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My husband and i are currently in the philippines to adopt a child. We are now in the matching process and after that the placement will take place. The adoption will be finalized in the philippine courts. After we get the phils. adoption decree, and obtain the visa to take the child to california, we would like to do a readoption.
Is there anyone around here that has been through readoption in the state of california? If so, i would need some information on how to go about this. What is the process, timeline from start to finish, fees, documentation needed to file the application? What kind of visa did your child get to fly to the US?
I would appreciate any information in this matter! :)
gladys
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If a child has been seen by both parents (or the sole parent in the case of a single person), prior to the issuance of a final decree of adoption, the child will travel home on an IR-3 visa. If a child travels home on an IR-3 visa, readoption is optional from the point of view of the U.S. government; a few states require it, however. The child becomes an automatic U.S. citizen as soon as he/she enters the U.S., and under a new USCIS policy, will receive a certificate of citizenship automatically by mail. (The new policy regarding certificates is NOT retroactive to children who came home on IR-3s in the past; the parents must still file the N-600 to request one.)
If a child has not been seen by both parents (or the sole parent in the case of a single person), prior to the issuance of a final decree of adoption, the child must travel home on an IR-4 visa. From the standpoint of the U.S. government, such a child has NOT had a full and final adoption overseas, and must be readopted in his/her parents' state of residence. The only exception is that some states recognize a foreign adoption as final; in such a case, the family must obtain a decree recognizing the foreign adoption. Once the family readopts/gets recognition of the adoption, the child becomes a U.S. citizen automatically. The family can and should file the N-600 to obtain a certificate of citizenship for him/her.
If a child has been brought to the U.S. under a decree of guardianship, for adoption here -- the Korean model -- the child comes home on an IR-4 visa. His/her adoption must be finalized in the U.S. before he/she qualifies for automatic citizenship; there are no exceptions. The family can obtain a certificate of citizenship for the child once the adoption is finalized.
Sharon
Hi Gladys,
[URL]http://uscis.gov/graphics/services/natz/orphans_residing_us.htm
[/URL]
[URL]http://uscis.gov/graphics/services/natz/residing_abroad.htm[/URL]
Follow these links; They will tell you about the process for filing the Form N-600k. This form is for Adoptive Parents with Children Residing Abroad.
Basically the CCA process is not automatic for Americans living Abroad, but once your decree is final, you can plan your trip to the US using the N-600k form and get the CoC for your child. You will need to decide which USCIS District Office or Sub-Office you want to apply so that you can get your appointment letter. You can take the letter, once you receive it, to the US Embassy and get a visa for entry to the US for your child. Being a resident abroad they should issue you B-2 or B-3 visitors visa. Keep in mind that the process is new and when you go to the Embassy or call they probably won't be aware of it yet. I would suggest you print it out and take it with you.
This whole process really doesn't make sense to me but it's what they are publishing.
You can read experiences of those who have gone through the process in posts from the yahoo group adoptionforamericansabroad.
[URL]http://groups.yahoo.com/group/adoptionforamericansabroad/[/URL]
Anyway...
HTH,
Johnny