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Andorra and the Hague Convention
Source: wikipedia.org.
Andorra 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 the child’s country of origin.
U.S. citizens interested in adopting children from Andorra should contact Andorra’s Central Authority, the Ministry of Health, Welfare, Family and Housing, to inquire about applicable adoption laws and procedures. U.S. citizen prospective adoptive parents living in Andorra who would like to adopt a child from the United States or from a third country should also contact Andorra’s Central Authority to determine their status of habitual residence and inquiry about applicable laws and procedures. See contact information below.
In order to complete an Intercountry adoption of a child from Andorra to the United States under the Hague Adoption Convention, you must work with a U.S. accredited or approved adoption service provider acting as primary provider. At this time, there are no known U.S. accredited or approved adoption service providers that have applied for or received authorization from the government of Andorra to handle intercountry adoption between Andorra and the United States. Therefore adoptions under the Hague Adoption Convention between the United States and Andorra may not be possible at this time.
The foregoing does not affect the ability of the adoptive parent who is not habitually resident in the United States to file a Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, for an adopted child from Andorra with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The prospective adoptive parent must complete two years of legal and physical custody in Andorra with the child. USCIS determines whether a child meets the definition of an “adopted child”, and qualifies for immigration on a case-by-case basis. For more information about Form I-130, please visit the USCIS Form I-130 processing page.
Please visit the Department’s Country Specific Information for more information on travelling to Andorra, and the website of the U.S. Consulate General in Barcelona, Spain for information on consular services.
WARNING: In the case of an intercountry adoption by U.S. citizens being approved by Andorra’s Central Authority, the consular officer will send a letter (referred to as an “Article 5 Letter”) to Andorra’s Central Authority where all Convention requirements are met and the consular officer determines that the child appears eligible to immigrate to the United States. This letter will inform the Central Authority that the parents are eligible and suited to adopt, that all indications are that the child may enter and reside permanently in the United States, and that the U.S. Central Authority agrees that the adoption may proceed.
Do not attempt to adopt or obtain custody of a child in Andorra before a U.S. consular officer issues the Article 5 Letter in any adoption case. The consular officer will make a final decision about a child’s eligibility for an immigrant visa later in the adoption process.
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