Sri Lanka and the Hague Convention

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Source: Wikipedia.org.

Sri Lanka is party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention or Convention). Intercountry adoption processing in Convention 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 Sri Lanka.

The Commissioner of Probation and Child Care Services in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital, advised the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka that foreign citizens residing in Sri Lanka are not permitted to adopt Sri Lankan children. Foreign citizens who reside outside of Sri Lanka may only adopt Sri Lankan children who are three months to 14 years of age. U.S. citizens interested in adopting children from Sri Lanka are strongly encouraged to contact the U.S. Embassy in Colombo’s Consular Section by email at consularcolombo@state.gov before formalizing an adoption agreement, to ensure that appropriate procedures (outlined in this country information sheet) are followed, which will make it possible for the Embassy to issue a U.S. immigrant visa for the child.

U.S. IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTIONS

To bring an adopted child to the United States from Sri Lanka, you must meet eligibility and suitability requirements. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) determine who can adopt under U.S. immigration law.

Additionally, a child must meet the definition of Convention adoptee under U.S. law in order to immigrate to the United States on an IH3 or IH4 immigrant visa.

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