U.S. prospective [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]] and [[adoption]] service providers that the Ministry of Social Development does not expect to publish a fee structure for in-country fees until approximately April 1, 2013.  The Department of State reminds [[adoption]] service providers that, in accordance with the accreditation and approval standards, prospective [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]] must receive a detailed fee schedule for the entire process, including foreign country program expenses, when deciding whether to contract with a specific [[Adoption Service Provider|adoption service provider]]. 
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=Lesotho Adoption Alert=
  
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There have been multiple [[adoption]] alerts for [[Lesotho]]. To learn more please read [[Lesotho Adoption Alert]].
  
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The Department of State will provide updated information on [[adoption]].state.gov as it becomes available.  If you have any questions about this notice, please contact the Office of Children’s Issues at 1-888-407-4747 within the United States, or 202-501-4444 from outside the United States.  Email inquiries may be directed to AdoptionUSCA@state.gov. 
 
  
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=Hague Convention Information=
  
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[[Lesotho]] is party to the [http://adoption.state.gov/hague_convention/overview.php Hague Convention on Protection of Children] and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry [[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 [[Lesotho]]. To learn more please read about [[Lesotho and the Hague Convention]].
  
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<span style="color:red">'''Notice: Lesotho Deposits Its Instruments of Accession to the Hague [[Adoption]] Convention (October 31, 2012)'''
 
  
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On June 18, 2012, the Kingdom of Lesotho deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry [[Adoption]] Convention (Hague [[Adoption]] Convention) with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the [[Netherlands]].  On August 24, the Kingdom of Lesotho designated the Ministry of Social Development as the Central Authority (the Ministry) for the Convention.  The Hague [[Adoption]] Convention will enter into force for Lesotho on December 1, 2012.
 
  
  
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'''[[Adoption]] Cases in Progress'''
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=Contact Information=
  
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'''[[Lesotho]]’s [[Adoption]] Authority'''
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The Ministry has advised the U.S. Central Authority that existing laws, rules and procedures will apply to any [[adoption]] where a Mosotho child was officially matched with prospective [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]] prior to the entry into force of the Convention on December 1, 2012.  The Ministry defines an official match as any child who matched with prospective [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]] during a [[matching]] meeting chaired by a Ministry official and involving representatives of Lesotho childcare facilities and [[adoption]] service providers.
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Office of the Principal Secretary
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The Ministry will process cases initiated on or after December 1, 2012, and those that do not meet the criteria outlined above as Convention cases.
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Questions regarding whether an [[adoption]] may proceed under the old laws and regulations may be addressed directly to:
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Limakatso Chisepo
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Principal Secretary
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Ministry of Social Development
 
Ministry of Social Development
 
Parliament Road
 
Parliament Road
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Maseru 100, Lesotho
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Maseru 100, [[Lesotho]]
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Telephone:  226 5803 8783
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Tel:  226 58038783
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Fax: +266 32 22324103
 
Email:  chisepol@health.gov.ls
 
Email:  chisepol@health.gov.ls
  
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=Hague Convention Information=
 
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Lesotho is party to the [http://adoption.state.gov/hague_convention/overview.php Hague Convention on Protection of Children] and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry [[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 Lesotho. 
 
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The Convention entered into force for Lesotho on December 1, 2012.  Lesotho has not yet implemented procedures for the processing of Convention adoptions.  For this reason, the Government of Lesotho announced in November 2012 that it is temporarily suspending all new intercountry adoptions while it focuses on implementing the Convention.
 
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Transition cases may be completed under the previous “[[orphan]]” process.  Transition cases are defined as those in which:
 
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Prior to December 1, 2012, a prospective [[Adoptive Parent|adoptive parent]] filed a Form [[I-600A]] with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services identifying Lesotho as the country of origin, filed a Form [[I-600]], or completed the [[adoption]]; and
 
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The child was “officially matched” with prospective [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]] prior to December 1, 2012.  The Ministry of Social Development defines an official match as one in which the match was made during a [[matching]] meeting chaired by a Ministry official, and involving representatives of Lesotho childcare facilities and [[adoption]] service providers. 
 
