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Difference between revisions of "How to Adopt from Cote d'Ivoire"

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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Laundry_in_the_river.jpg/800px-Laundry_in_the_river.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''Laundry in the river in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
 
{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Laundry_in_the_river.jpg/800px-Laundry_in_the_river.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''Laundry in the river in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
  
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'''''Steps 1 through 2 of How to [[Adopt]] are on this page.  To read about steps 3-4 please go to [[How to Adopt from Cote d'Ivoire Part 2]].  To read about steps 5-6 please go to [[How to Adopt from Cote d'Ivoire Part 3]].'''''
 
  
 
==Adoption Authority==
 
==Adoption Authority==
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To meet U.S. immigration requirements, you may also file an [[I-600A]], [http://www.uscis.gov/i-600a Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition] with U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to be found eligible and suitable to [[adopt]].
 
To meet U.S. immigration requirements, you may also file an [[I-600A]], [http://www.uscis.gov/i-600a Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition] with U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to be found eligible and suitable to [[adopt]].
 +
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 +
'''3.  Be Matched with a Child'''
 +
 +
If you are eligible to [[adopt]], and a child is available for intercountry [[adoption]], the central [[adoption]] authority or other authorized entity in Côte d’Ivoire will provide you with a referral.  Each family must decide for itself whether or not it will be able to meet the needs of and provide a permanent home for a particular child.  The child must be eligible to be [[adopted]] according to Côte d’Ivoire’s requirements, as described in the Who Can Be [[Adopted]] section.  The child must also meet the [http://www.uscis.gov/tools/glossary/orphan definition of orphan] under U.S. immigration law. 
 +
 +
Once the application is approved and a child is identified for [[adoption]], the committee issues to the prospective [[Adoptive Parent|adoptive parent]](s) an authorization to take the child from the [[orphanage]] for a mandatory medical examination.  The prospective [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]] are responsible for paying the medical fees which are currently $400.  Upon the completion of the medical examination, the [[Adoptive Parent|adoptive parent]](s) are required to confirm in writing their intent to [[adopt]].  Once their confirmation is received, the committee will issue an authorization to the [[orphanage]] to release the child for [[Foster Care|foster care]] to the [[Adoptive Parent|adoptive parent]](s).  However, the release is also subject to the payment of a compulsory financial contribution to the [[orphanage]] for the upkeep of the other abandoned children.  The amount set for foreign [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]] whether living in country or abroad is currently $ 616.
 +
 +
 +
'''4.  [[Adopt]] or Gain [[Legal Custody]] of Child in Côte d’Ivoire'''
 +
 +
The process for finalizing the [[adoption]] (or gaining [[Legal Custody|legal custody]]) in Côte d’Ivoire goes through the Court of First Instance.
 +
 +
 +
Once the child is officially placed in [[Foster Care|foster care]], the [[Adoptive Parent|adoptive parent]](s) may submit a request for legal [[adoption]] to the court.  Although, the law states that it is only upon the completion of a six-month period that the judge may receive a request for and grant a full [[adoption]], in practice, the court is more lenient with [[International Adoptions|international adoptions]] considering various constraints as factors in the decision.
 +
 +
 +
'''''There are two types of adoptions in [[Cote d'Ivoire]]: the simple [[adoption]] ([[Adoption]] Simple) and the full [[adoption]] ([[Adoption]] Plénière).'''''  The simple [[adoption]] is roughly equivalent of a [[guardianship]] order and does not sever [[Parental Rights|parental rights]].  The full [[adoption]] is a permanent, irrevocable severing of ties with the biological parents and creation of a legal parent-child relationship with the same rights as a biological child.  However, please note that only a full [[adoption]] is considered a valid [[adoption]] for U.S. immigration purposes. 
 +
 +
 +
Upon receipt of the request for legal [[adoption]], the court will review the facts surrounding the [[adoption]], the documents supporting the request and may verify the biological parents’ consent if applicable.  When satisfied, the court schedules a date for the hearing to issue the official [[adoption]] judgment.  At the same time, the judge makes a decision on the name of the [[adopted]] child and authorizes the birth certificate to be amended to reflect the name of the [[Adoptive Parent|adoptive parent]](s) as the new legal surname of the child.
 +
 +
 +
'''''Please note that if the child is not an [[orphan]], the biological parents are required by law to consent in writing to the [[adoption]].  The written consent must be attached to the application for [[adoption]] along with the other supporting documents.'''''
 +
 +
 +
'''NOTE:'''  Prospective [[Adoptive Parent|adoptive parent]](s) are advised to fully [[research]] any [[Adoption Agency|adoption agency]] or facilitator they plan to use for [[adoption]] services.  For U.S.-based agencies, prospective [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]] may wish to consider contacting the Better Business Bureau and/or the licensing office in the U.S. state where the agency is located or licensed.
 +
 +
 +
The documentary requirements for processing adoptions before the court are the following:
 +
 +
 +
* A written request for legal full [[adoption]] from the [[Adoptive Parent|adoptive parent]](s);
 +
* Birth certificates of the [[Adoptive Parent|adoptive parent]](s);
 +
* Marriage certificate for legally married couples;
 +
* Proof of income (pay slips or other proof);
 +
* Medical certificate confirming sterility, if this is the basis for [[adoption]];
 +
* The official certificate issued by the local Department of Social Welfare authorizing [[Foster Care|foster care]].
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* A U.S. [[Home Study|home study]] may be useful, if translated into French;
 +
