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Difference between revisions of "Adopting from Lebanon"

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{{#eimage:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/flags/large/le-lgflag.gif|410x579px|thumb|'''The official flag of Lebanon.'''<BR/>Source: cia.gov.}}
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{{#eimage:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/flags/large/le-lgflag.gif|410x579px|thumb|'''The official flag.'''<BR/>Source: cia.gov.}}
  
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{{#eimage:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/maps/le-map.gif|410x579px|thumb|'''Map of Lebanon.'''<BR/>Source: cia.gov.}}
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{{#eimage:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/maps/le-map.gif|410x579px|thumb|'''Map.'''<BR/>Source: cia.gov.}}
  
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{{#eimage:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/locator/mde/le_large_locator.gif|410x579px|thumb|'''Map of Lebanon.'''<BR/>Source: cia.gov.}}
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{{#eimage:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/locator/mde/le_large_locator.gif|410x579px|thumb|'''Map.'''<BR/>Source: cia.gov.}}
  
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Beirut_Central_District_Collage.jpg/450px-Beirut_Central_District_Collage.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''Collage of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Beirut_Central_District_Collage.jpg/450px-Beirut_Central_District_Collage.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''Collage of Beirut.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
  
 
{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/ChurchMosque.jpg/636px-ChurchMosque.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''Church of Saint George Maronite and Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque coexist side by side in Downtown Beirut.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
 
{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/ChurchMosque.jpg/636px-ChurchMosque.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''Church of Saint George Maronite and Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque coexist side by side in Downtown Beirut.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
  
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/45/Bsharridistrictmountains.jpg/800px-Bsharridistrictmountains.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''Mount Lebanon, Bsharri district.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Lebanon-Syria_border_sep13VOA_05.jpeg/458px-Lebanon-Syria_border_sep13VOA_05.jpeg|410x579px|thumb|'''Syrian refugees.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
  
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Lebanon-Syria_border_sep13VOA_05.jpeg/458px-Lebanon-Syria_border_sep13VOA_05.jpeg|410x579px|thumb|'''Syrian refugees in Lebanon.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Baalbek_-_temple_of_Jupiter.jpg/399px-Baalbek_-_temple_of_Jupiter.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''The temple of Jupiter in Baalbek temple complex.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
  
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Baalbek_-_temple_of_Jupiter.jpg/399px-Baalbek_-_temple_of_Jupiter.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''The temple of Jupiter in Baalbek temple complex, in Lebanon.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Pigeon%27s_Rock_Beirut_Lebanon.jpg/800px-Pigeon%27s_Rock_Beirut_Lebanon.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''Pigeon Rock.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
  
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Pigeon%27s_Rock_Beirut_Lebanon.jpg/800px-Pigeon%27s_Rock_Beirut_Lebanon.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''Pigeon Rock, Lebanon.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
 
  
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Beirut_Downtown.jpg/800px-Beirut_Downtown.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''Cafe in downtown Beirut.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
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'''Notice: As of July 14, 2014, all individuals and agencies facilitating [[international]] adoptions must be in compliance with the Intercountry [[Universal Accreditation Act]].'''
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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.
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=About Lebanon=
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Following World War I, [[France]] acquired a mandate over the northern portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of [[Syria]]. The French demarcated the region of [[Lebanon]] in 1920 and granted this area independence in 1943. Since independence the country has been marked by periods of political turmoil interspersed with prosperity built on its position as a regional center for finance and trade. To learn more please read [[About Lebanon]].
 +
 
  
 
=Hague Convention Information=
 
=Hague Convention Information=
  
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Lebanon is not party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry [[Adoption]] ([http://adoption.state.gov/hague_convention/overview.php Hague Adoption Convention]). Therefore, when the Hague [[Adoption]] Convention entered into force for the United States on April 1, 2008, intercountry [[adoption]] processing for Lebanon did not change.  
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[[Lebanon]] is not party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry [[Adoption]] ([http://adoption.state.gov/hague_convention/overview.php Hague Adoption Convention]). Therefore, when the Hague [[Adoption]] Convention entered into force for the United States on April 1, 2008, intercountry [[adoption]] processing for [[Lebanon]] did not change. To learn more please read about [[Lebanon and the Hague Convention]].
  
  
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There is no civil procedure for [[adoption]]. The Government of Lebanon recognizes 19 religious confessions, each with its own court structure and laws. Because [[adoption]] is a religious procedure in Lebanon, it is supervised by authorized religious authorities and must be approved by the relevant religious court.
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=Who Can Adopt=
  
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To bring an [[adopted]] child to United States from [[Lebanon]], 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 Lebanon]].
  