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The Government of Lesotho expects that implementation of the Convention will take several months.  We caution [[adoption]] service providers and prospective [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]] that intercountry adoptions between the United States and Lesotho will not resume until it is determined that intercountry adoptions from Lesotho comply with the Convention.  [[Adoption]] service providers should not advertise [[adoption]] programs in Lesotho until the Department of State notifies them that the Government of Lesotho has lifted its temporary suspension of intercountry adoptions and that Lesotho’s procedures meet the requirements of the Convention.
 
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The Department of State will provide updated information on [[adoption]].state.gov as it becomes available.  Please visit the Department’s [http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country.html Country Specific Information] for more information on travelling to Lesotho and the U.S. Embassy in Maseru’s website for information on consular services.
 
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=Who Can Adopt=
 
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N/A
 
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==Residency==
 
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N/A
 
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==Age of Adopting Parents==
 
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N/A
 
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==Marriage==
 
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N/A
 
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==Income==
 
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N/A
 
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==Other==
 
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N/A
 
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=Who Can Be Adopted=
 
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N/A
 
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=How to Adopt=
 
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==    Adoption Authority==
 
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==The Process==
 
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=Traveling Abroad=
 
  
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'''U.S. Embassy in Maseru, [[Lesotho]]'''
  
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=After Adoption=
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254 Kingsway Road
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Maseru, [[Lesotho]]
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Tel:  +266 22 312 666
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Fax:  +266 22 310 116
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Email:  usconsularmaseru@state.gov       
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Internet:  [http://Maseru.usembassy.gov U.S. Embassy Lesotho]
  
  
 
==SOURCE==
 
==SOURCE==
  
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'''Intercountry [[Adoption]], Bureau of Consular Affairs.  U.S. Department of State Country Information'''
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'''Intercountry [[Adoption]], Bureau of Consular Affairs.  U.S. Department of State Country Information''' adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_info.php?country-select=lesotho
  
 
[[Category: International Adoption]]
 
[[Category: International Adoption]]

Latest revision as of 05:14, 19 February 2018

The official flag.
Source: cia.gov.

Map.
Source: cia.gov.

Basotho women.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

Uniformed children in class in Ha Nqabeni primary school.
Source: Wikipedia.org.


Notice: As of July 14, 2014, all individuals and agencies facilitating international adoptions must be in compliance with the Intercountry Universal Accreditation Act.

The information contained on this website is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the advice of a licensed and qualified professional. While the content of this website is frequently updated, information changes rapidly and therefore, some information may be out of date, and/or contain inaccuracies, omissions or typographical errors.


About Lesotho

Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the UK in 1966. The Basuto National Party ruled the country during its first two decades. King MOSHOESHOE was exiled in 1990, but returned to Lesotho in 1992 and was reinstated in 1995 and subsequently succeeded by his son, King LETSIE III, in 1996. To learn more please read About Lesotho.


Lesotho Adoption Alert

There have been multiple adoption alerts for Lesotho. To learn more please read Lesotho Adoption Alert.


Hague Convention Information

Lesotho is party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry 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 Lesotho. To learn more please read about Lesotho and the Hague Convention.



Contact Information

Lesotho’s Adoption Authority

Office of the Principal Secretary Ministry of Social Development Parliament Road Maseru 100, Lesotho Tel: 226 58038783 Fax: +266 32 22324103 Email: chisepol@health.gov.ls


U.S. Embassy in Maseru, Lesotho

254 Kingsway Road Maseru, Lesotho Tel: +266 22 312 666 Fax: +266 22 310 116 Email: usconsularmaseru@state.gov Internet: U.S. Embassy Lesotho


SOURCE

Intercountry Adoption, Bureau of Consular Affairs. U.S. Department of State Country Information adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_info.php?country-select=lesotho