* Consent for [[adoption]], in writing, with the signature(s) of the biological parent(s), if known, duly attested by a Notary Public.
 +
* Time Frame:  The legal process generally may be finalized within a year.
 +
* [[Adoption]] Fees:  The [[adoption]] process involves administrative fees associated with the medical examination, as well as for court procedures.  The administrative and medical fees are described in section 2 (c) and section 3.  The court fees consist of $ 59.00 to register the case at court.  Additional fees involve the purchase of a revenue stamp of $1.60 for issuance of the birth certificate, and the payment of a $ 75.00 application fee for an Ivoirian passport.
 +
 +
'''NOTE:'''  Additional documents may be requested.  If you are asked to provide proof that a document from the United States is authentic, we can help. Learn how.
 +
 +
 +
'''Authentication of Documents:'''  You may be asked to provide proof that a document from the United States is authentic.  If so, the Department of State, Authentications Office may be able to assist.
 +
 +
 +
'''5.  Apply for the Child to be Found Eligible for [[Orphan]] Status'''
 +
 +
 +
After you finalize the [[adoption]] (or gain [[Legal Custody|legal custody]]) in Côte d’Ivoire, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services must determine whether the child meets the [http://www.uscis.gov/tools/glossary/orphan definition of orphan] under U.S. immigration law.  You will need to file a Form [[I-600]], [http://www.uscis.gov/adoption/immigration-through-adoption/orphan-process Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative]. 
 +
 +
 +
'''6.  Bring Your Child Home'''
 +
 +
 +
Once your [[adoption]] is complete (or you have obtained [[Legal Custody|legal custody]] of the child), you need to apply for several documents for your child before you can apply for a U.S. immigrant visa to bring your child home to the United States:
 +
 +
 +
::1. Birth Certificate
 +
 +
If you have finalized the [[adoption]] in Côte d’Ivoire you will first need to apply for a new birth certificate for your child.  Your name will be added to the new birth certificate.  If you have been granted [[custody]] for the purpose of adopting the child in the United States, the birth certificate you obtain will, in most cases, not yet include your name.  Birth certificates are issued by the Civil Registry (Mairie) having [[jurisdiction]] over the child’s place of birth.  The [[Adoptive Parent|adoptive parent]](s) will take a copy of the full [[adoption]] judgment to the civil registry officer who will amend the initial birth certificate to [[ADD|add]] the [[Adoptive Parent|adoptive parent]](s) surname on the document.
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::2. Côte d’Ivoire Passport
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Your child is not yet a U.S. citizen, so he/she will need a travel document or passport from Côte d’Ivoire. '''''Caution:  Please note that only a citizen of Côte d’Ivoire is entitled to an Ivoirian passport.  It is advisable to apply for the passport using the [[Original Birth Certificate|original birth certificate]] of the child because once the name of the foreign [[Adoptive Parent|adoptive parent]] appears on the birth certificate as the child’s parent, the child is no longer considered an Ivoirian citizen but rather as a child of a U.S. citizen and ineligible for an Ivoirian passport.'''''
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To apply for an Ivoirian passport, you should follow the steps below:
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::::::1. Download the form from:  [http://www.snedai.com/docs/formulaire_passeport_ci.pdf Snedai] (or obtain it directly from the passport agencies);
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::::::2. Pay the $75 application fee at the following bank agencies in Abidjan: Cobaci or Ecobank;
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::::::3. Get the receipt of payment;
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::::::4. Gather the required documents below:
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::::::::*One photo ID of the child for the passport application
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::::::::*[[Original Birth Certificate|Original birth certificate]] of the child
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::::::::*Original certificate of Ivoirian citizenship (white color)
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::::::::*Copy of the [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]]’ passports
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::::::::*Original Full [[Adoption Decree]] (Jugement d’[[Adoption]] Plénière)
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::::::5. Take the above documents to one of the passport agencies listed below, all located in Abidjan:
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:::::::::a. Plateau, Police Headquarters
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:::::::::b. Cocody, Boulevard Latrille coming from Cocody, 200 m after Sococé on the left side, before the DUNCAN intersection.
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:::::::::c. Marcory, GFCI, 100 m from the new market, going to Anoumambo.
 +
:::::::::d. Yopougon, Selmer Sicogi, 100 m from the City Hall, going to William Ponty High School.
 +
 +
 +
::::::6. A registration receipt will be given.  This receipt must be presented to pick up the passport when ready.
 +
 +
 +
::::::7. Processing time is approximately one week.
 +
 +
 +
'''NOTE:'''  More information may be obtained on the [http://www.snedai.com website].
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::3. U.S. Immigrant Visa
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After you obtain the new birth certificate and passport for your child and you have filed Form [[I-600]], [http://www.uscis.gov/adoption/immigration-through-adoption/orphan-process Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative], you then need to apply for a U.S. immigrant visa for your child from the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.  This immigrant visa allows your child to travel home with you.  As part of this process, the Consular Officer must be provided the Panel Physician’s [http://adoption.state.gov/us_visa_for_your_child/health.php medical report] on the child.  You can find instructions for applying for an immigrant visa on the [http://abidjan.usembassy.gov. U.S. Embassy Abidjan's website].
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To learn more about the Child Citizenship Act please read [[The Child Citizenship Act of 2000]].
  
