Adopting from Sierra Leone
Notice: As of July 14, 2014, all individuals and agencies facilitating international adoptions must be in compliance with the Intercountry Universal Accreditation Act.
The information contained on this website is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the advice of a licensed and qualified professional. While the content of this website is frequently updated, information changes rapidly and therefore, some information may be out of date, and/or contain inaccuracies, omissions or typographical errors.
Contents
About Sierra Leone
Democracy is slowly being reestablished after the civil war from 1991 to 2002 that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (about a third of the population). The military, which took over full responsibility for security following the departure of UN peacekeepers at the end of 2005, is increasingly developing as a guarantor of the country's stability. To learn more please read About Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone Adoption Alert
There have been multiple alerts for Sierra Leone. To learn more please read the Sierra Leone Adoption Alert page.
Hague Convention Information
Sierra Leone is not party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention). Therefore, when the Hague Adoption Convention entered into force for the United States on April 1, 2008, intercountry adoption processing for Sierra Leone did not change.
Who Can Adopt
To bring an adopted child to United States from Sierra Leone, you must be found eligible to be an adoptive parent by the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government agency responsible for making this determination is the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Read more on Who Can Adopt. To learn more please read about Who Can Adopt from Sierra Leone.
Who Can Be Adopted
Sierra Leone has specific requirements that a child must meet in order to be eligible for adoption. You cannot adopt a child in Sierra Leone unless he or she meets multiple requirements. To learn more please read about Who Can Be Adopted from Sierra Leone.
How to Adopt
Adoption Authority
Sierra Leone Adoption Authority
Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender & Children's Affairs
The Process
The process for adopting a child from Sierra Leone generally includes the following steps:
- Choose an Adoption Service Provider
- Apply to be Found Eligible to Adopt
- Be Matched with a Child
- Adopt the Child in Sierra Leone
- Apply for the Child to be Found Eligible for Adoption
- Bringing Your Child Home
To learn more about this process please read about How to Adopt form Sierra Leone.
Traveling Abroad
Applying for Your U.S. Passport
A valid U.S. passport is required to enter and leave Sierra Leone. Only the U.S. Department of State has the authority to grant, issue, or verify U.S. passports. Getting or renewing a passport is easy. To learn more please read about Traveling Abroad in Sierra Leone.
After Adoption
What resources are available to assist families after the adoption?
Many adoptive parents find it important to find support after the adoption. Take advantage of all the resources available to your family -- whether it's another adoptive family, a support group, an advocacy organization, or your religious or community services.
Here are some good places to start your support group search:
Child Welfare Information Gateway
North American Council on Adoptable Children
Adoption Services Support Group for Adopting Persons
Contact Information
U.S. Embassy
Consular Section 2160 Freetown Place Washington, DC 20521-2160
International Mailing Address:
Consular Section
American Embassy
P O Box 50
Freetown, Sierra Leone
or
Consular Section
U.S. Embassy
Leicester
Freetown, Sierra Leone
Tel: (232) 22 515 000 or (232) 76 515 000
Fax: (232) 22 515 355
Email: consularfreetown@state.gov
Internet: U.S. Embassy Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone's Adoption Authority
Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender & Children's Affairs New England, Freetown Sierra Leone Tel: (232) 22 241 256
Embassy of Sierra Leone
1701 19th Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009 Telephone: (202) 939-9261 Fax: (202) 483-1793
Office of Children's Issues
U.S. Department of State CA/OCS/CI SA-17, 9th Floor Washington, DC 20522-1709 Tel: 1-888-407-4747 E-mail: AskCI@state.gov Internet: U.S. Department of State
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
For questions about immigration procedures, call the National Customer Service Center (NCSC)
1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833)
SOURCE
Intercountry Adoption, Bureau of Consular Affairs. U.S. Department of State Country Information adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_info.php?country-select=sierra_leone