Azerbaijan and the Hague Convention

Ramana Castle.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

Azerbaijan is party to the 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 Azerbaijan.

U.S. citizens interested in adopting children from Azerbaijan should contact the Central Authority of Azerbaijan to inquire about applicable laws and procedures. U.S. citizen prospective adoptive parents living in Azerbaijan who would like to adopt a child from the United States or from a third country should also contact Azerbaijan’s Central Authority. Please visit the State Department’s Country Specific Information for more information on travelling to Azerbaijan and the website of the U.S. Embassy in Baku, Azerbaijan for information on consular services.

WARNING: The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia, issues immigrant visas for Azerbaijan nationals. The consular officer will send a letter (referred to as an “Article 5 letter”) to Azerbaijan’s Central Authority for any intercountry adoption involving U.S. citizen parents and a child from Azerbaijan 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 Azerbaijan’s 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 Azerbaijan before a U.S. consular officer issues the Article 5 letter in any adoption case.

Remember: 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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