 
Back to [[Adopting from Cote d'Ivoire]]
 
Back to [[Adopting from Cote d'Ivoire]]

Revision as of 03:51, 23 October 2014

Laundry in the river in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Source: Wikipedia.org.


Adoption Authority

Côte d’Ivoire Adoption Authority

The government offices responsible for adoption in Côte d'Ivoire are the Ministère de l’Emploi, des Affaires Sociales et de la Solidarité (Ministry of Employment, Social Welfare and Solidarity) and the Ministère de la Justice (Ministry of Justice). More specifically, the Direction de la Protection Sociale (Department of Social Welfare) has jurisdiction over the child's identification process, the home study and the issuance of a certificate authorizing the orphanage to release the child to the adoptive parent(s). The Tribunal de Première Instance (Court of First Instance) has sole authority to grant or deny legal adoption.


The Process

The process for adopting a child from Côte d’Ivoire generally includes the following steps:


  1. Choose an adoption service provider
  2. Apply to be found eligible to adopt
  3. Be matched with a child
  4. Adopt the child in Côte d’Ivoire
  5. Apply for the child to be found eligible for orphan status
  6. Bring your child home


1. Choose an Adoption Service Provider

The recommended first step in adopting a child from Côte d’Ivoire is to decide whether or not to use a licensed adoption service provider in the United States that can help you with your adoption. Adoption service providers must be licensed by the U.S. state in which they operate. The Department of State provides information on selecting an adoption service provider on its website.


There are no private adoption agencies in Côte d'Ivoire. All adoption matters are processed through the Department of Social Welfare and/or the Court of First Instance. The Department of Social Welfare requires that foreign prospective adoptive parent(s) living abroad submit an official authorization for adoption issued by authorized U.S. adoption agencies from their state of residence. This can be a formal U.S. home study.


2. Apply to be Found Eligible to Adopt

In order to adopt a child from Côte d’Ivoire you will need to meet the requirements of the Government of Côte d’Ivoire and U.S. immigration law. If the adoptive parent already identified the child, the request for adoption is directly processed through the Court of First Instance as described in Section 4. When a child is not yet identified, the first step must be followed with the Department of Social Welfare of Côte d’Ivoire, as described below. Please note: All Ivoirian fees noted in the flyer are set in Euros; the U.S. dollar estimate is based on the current Euro-U.S. dollar exchange rate and may fluctuate.


