Adopting from St. Kitts and Nevis
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the content of this website is frequently updated, information changes rapidly and therefore, some information may be out of date, and/or contain inaccuracies, omissions or typographical errors.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 St. Kitts and Nevis
Carib Indians occupied the islands of the West Indies for hundreds of years before the British began settlement in 1623. In 1967, the island territory of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla became an associated state of the UK with full internal autonomy. The island of Anguilla rebelled and was allowed to secede in 1971. The remaining islands achieved independence in 1983 as Saint Kitts and Nevis. In 1998, a vote in Nevis on a referendum to separate from Saint Kitts fell short of the two-thirds majority needed. Nevis continues in its efforts to separate from Saint Kitts.
Hague Convention Information
St. Kitts and Nevis is not party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption ( Hague Adoption Convention ). To learn more please read about St. Kitts and Nevis and the Hague Convention.
Who Can Adopt
To bring an adopted child to United States from St. Kitts and Nevis, you must be found eligible to adopt 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). To learn more please read about Who Can Adopt from St. Kitts and Nevis.
Who Can Be Adopted
St. Kitts and Nevis has specific requirements that a child must meet in order to be eligible for adoption. You cannot adopt a child in St. Kitts and Nevis unless he or she meets the requirements outlined below. To learn more please read about Who Can Be Adopted from St. Kitts and Nevis.
How to Adopt
Adoption Authority
The Adoption Authority of St. Kitts and Nevis
Ministry of Social Development, Probation and Child Care Unit
The Process
The process for adopting a child from St. Kitts and Nevis 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 St. Kitts and Nevis
- Apply for the Child to be Found Eligible for Adoption
- Bring Your Child Home
To learn more about this process please read about How to Adopt from St. Kitts and Nevis.
Traveling Abroad
Applying for Your U.S. Passport
A valid U.S. passport is required to enter and leave St. Kitts and Nevis. 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 St. Kitts and Nevis.
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 accredited to St. Kitts and Nevis
U.S. Embassy P.O. Box 302 Bridgetown BB 11000 Bridgetown, Barbados Tel: 246-227-4000, x4193 Fax: 246-431-0179
Adoption Authority of St. Kitts and Nevis
Ministry of Community, Social Development and Gender Affairs Probation and Child Protection Services Maurice Williams, Director Tel: 1-869-465-2521, extension 1379 Fax: 1-869-466-8244
Embassy of St. Kitts and Nevis
Embassy of Saint Kitts and Nevis to the OAS 3216 New Mexico Ave., NW Washington, D.C. 20016 Tel: (202) 686-2636 Fax: (202) 686-5740 Internet: Embassy of St. Kitts and Nevis
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 or Adoption USCA@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=st._kitts_and_nevis