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Difference between revisions of "Adopting from Costa Rica"

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=Hague Convention Information=
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{{#eimage:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/flags/large/cs-lgflag.gif|410x579px|thumb|'''The official flag of [[Costa Rica]].'''<BR/>Source: cia.gov.}}
  
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'''The Hague Convention on Intercountry adoption, which entered into force for the United States on April 1, 2008, requires that all adoptions between the United States and Hague Partner countries have certain safeguards that ensure the adoption is in the best interest of the child. Every step of The Hague Adoption process was developed to address past abuses. The Costa Rican Central Authority for the Hague Convention in respect to Intercountry adoption is the Patronato Nacional de la Infancia (PANI). PANI is the Costa Rican child welfare authority. PANI will not accept private-direct-adoptions. There are no exceptions to this rule. Private adoptions are those that are not handled by the Costa Rican Council on Adoptions (PANI), but are arranged by an attorney and approved by a judge. There have been allegations of fraud in connection with private adoptions, and the Costa Rican National Council on adoptions strongly discourages them.'''
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{{#eimage:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/maps/cs-map.gif|410x579px|thumb|'''Map of [[Costa Rica]].'''<BR/>Source: cia.gov.}}
  
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{{#eimage:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/locator/cam/cs_large_locator.gif|410x579px|thumb|'''Map of [[Costa Rica]].'''<BR/>Source: cia.gov.}}
  
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'''All international adoptions in Costa Rica should go through PANI. PANI prohibits adoption of children less than five years of age, except in cases in which the child is part of a family group, or in cases where the child may have disabilities that will cause difficulties in placing the child. Another important requirement is the post-adoption reporting that the adoptive parents need to send to the country of origin of the children. PANI is very strict with this requirement and they require a post-adoption report for a period of two years, every six months. U.S. adoption providers and adoptive parents must comply with this requisite.'''
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/SanJos%C3%A9Overview.png/269px-SanJos%C3%A9Overview.png|410x579px|thumb|'''Collage of the capital city of San Jose, [[Costa Rica]]..'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
  
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bd/Iglesia_Inmaculada_Concepcion_Ujarras.jpg/800px-Iglesia_Inmaculada_Concepcion_Ujarras.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''Iglesia de Ujarras, one of the oldest churches in [[Costa Rica]], Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Limpia Concepcion.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
  
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Costa Rica is 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 all adoptions between Costa Rica and the United States must meet the requirements of the Convention and U.S. law implementing the Convention.  In order for an adoption application to meet the requirements of the Hague, a U.S. consular officer must review the case file and issue an "Article 5 Letter" to PANI before an adoption or grant of legal custody takes place. Therefore, prospective adoptive parents are cautioned to carefully follow in order the steps outlined in the "How to Adopt" Section below.
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Red_eyed_tree_frog_edit2.jpg/799px-Red_eyed_tree_frog_edit2.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''Red eyed tree frog, [[Costa Rica]].'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
  
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Poas_crater.jpg/800px-Poas_crater.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''Poas Volcano Crater, [[Costa Rica]].'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
  
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'''NOTE:''' Special transition provisions apply to adoptions initiated before April 1, 2008.  [http://adoption.state.gov/hague_convention/transition.php Learn more].
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Coat_of_arms_of_Costa_Rica.svg/548px-Coat_of_arms_of_Costa_Rica.svg.png|410x579px|thumb|'''The official coat of arms for [[Costa Rica]].'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
  
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=Who Can Adopt=
 
  
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Adoption between the United States and Costa Rica is governed by the Hague Adoption Convention. Therefore to adopt from Costa Rica, 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). [http://adoption.state.gov/adoption_process/who.php Learn more].  
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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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In addition to these U.S. requirements for prospective adoptive parents, Costa Rica also has the following requirements for prospective adoptive parents:
 
  
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==Residency==
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=About Costa Rica=
  