1. Prospective adoptive parent(s) must submit an application to be found eligible to adopt with the Department of Social Welfare of Côte d’Ivoire. The application includes a written request from the prospective parent(s) addressed to the Directeur de la Protection Sociale (Head of Social Welfare Department) along with specific supporting documents. The request should mention the motives for adoption and must indicate the age range and the gender of the adoptive child.


2. The following documents, originals or certified copies, must be attached to the application:
  • . Birth certificates of the adoptive parent(s);
  • . Police Clearance;
  • . Copy of passport or National ID card;
  • . One ID photograph;
  • . Marriage certificate for legally married couples;
  • . Proof of income (pay slips or other proof);
  • . Medical certificate confirming sterility if this is the basis for adoption;
  • . The foreign state authorization for adoption. (I-600A or I600).


3. The complete file should be sent to or dropped off at the following address in order to receive a registration number: Direction de la Protection Sociale, BP V 200 Immeuble le Général, 5e étage, Plateau, Abidjan 01, Côte d’Ivoire. You may also call (+225) 22 32 42 33 for directions.


4. The registration is subject to the payment of fees which are separate from the court fees. The fee for foreign citizens residing in or outside Côte d’Ivoire is currently $123. This fee is non-refundable.


5. The committee in charge of placing children in foster-homes will review the applications for adoption, conduct the home study and will start looking for a child matching the criteria indicated by the prospective adoptive parents. This committee meets four times per year, on a quarterly basis in March, June, September and December.


6. The application remains open for two years from the date of registration and will be reviewed during each quarterly session if no decision has yet been made. The prospective adoptive parent(s) will be notified in writing of the final decision.


To meet U.S. immigration requirements, you may also file an I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition with U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to be found eligible and suitable to adopt.


3. Be Matched with a Child

If you are eligible to adopt, and a child is available for intercountry adoption, the central adoption authority or other authorized entity in Côte d’Ivoire will provide you with a referral. Each family must decide for itself whether or not it will be able to meet the needs of and provide a permanent home for a particular child. The child must be eligible to be adopted according to Côte d’Ivoire’s requirements, as described in the Who Can Be Adopted section. The child must also meet the definition of orphan under U.S. immigration law.

Once the application is approved and a child is identified for adoption, the committee issues to the prospective adoptive parent(s) an authorization to take the child from the orphanage for a mandatory medical examination. The prospective adoptive parents are responsible for paying the medical fees which are currently $400. Upon the completion of the medical examination, the adoptive parent(s) are required to confirm in writing their intent to adopt. Once their confirmation is received, the committee will issue an authorization to the orphanage to release the child for foster care to the adoptive parent(s). However, the release is also subject to the payment of a compulsory financial contribution to the orphanage for the upkeep of the other abandoned children. The amount set for foreign adoptive parents whether living in country or abroad is currently $ 616.


4. Adopt or Gain Legal Custody of Child in Côte d’Ivoire

The process for finalizing the adoption (or gaining legal custody) in Côte d’Ivoire goes through the Court of First Instance.


Once the child is officially placed in foster care, the adoptive parent(s) may submit a request for legal adoption to the court. Although, the law states that it is only upon the completion of a six-month period that the judge may receive a request for and grant a full adoption, in practice, the court is more lenient with international adoptions considering various constraints as factors in the decision.


There are two types of adoptions in Cote d'Ivoire: the simple adoption (Adoption Simple) and the full adoption (Adoption Plénière). The simple adoption is roughly equivalent of a guardianship order and does not sever parental rights. The full adoption is a permanent, irrevocable severing of ties with the biological parents and creation of a legal parent-child relationship with the same rights as a biological child. However, please note that only a full adoption is considered a valid adoption for U.S. immigration purposes.


Upon receipt of the request for legal adoption, the court will review the facts surrounding the adoption, the documents supporting the request and may verify the biological parents’ consent if applicable. When satisfied, the court schedules a date for the hearing to issue the official adoption judgment. At the same time, the judge makes a decision on the name of the adopted child and authorizes the birth certificate to be amended to reflect the name of the adoptive parent(s) as the new legal surname of the child.


Please note that if the child is not an orphan, the biological parents are required by law to consent in writing to the adoption. The written consent must be attached to the application for adoption along with the other supporting documents.


