Revision as of 04:06, 11 April 2014

The official flag of Turkey.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

Map of Turkey.
Source: cia.gov.

Map of Turkey.
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, Turkey.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

Children in Istanbul, Turkey.
Source: flickr.com.

A classroom in Istanbul, Turkey.
Source: flickr.com.

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

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

Istanbul's Grand Bazaar.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

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.

Turkey is not considered a country of origin in intercountry adoption. Many Turkish families both within and outside Turkey are interested in adopting orphans even though there is a several-year waiting period. Turkish families are given preference in adoption of children between the ages of 0 and 6, and are able to adopt children with or without medical problems.

Foreign nationals generally only can adopt children who cannot be placed with Turkish families or who have special needs. The information provided is intended primarily to assist in rare adoption cases from Turkey, including adoptions of Turkish children by Turkish-American dual nationals, relatives in the United States, or adoptions from third countries by Americans living in Turkey.

Note: Turkish law requires prospective adoptive parents to spend a year caring for the child in Turkey prior to finalizing the adoption. Although Turkish law allows for a child to leave Turkey during the one-year probationary period, a U.S. visa cannot be issued until the probationary period is over and the adoption is final. U.S. prospective adoptive parents should be prepared to remain in Turkey for one year.

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). Read more on Who Can Adopt.

In addition to these U.S. requirements for prospective adoptive parents, Turkey also has the following requirements for prospective adoptive parents:

Residency

Turkish law requires prospective adoptive parents to spend a year caring for the child in Turkey prior to finalizing the adoption. Although Turkish law allows for a child to leave Turkey during the one-year probationary period, a U.S. visa cannot be issued until the probationary period is over and the adoption is final. U.S. prospective adoptive parents should be prepared to remain in Turkey for one year.

Age Requirements

The adoptive parent must be at least 30 years of age and there must be at least an 18-year age difference between the prospective parent and child. Adoptive parents must not be over the age of 40 if they wish to adopt children who are under one year old. Prospective adoptive parents who are over 40 can only adopt older children. Those who reach 41 during the waiting period after submitting their application will be asked to adopt older children. Foreign nationals who do not speak Turkish and who are between the ages of 30 and 40 may only adopt children under the age of three.

Marriage

Adoptive parents may be single or married. A married couple can only adopt the child together. Unmarried couples cannot adopt a child together. Couples younger than 30 years of age must be married for at least five years to be eligible to adopt. A spouse younger than 30 years of age can adopt his/her spouse’s child only if they have been married for more than two years. A spouse can adopt a child alone if he/she can prove that the other spouse is mentally incapacitated or his/her whereabouts is unknown for over two years or if the couple is legally separated for over two years. Couples determined to be eligible for adoption after professional evaluation are given a priority date in accordance to their application dates with the central authority. No other prioritization is made within applications.

Income

Adoptive parents must be psychologically and biologically healthy, have a certain level of education and culture to raise a child in a safe and good environment and be financially capable of providing for the child. Adoptive parents must not have been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude and cannot be users of illicit drugs. All conditions and requirements that are mentioned above are evaluated by the General Directorate of Social Services and Child Protection Agency officials.

Other

None.

Who Can Be Adopted

How to Adopt

Adoption Authority

The Process

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. 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.

Obtaining Your Visa

In addition to a U.S. passport, you also need to obtain a visa. A visa is an official document issued by a foreign country that formally allows you to visit. Where required, visas are attached to your passport and allow you to enter a foreign nation. To find information about obtaining a visa for Turkey, see the Department of State's Country Specific Information.

Staying Safe on Your Trip

Before you travel, it's always a good practice to investigate the local conditions, laws, political landscape, and culture of the country. The State Department is a good place to start. The Department of State provides Country Specific Information for every country of the world about various issues, including the health conditions, crime, unusual currency or entry requirements, and any areas of instability.

Staying in Touch on Your Trip

When traveling during the adoption process, we encourage you to register your trip with the Department of State. Travel registration makes it possible to contact you if necessary. Whether there's a family emergency in the United States, or a crisis in Turkey, registration assists the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in reaching you. Registration is free and can be done online.

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

SOURCE

Intercountry Adoption, Bureau of Consular Affairs. U.S. Department of State Country Information