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Costa Rican law requires that, at the initial stage of the adoption process, both prospective adoptive parents must be in Costa Rica to sign the official consent documents before the Costa Rican court. In the case of adoption by a single prospective adoptive parent, that individual must be present to sign the documents. At least 30 days should be allowed for this initial trip. At the end of the process, one of the adoptive parents, or the sole parent if it is a single-parent adoption, must be in Costa Rica to finish the paperwork for the adoption, obtain a travel document for the child, and complete immigration procedures at the U.S. Embassy. Since the length of time for the entire adoption process may vary (from eight months to a year), many prospective adoptive parents make two trips to Costa Rica; others prefer to remain in Costa Rica for the entire process. While in Costa Rica, the adopting parents need to take the following steps to satisfy local adoption requirements:
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Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial attempts at colonizing [[Costa Rica]] proved unsuccessful due to a combination of factors, including disease from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives, and pirate raids. To learn more, read [[About Costa Rica]].
  
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* Meet the child;
 
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* Give formal consent for the adoption at the court;
 
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* Obtain a decree of abandonment;
 
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* Obtain a certified copy of the final adoption decree from the court;
 
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* Register the adoption at the local Civil Registry;
 
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* Obtain a birth certificate from the Civil Registry with the new name of the child;
 
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* Obtain PANI authorization for the child to leave the country;
 
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* Obtain a Costa Rican passport for the child.
 
  
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==Age of Adopting Parents==
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=Hague Convention Information=
  
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Prospective adoptive parents must be at least 25 years of age and under 60 years of age.  
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The Hague Convention on Intercountry [[adoption]], which entered into force for the United States on April 1, 2008, requires that all adoptions between the United States and Hague Partner countries have certain safeguards that ensure the [[adoption]] is in the best interest of the child. There are no exceptions to this rule. Private adoptions are those that are not handled by the Costa Rican Council on Adoptions (PANI), but are arranged by an attorney and approved by a judge. There have been allegations of fraud in connection with private adoptions, and the Costa Rican National Council on adoptions strongly discourages them. To learn more, read about [[Costa Rica and the Hague Convention]].
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==Marriage==
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Costa Rican law permits adoption by married and single persons. A foreign couple must have been married for at least five years.
 
  
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==Income==
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=Who Can Adopt=
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N/A
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==Other==
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[[Adoption]] between the United States and [[Costa Rica]] is governed by the Hague [[Adoption]] Convention. Therefore to [[adopt]] from [[Costa Rica]], you must first be found eligible to [[adopt]] by the U.S. Government.  To learn more about the process, read [[Who Can Adopt from Costa Rica]].
  
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N/A
 
  
 
=Who Can Be Adopted=
 
=Who Can Be Adopted=
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To learn more, please read [[Who Can Be Adopted from Costa Rica]].
  
  
 
=How to Adopt=
 
=How to Adopt=
  
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Because [[Costa Rica]] is party to the Hague [[Adoption]] Convention, adopting from [[Costa Rica]] must follow a specific process designed to meet the Convention's requirements.
  
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==    Adoption Authority==
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# Choose an Accredited [[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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# Apply for the Child to be Found Eligible for Immigration to the United States
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# [[Adopt]] the Child in [[Costa Rica]]
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# Bring your Child Home
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To learn more about the process of adopting from [[Costa Rica]], please read [[How to Adopt from Costa Rica]].
  
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==The Process==
 
  
 
=Traveling Abroad=
 
=Traveling Abroad=
  
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'''Applying for Your U.S. Passport'''
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A valid U.S. passport is required to enter and leave [[Costa Rica]]. 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. The [https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/passport-help.html Passport Application Wizard] will help you determine which passport form you need, help you to complete the form online, estimate your payment, and generate the form for you to print; all in one place.  To learn more, read about [[Traveling Abroad in Costa Rica]].
  