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Islamic Shari'a law does not allow for full adoptions as generally understood in the United States. However, immigrant visas can be issued in cases where the Islamic court that grants the guardianship of an [[orphan]] and where that court understands that the parents intend to obtain a full and final [[adoption]] of the child once that child is in the United States and expressly signals that agreement. For more information on this issue please refer to the Department of State's FAQ on [http://adoption.state.gov/adoption_process/faqs/adoption_of_children_countries_islamic_sharia_observed.php "Adoption of Children from Countries in which Islamic Shari'a law is observed]."
 
  
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=Who Can Be Adopted=
  
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In Lebanon, only Christian institutions recognize adoptions as a legal convention and define the conditions, rights, and duties thereof. For the Catholic religious community, the relevant authorities are those of the rite of the minor child; while for the Orthodox religious communities, the forum is the court of the church of the prospective [[Adoptive Parent|adoptive parent]](s). If a child is a foundling, the child assumes the religious affiliation of the [[orphanage]] that takes accepts him/her.
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[[Lebanon]] has specific requirements that a child must meet in order to be eligible for [[adoption]]. To learn more please read about [[Who Can Be Adopted from Lebanon]].
  
  
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Christian orphanages in Lebanon may have children available for [[adoption]].
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=How to Adopt=
  
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==Adoption Authority==
  
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'''NOTE:''' The Lebanese Sûreté Général requires that both U.S. [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]] travel to Lebanon to complete the [[adoption]] procedures and accompany the child out of Lebanon. The U.S. Embassy in Beirut will be unable to obtain exceptions to this legal requirement. Parents adopting a child from Lebanon must apply for the child's U.S. immigrant visa from the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.
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'''[[Lebanon]]'s [[Adoption]] Authority'''
  
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=Who Can Adopt=
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There is no general civil [[adoption]] authority. Since [[adoption]] is overseen by religious institutions in [[Lebanon]], they must be supervised by religious authorities and must be approved by these authorities and relevant religious courts. As a result, Lebanese governmental agencies do not get involved in registering the [[adoption]], changing the child’s name, and issuing a Lebanese passport until after the religious body has approved the [[adoption]].
  
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To bring an [[adopted]] child to United States from Lebanon, 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). Read more on Who can [[Adopt]].
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==The Process==
  
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In addition to these U.S. requirements for prospective [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]], Lebanon also has the following requirements for prospective [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]]:
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The process for adopting a child from [[Lebanon]] generally includes the following steps:  
  
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==Residency==
 
  
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There are no residency requirements for prospective [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]] in Lebanon.
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# Choose an [[Adoption Service Provider]]
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# Apply to be Found Eligible to [[Adopt]]
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# Be Matched with a Child
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# [[Adopt]] the Child in [[Lebanon]]
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# Apply for the Child to be Found Eligible for [[Adoption]]
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# Bring Your Child Home
  
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==Age of Adopting Parents==
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To learn more about this process please read about [[How to Adopt from Lebanon]].
  
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Prospective [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]] must be at least 40 years of age. In addition, the age difference between the prospective [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]] and the child must be at least 18 years. In Armenian Orthodox adoptions, the minimum age difference is 15 years.
 
  
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==Marriage==
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=Traveling Abroad=
  
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Both married and single individuals may [[adopt]] from Lebanon. If married, the consent of both prospective [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]] is needed.
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'''Applying for Your U.S. Passport'''
  
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==Income==
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A valid U.S. passport is required to enter and leave [[Lebanon]]. Only the U.S. Department of State has the authority to grant, issue, or verify U.S. passports. To learn more please read about [[Traveling Abroad in Lebanon]].
  
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While there are no specific income requirements, prospective [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]] must provide their financial status as part of the [[Home Study|home study]].
 
  
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==Other==
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=After Adoption=
  
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Other requirements for [[adoption]] include: In the case of a Catholic child, at least one of the prospective [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]] must be Catholic.  The [[Adoptive Parent|adoptive parent]](s) must not have any legal child and could not hope to have children of their own based on medical reports issued by specialists.  The [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]] and the child must belong to the same religious community, but not necessarily the same rite for the Catholic Church in general.  Prospective [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]] must have a clean criminal record and general good behavior.
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'''What does [[Lebanon]] require of the [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]] after the [[adoption]]?'''
  
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=Who Can Be Adopted=
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There are no post-[[adoption]] requirements for Lebanese adoptions.
  
  
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=How to Adopt=
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'''What resources are available to assist families after the [[adoption]]?'''
  