NOTE: Prospective adoptive parent(s) are advised to fully research any adoption agency or facilitator they plan to use for adoption services. For U.S.-based agencies, prospective adoptive parents may wish to consider contacting the Better Business Bureau and/or the licensing office in the U.S. state where the agency is located or licensed.


The documentary requirements for processing adoptions before the court are the following:


  • A written request for legal full adoption from the adoptive parent(s);
  • Birth certificates of the adoptive parent(s);
  • Marriage certificate for legally married couples;
  • Proof of income (pay slips or other proof);
  • Medical certificate confirming sterility, if this is the basis for adoption;
  • The official certificate issued by the local Department of Social Welfare authorizing foster care.
  • A U.S. home study may be useful, if translated into French;
  • Consent for adoption, in writing, with the signature(s) of the biological parent(s), if known, duly attested by a Notary Public.
  • Time Frame: The legal process generally may be finalized within a year.
  • Adoption Fees: The adoption process involves administrative fees associated with the medical examination, as well as for court procedures. The administrative and medical fees are described in section 2 (c) and section 3. The court fees consist of $ 59.00 to register the case at court. Additional fees involve the purchase of a revenue stamp of $1.60 for issuance of the birth certificate, and the payment of a $ 75.00 application fee for an Ivoirian passport.

NOTE: Additional documents may be requested. If you are asked to provide proof that a document from the United States is authentic, we can help. Learn how.


Authentication of Documents: You may be asked to provide proof that a document from the United States is authentic. If so, the Department of State, Authentications Office may be able to assist.


5. Apply for the Child to be Found Eligible for Orphan Status


After you finalize the adoption (or gain legal custody) in Côte d’Ivoire, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services must determine whether the child meets the definition of orphan under U.S. immigration law. You will need to file a Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative.


6. Bring Your Child Home


Once your adoption is complete (or you have obtained legal custody of the child), you need to apply for several documents for your child before you can apply for a U.S. immigrant visa to bring your child home to the United States:


1. Birth Certificate

If you have finalized the adoption in Côte d’Ivoire you will first need to apply for a new birth certificate for your child. Your name will be added to the new birth certificate. If you have been granted custody for the purpose of adopting the child in the United States, the birth certificate you obtain will, in most cases, not yet include your name. Birth certificates are issued by the Civil Registry (Mairie) having jurisdiction over the child’s place of birth. The adoptive parent(s) will take a copy of the full adoption judgment to the civil registry officer who will amend the initial birth certificate to add the adoptive parent(s) surname on the document.


2. Côte d’Ivoire Passport


Your child is not yet a U.S. citizen, so he/she will need a travel document or passport from Côte d’Ivoire. Caution: Please note that only a citizen of Côte d’Ivoire is entitled to an Ivoirian passport. It is advisable to apply for the passport using the original birth certificate of the child because once the name of the foreign adoptive parent appears on the birth certificate as the child’s parent, the child is no longer considered an Ivoirian citizen but rather as a child of a U.S. citizen and ineligible for an Ivoirian passport.


To apply for an Ivoirian passport, you should follow the steps below:


1. Download the form from: Snedai (or obtain it directly from the passport agencies);


2. Pay the $75 application fee at the following bank agencies in Abidjan: Cobaci or Ecobank;


3. Get the receipt of payment;


4. Gather the required documents below:


5. Take the above documents to one of the passport agencies listed below, all located in Abidjan:
a. Plateau, Police Headquarters
b. Cocody, Boulevard Latrille coming from Cocody, 200 m after Sococé on the left side, before the DUNCAN intersection.
c. Marcory, GFCI, 100 m from the new market, going to Anoumambo.
d. Yopougon, Selmer Sicogi, 100 m from the City Hall, going to William Ponty High School.


6. A registration receipt will be given. This receipt must be presented to pick up the passport when ready.


7. Processing time is approximately one week.


NOTE: More information may be obtained on the website.


3. U.S. Immigrant Visa


After you obtain the new birth certificate and passport for your child and you have filed Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative, you then need to apply for a U.S. immigrant visa for your child from the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. This immigrant visa allows your child to travel home with you. As part of this process, the Consular Officer must be provided the Panel Physician’s medical report on the child. You can find instructions for applying for an immigrant visa on the U.S. Embassy Abidjan's website.

To learn more about the Child Citizenship Act please read The Child Citizenship Act of 2000.

Back to Adopting from Cote d'Ivoire