Revision as of 19:01, 6 August 2014

The official flag of Aghanistan.
Source: cia.gov.

Map of Aghanistan.
Source: cia.gov.

Notice: As of July 14, 2014, all individuals and agencies facilitating international adoptions must be in compliance with the Intercountry Universal Accreditation Act.

Hague Convention Information

Afghanistan is not party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention). Read more about Afghanistan and the Hague Convention.

Who Can Adopt

In addition to U.S. immigration requirements, you must also meet the following requirements in order to adopt a child from Afghanistan (go to Who Can Adopt from Afghanistan") .

Who Can Be Adopted

In addition to U.S. immigration requirements, Afghanistan has specific requirements that a child must meet in order to be eligible for adoption (go to Who Can Be Adopted from Afghanistan).

Relinquishment Requirement:The child’s biological father, if living, may relinquish the child, or the Afghan Family Court can designate a legal guardian to do so.

Abandonment Requirement: As determined by the Afghan Family Court.

Age of Adoptive Child Requirement: Guardianship terminates when the child reaches the age of 18.

Sibling Adoption Requirement: N/A

Special Needs or Medical Condition Requirement: N/A

Waiting Period or Foster Care Requirement: N/A

Caution: Prospective adoptive parents should be aware that not all children in orphanages or children’s homes are adoptable. In many countries, birth parents place their child(ren) temporarily in an orphanage or children’s home due to financial or other hardship, intending that the child return home when this becomes possible. In such cases, the birth parent(s) have rarely relinquished their parental rights or consented to their child(ren)’s adoption.

In order to adopt a child from Afghanistan, a child must meet the definition of an orphan under U.S. law for you to bring him or her back to the United States. Find out more about Who Can Be Adopted and these U.S. requirements.

Prospective adoptive parents may petition the Afghan family court for guardianship of a specific child. However, obtaining legal guardianship under Afghan law does not automatically signify that a child is an orphan under U.S. law.

How to Adopt

Afghan's Adoption Authority

There is no central government adoption authority. Guardianship proceedings are handled by the Afghan Family Court.

The Process

The process for adopting a child from Afghanistan generally includes the following steps: (go to How to Adopt from Afghanistan.)

After Adoption

Guardians are not required to provide periodic reports on the child’s adjustment and welfare to the Afghan Family Court.

Post-Adoption Resources

Many adoptive parents find it important to find support after the adoption. There are many public and private nonprofit post-adoption services available for children and their families. There are also numerous adoptive family support groups and adoptee organizations active in the United States that provide a network of options for adoptees who seek out other adoptees from the same country of origin. Take advantage of all the resources available to your family, whether it is another adoptive family, a support group, an advocacy organization, or your religious or community services.

Here are some places to start your support group search:

Child Welfare Information Gateway

American Council on Adoptable Children

Adoption Services Support Groups for Adopting Persons

Contact Information

U.S. Embassy Kabul Great Massoud Road, Kabul, Afghanistan Tel: +011 0700 108 499 Email: KabulACS@state.gov Internet: U.S. Embassy Kabul

Embassy of Afghanistan 2233 Wisconsin Ave., N.W. Suite #216 Washington, D.C. 20007 Tel: (202) 298-9125 Fax: (202) 298-9127 Email: consulate@embassyofafghanistan.org Internet: Embassy of Afghanistan

Afghanistan also has consulates in New York and Los Angeles.

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 Email: AskCI@state.gov

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) For questions about immigration procedures: National Customer Service Center (NCSC) Tel: 1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833)

For questions about filing a Form I-600A or I-600 petition: National Benefits Center Tel: 1-877-424-8374 (toll free); 1-816-251-2770 (local) Email: NBC.Adoptions@uscis.dhs..gov

SOURCE

Intercountry Adoption. Bureau of Consular Affairs. U.S. Department of State. Country Information. [1] Last updated July 2013

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 =Hague Convention Information=
+[[Afghanistan]] is not party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry [[Adoption]] (Hague [[Adoption]] Convention).  Read more about [[Afghanistan and the Hague Convention]].
-[[Afghanistan]] is not party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry [[Adoption]] (Hague [[Adoption]] Convention).  Intercountry adoptions of children from non-Hague countries are processed in accordance with 8 Code of Federal Regulations, Section  204.3 as it relates to orphans as defined under the Immigration and Nationality Act, Section 101(b)(1)(F).
-The Afghan Civil Code governs the rights and interests of minors in [[Afghanistan]].  Islamic Shari’a law, upon which [[Afghanistan]] family law is largely based, does not allow for [[adoption]] of Afghan children in [[Afghanistan]].  Therefore, U.S. citizens considering [[adoption]] of an Afghan child must obtain [[guardianship]] for the purpose of emigration and [[adoption]] in the United States from the Afghan Family Court that has [[jurisdiction]] over the prospective adoptive child’s place of residence.  It is important to note that according to Afghan laws, prospective [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]] who are non-Muslim may not be appointed guardians of Muslim children.  Strong cultural ties to [[Afghanistan]] (dual Afghan-American nationality, for example) may favorably influence the court’s decision, but are not required.
-Prospective [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]] may apply for a U.S. immigrant visa in cases where the Afghan Family Court grants [[guardianship]] of an [[orphan]] as defined under U.S. immigration law.  The Afghan Family Court must specifically rule that the child is permitted to leave the [[jurisdiction]] of [[Afghanistan]] for the purpose of being [[adopted]] in the United States by the prospective parents.  Prospective [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]] should refer to our country information sheet on [[Adoption]] of Children From Countries in which Islamic Shari'a Law is Observed for more information.
 =Who Can Adopt=

Difference between revisions of "Adopting from Afghanistan"