 
=After Adoption=
 
=After Adoption=
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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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Here are some good places to start your support group search:
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[http://www.adoptionservices.org/ Adoption Services Support Groups for Adopting Persons]
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[http://www.nacac.org/ North American Council on Adoptable Children]
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=Contact Information=
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'''NOTE:''' Inclusion of non-U.S. Government links does not imply endorsement of contents.
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'''U.S. Embassy in [[Costa Rica]]'''
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US Embassy San Jose,
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APO AA 34020
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Tel: (506) 2519- 2466
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Fax: (506) 2220-2455
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Internet: [http://sanjose.usembassy.gov/ U.S. Embassy Costa Rica]
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'''Costa Rican [[Adoption]] Authority'''
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Patronato Nacional de La Infancia
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P.O. Box 5000-1000
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San Jose, [[Costa Rica]]
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Tel: (506) 25230794
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Fax: (506) 25230895
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Email: paniadop@racsa.co.cr
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'''Embassy of [[Costa Rica]]'''
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2112- S Street, N.W.,
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[[Washington]], D.C. 20008
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Tel: (202) 234-2945/46
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Fax: (202) 265-4795
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Internet: [http://www.costarica-embassy.org/ Embassy of Costa Rica]
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[[Costa Rica]] also has consulates in: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, [[New York]], San Juan, San Francisco, and Tampa.
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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=costa_rica
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[[Category: International Adoption]]

Latest revision as of 07:06, 7 July 2021

The official flag of .
Source: cia.gov.

Map of .
Source: cia.gov.

Map of .
Source: cia.gov.

Collage of the capital city of San Jose, ..
Source: Wikipedia.org.

Iglesia de Ujarras, one of the oldest churches in , Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Limpia Concepcion.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

Red eyed tree frog, .
Source: Wikipedia.org.

Poas Volcano Crater, .
Source: Wikipedia.org.

The official coat of arms for .
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 Costa Rica

Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to a combination of factors, including disease from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives, and pirate raids. To learn more, read About Costa Rica.


Hague Convention Information

The Hague Convention on Intercountry adoption, which entered into force for the United States on April 1, 2008, requires that all adoptions between the United States and Hague Partner countries have certain safeguards that ensure the adoption is in the best interest of the child. There are no exceptions to this rule. Private adoptions are those that are not handled by the Costa Rican Council on Adoptions (PANI), but are arranged by an attorney and approved by a judge. There have been allegations of fraud in connection with private adoptions, and the Costa Rican National Council on adoptions strongly discourages them. To learn more, read about Costa Rica and the Hague Convention.


Who Can Adopt

Adoption between the United States and Costa Rica is governed by the Hague Adoption Convention. Therefore to adopt from Costa Rica, you must first be found eligible to adopt by the U.S. Government. To learn more about the process, read Who Can Adopt from Costa Rica.


Who Can Be Adopted

To learn more, please read Who Can Be Adopted from Costa Rica.


How to Adopt

Because Costa Rica is party to the Hague Adoption Convention, adopting from Costa Rica must follow a specific process designed to meet the Convention's requirements.

  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 Costa Rica
  6. Bring your Child Home

To learn more about the process of adopting from Costa Rica, please read How to Adopt from Costa Rica.


Traveling Abroad

Applying for Your U.S. Passport

A valid U.S. passport is required to enter and leave Costa Rica. 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. The Passport Application Wizard will help you determine which passport form you need, help you to complete the form online, estimate your payment, and generate the form for you to print; all in one place. To learn more, read about Traveling Abroad in Costa Rica.

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:


Adoption Services Support Groups for Adopting Persons

North American Council on Adoptable Children


Contact Information

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


U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica

US Embassy San Jose, APO AA 34020 Tel: (506) 2519- 2466 Fax: (506) 2220-2455 Internet: U.S. Embassy Costa Rica


Costa Rican Adoption Authority

Patronato Nacional de La Infancia P.O. Box 5000-1000 San Jose, Costa Rica Tel: (506) 25230794 Fax: (506) 25230895 Email: paniadop@racsa.co.cr


Embassy of Costa Rica

2112- S Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008 Tel: (202) 234-2945/46 Fax: (202) 265-4795 Internet: Embassy of Costa Rica


Costa Rica also has consulates in: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Juan, San Francisco, and Tampa.


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=costa_rica