Latest revision as of 02:58, 24 February 2018

The official flag
Source: Wikipedia.org.

Map
Source: cia.gov.

Map
Source: cia.gov.

The Hagia Sophia.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

Interior of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

Sümela Monastery on the Pontic Mountains
Source: Wikipedia.org.

Children in Istanbul
Source: flickr.com.

A classroom in Istanbul
Source: flickr.com.

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul(The Blue Mosque)
Source: Wikipedia.org.

Yeni Camii (Yeni-mosque) in Istanbul from the Golden Horn.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

Istanbul's Grand Bazaar.
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the content of this website is frequently updated, information changes rapidly and therefore, some information may be out of date, and/or contain inaccuracies, omissions or typographical errors.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 Turkey

Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the Anatolian remnants of the defeated Ottoman Empire by national hero Mustafa KEMAL, who was later honored with the title Ataturk or "Father of the Turks." Under his leadership, the country adopted wide-ranging social, legal, and political reforms. After a period of one-party rule, an experiment with multi-party politics led to the 1950 election victory of the opposition Democratic Party and the peaceful transfer of power. To learn more please read About Turkey.

Hague Convention Information

Turkey is party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention). Therefore all adoptions between Turkey and the United States must meet the requirements of the Convention and U.S. law implementing the Convention. To learn more please read about Turkey and the Hague Convention.

Who Can Adopt

Adoption between the United States and Turkey is governed by the Hague Adoption Convention. Therefore to adopt from Turkey, you must first 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 Turkey.

Who Can Be Adopted

Because Turkey is party to the Hague Adoption Convention, children from Turkey must meet the requirements of the Convention in order to be eligible for adoption. For example, the Convention requires that Turkey attempt to place a child with a family in Turkey before determining that a child is eligible for intercountry adoption. In addition to Turkey's requirements, a child must meet the definition of a Convention adoptee for you to bring him or her back to the United States. To learn more please read about Who Can Be Adopted from Turkey.

How to Adopt

Adoption Authority

Turkey's Adoption Authority

General Directorate of Social Services and Child Protection Agency (T.C. Basbakanlik Sosyal Hizmetler ve Cocuk Esirgeme Kurumu Genel Mudurlugu).

The Process

Because Turkey is party to the Hague Adoption Convention, adopting from Turkey must follow a specific process designed to meet the Convention's requirements. A brief summary of the Convention adoption process is given below. You must complete these steps in the following order so that your adoption meets all necessary legal requirements.

NOTE: If you filed your I-600a with Turkey before April 1, 2008, the Hague Adoption Convention may not apply to your adoption. Your adoption could continue to be processed in accordance with the immigration regulations for non-Convention adoptions. Read about Transition Cases for more information.

1. Choose an Accredited Adoption Service Provider
2. Apply to be Found Eligible to Adopt
3. Be Matched with a Child
4. Apply for the Child to be Found Eligible for Immigration to the United States
5. Adopt the Child in Turkey
6. Bringing your Child Home

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

Traveling Abroad

Applying for Your U.S. Passport

A valid U.S. passport is required to enter and leave Turkey. 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 Turkey.

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 in Turkey

American Embassy Ankara (only immigrant visa processing post in Turkey) 110 Ataturk Blvd. Kavaklidere 06100 Ankara, Turkey Phone: 90-312-455 5555 Fax: 90-312-468 6103 Internet: U.S. Embassy Turkey

Turkey's Adoption Authority

General Directorate of Social Services and Child Protection Agency (T.C. Basbakanlik Sosyal Hizmetler ve Cocuk Esirgeme Kurumu Genel Mudurlugu). Address: Anafartalar Cad. N: 70 Ulus Ankara, Turkey Phone: 90-312-310 2460

Embassy of Turkey

Embassy of the Republic of Turkey 2525 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington, DC 20008 Telephone: (202) 612-6700 Fax: (202) 612-6744 E-mail: contact@turkishembassy.org Internet: Embassy of Turkey

Turkey also has Consulates General in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York.

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=turkey