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Many [[Adoptive Parents|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.
  
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==    Adoption Authority==
 
  
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==The Process==
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Here are some good places to start your support group search:
  
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=Traveling Abroad=
 
  
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[https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_postadoption.cfm Child Welfare Information Gateway]
  
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=After Adoption=
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[http://www.nacac.org/ North American Council on Adoptable Children]
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'''NOTE:''' Inclusion of non-U.S. Government links does not imply endorsement of contents.
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=Contact Information=
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'''Embassy of the United States, Beirut'''
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Antelias, P.O. Box 70-840
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Beirut, [[Lebanon]]
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Tel: [961](4) 542600, 543600, 544310, 544130, and 544140
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Fax: [961] (4) 543498
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'''Embassy of [[Lebanon]]'''
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2560 28th Street, NW
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[[Washington]], DC 20008
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Tel: (202) 939-6300
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Fax: (202) 939-6324
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Email: info@lebanonembassyus.org
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Internet: [http://www.lebanonembassyus.org Embassy of Lebanon]
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[[Lebanon]] also has consulates in Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami and [[New York]] City.
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'''Office of Children's Issues'''
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U.S. Department of State 
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CA/OCS/CI 
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SA-17, 9th Floor
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[[Washington]], DC 20522-1709
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Tel: 1-888-407-4747
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E-mail: AskCI@state.gov
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Internet: [http://adoption.state.gov U.S. Department of State]
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'''U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)'''
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For questions about immigration procedures, call the National Customer Service Center (NCSC)
  
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1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833).
  
 
==SOURCE==
 
==SOURCE==
  
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'''Intercountry [[Adoption]], Bureau of Consular Affairs.  U.S. Department of State Country Information'''
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'''Intercountry [[Adoption]], Bureau of Consular Affairs.  U.S. Department of State Country Information''' adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_info.php?country-select=lebanon
  
 
[[Category: International Adoption]]
 
[[Category: International Adoption]]

Latest revision as of 05:14, 19 February 2018

The official flag.
Source: cia.gov.

Map.
Source: cia.gov.

Map.
Source: cia.gov.

Collage of Beirut.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

Church of Saint George Maronite and Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque coexist side by side in Downtown Beirut.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

Syrian refugees.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

The temple of Jupiter in Baalbek temple complex.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

Pigeon Rock.
Source: Wikipedia.org.


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.


About Lebanon

Following World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The French demarcated the region of Lebanon in 1920 and granted this area independence in 1943. Since independence the country has been marked by periods of political turmoil interspersed with prosperity built on its position as a regional center for finance and trade. To learn more please read About Lebanon.


Hague Convention Information

Lebanon 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 Lebanon did not change. To learn more please read about Lebanon and the Hague Convention.


Who Can Adopt

To bring an adopted child to United States from Lebanon, 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 Lebanon.


Who Can Be Adopted

Lebanon has specific requirements that a child must meet in order to be eligible for adoption. To learn more please read about Who Can Be Adopted from Lebanon.


How to Adopt

Adoption Authority

Lebanon's Adoption Authority

There is no general civil adoption authority. Since adoption is overseen by religious institutions in Lebanon, they must be supervised by religious authorities and must be approved by these authorities and relevant religious courts. As a result, Lebanese governmental agencies do not get involved in registering the adoption, changing the child’s name, and issuing a Lebanese passport until after the religious body has approved the adoption.

The Process

The process for adopting a child from Lebanon 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 Lebanon
  5. Apply for the Child to be Found Eligible for Adoption
  6. Bring Your Child Home

To learn more about this process please read about How to Adopt from Lebanon.


Traveling Abroad

Applying for Your U.S. Passport

A valid U.S. passport is required to enter and leave Lebanon. Only the U.S. Department of State has the authority to grant, issue, or verify U.S. passports. To learn more please read about Traveling Abroad in Lebanon.


After Adoption

What does Lebanon require of the adoptive parents after the adoption?

There are no post-adoption requirements for Lebanese adoptions.


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


NOTE: Inclusion of non-U.S. Government links does not imply endorsement of contents.


Contact Information

Embassy of the United States, Beirut

Antelias, P.O. Box 70-840 Beirut, Lebanon Tel: [961](4) 542600, 543600, 544310, 544130, and 544140 Fax: [961] (4) 543498


Embassy of Lebanon

2560 28th Street, NW Washington, DC 20008 Tel: (202) 939-6300 Fax: (202) 939-6324 Email: info@lebanonembassyus.org Internet: Embassy of Lebanon


Lebanon also has consulates in Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami and New York City.


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=lebanon