Intercountry Adoption From Hauge and Non-Hauge Convention Countries: Involvement of USCIS

This information was taken directly from Child Welfare Information Gateway

Involvement of USCIS

Convention

USCIS must determine the eligibility and suitability of parents (Form I-800A) before a child is matched with the parents and before a Convention petition (Form I-800) may be filed for a specific child. For more information, visit www.uscis.gov/adoption/immigration-through-adoption/hague-process.

Non-Convention

To approve Form I-600, USCIS determines whether the child to be adopted is either classified as an orphan or is an eligible biological sibling. Adoption in another country does not guarantee that the child will be able to enter the United States. USCIS also reviews Form I-600A, if submitted.

Prospective parents may also apply for advance processing. For more information, visit www.uscis.gov/adoption/immigration-through-adoption/orphan-process.

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Resource

Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2014). Intercountry adoption from hague convention and non-hague convention countries. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

References

Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2012). Finding and using postadoption services. Retrieved from www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_postadoption.cfm

Pinderhuges, E., Matthews, J., Deoudes, G., & Pertman, A. (2013). A changing world: Shaping best practices through understanding of the new realities of intercountry adoption. Retrieved from adoptioninstitute.org/publications/a-changing-world-shaping-best-practices-through-understanding-of-the-new-realities-of-intercountry-adoption/

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. (2014). Re-homing of adopted children: responsibilities for states and opportunities in the provision of postadoption services. (ACYF-CB-IM-14-02). Retrieved from www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/cb/im1402.pdf

U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs. (2013). Convention countries. Retrieved from adoption.state.gov/hague_convention/countries.php

Citations

1 For information on adoption disruption, refer to Information Gateway’s Adoption Disruption and Dissolution at www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/s_disrup.cfm

2 A third way to legally bring an adopted child to reside permanently in the United States is the immediate relative process. For more information, visit www.uscis.gov/adoption/immigration-through-adoption/other-adoption-related-immigration.