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Hello All:
This is an Alabama specific question, but I would not mind advice from people in other states too.
I recently brought our son home from India. We are Indian-born, naturalized citizens of USA.
In India (Hague country, like Korea) only IR-4 visas are issued.
My son has already received his green card.
We understand that IR-4 visas require finalization of adoption, which is different from re-adoption, which occurs following the issuance of an IR-3 visa from countries like China (specifically, if both parents travel to bring the child home).
I have contacted our County (Shelby, Alabama) Probate court, where the documents will have to be submitted prior to the hearing for finalization.
Unfortunately, the adoption person in Shelby's probate court has no idea of what is required and has been promising me to speak to the judge and find out. This has been going on for more than a month.
Apparently, this person has only dealt with re-adoption (IR-3) cases and knows how to deal with that. I tried contacting the Baldwin county adoption person and got the same response.
There is no web-page where I can find out Alabama requirements.
Everyone (including my home study agency [my adoption agency was in Oregon, since there is no Hague accredited agency in Alabama) does not have clue. I am being diverted to lawyers.
I have no problems paying for one. But if this something I can do, then there's no reason to get a lawyer.
What is most frustrating is that the probate court people who will be reviewing the submitted documents have no idea as to what the requirements are.
If any body out there has any idea of how to deal with a finalization following an IR-4 visa, please let me know.
Thank you very much.
CCrasto
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Thanks.
Since this adoption was from India, no agency in Alabama has Hague accreditation. Therefore, my placement agency is in Oregon.
My home-study agency is in Alabama. And they don't have a clue. They keep telling me, that since it's too complicated, here's the number of a lawyer.
What gets me is that the probate courts don't seem to even know what I am supposed to submit to them.
Chiquito
Since it is basically a domestic adoption, you almost certainly will need a lawyer. Most domestic adoptions in any state involve legal counsel. You will probably need things like an updated homestudy, post-placement reports, possibly new medical clearances for the parents, etc., and the attorney can help you identify what you should be doing.
If you go to the website of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, and click on your state, you will get a list of qualified adoption attorneys. Look for one who has an international adoption practice, as well as a domestic one, and give him/her a call. He/she will be able to advise you about the costs, what you need to do, etc.
Sharon