Latest revision as of 02:21, 21 February 2018

The official flag.
Source: cia.gov.

Map.
Source: cia.gov.

View of Upolu.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

A Samoan family.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

Apia LDS Temple.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

'
Source: flickr.com.

The official coat of arms.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

A Samoan fire dancer.
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the content of this website is frequently updated, information changes rapidly and therefore, some information may be out of date, and/or contain inaccuracies, omissions or typographical errors.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 Samoa

New Zealand occupied the German protectorate of Western Samoa at the outbreak of World War I in 1914. It continued to administer the islands as a mandate and then as a trust territory until 1962, when the islands became the first Polynesian nation to reestablish independence in the 20th century. The country dropped the "Western" from its name in 1997.

Hague Convention Information

Samoa 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 Samoa did not change.

Samoan law places restrictions on the "overseas adoption" of Samoan children by any person who is not a citizen of Samoa. See the "Eligibility Requirements" section below for further details.

The American Embassy Apia, Samoa, does not process immigrant visas. This process must be completed through the American Consulate General in Auckland, New Zealand.

Who Can Adopt

To bring an adopted child to United States from Samoa, 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 Who Can Adopt from Samoa.

Who Can Be Adopted

Samoa has specific requirements that a child must meet in order to be eligible for adoption. You cannot adopt a child in Samoa unless he or she meets multiple requirements. To learn more please read about Who Can Be Adopted from Samoa.

How to Adopt

Adoption Authority

Samoan Adoption Authority

The government offices responsible for adoptions in Samoa are the Ministry of Justice & Courts Administration, and the Office of the Attorney General.

The Process

The process for adopting a child from Samoa generally includes the following steps:

Choose an Adoption Service Provider
Apply to be Found Eligible to Adopt
Be Matched with a Child
Adopt the Child (or Gain Legal Custody) in Samoa
Apply for the Child to be Found Eligible for Adoption
Bring Your Child Home

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

Traveling Abroad

Applying for Your U.S. Passport

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

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 Samoa

5th Floor, ACB Building, Matafele Street Apia, SAMOA Tel: (685) 21436 Fax: (685) 22030 Email: AmEmbApia@state.gov

Samoan Adoption Authority

Ministry of Justice & Courts Administration APIA Tel: (685) 22-671 Fax: (685) 21-050

Office of the Attorney General

P.O. Box 27, APIA Tel: (685) 20-295 Email: attorney.general@samoa.ws

Embassy of Samoa: Samoa does not have an embassy in Washington, DC. The only Samoan representation in the United States is:

Permanent Mission of Samoa to the United Nations 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400J New York, New York 10017 Tel: 212 599 6196 Fax: 212 599 0797 Email: samoa@un.int

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=samoa

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{#eimage:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/flags/large/ws-lgflag.gif|410x579px|thumb|'''The official flag.'''<BR/>Source: cia.gov.}}
-{{#eimage:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/flags/large/ws-lgflag.gif|410x579px|thumb|'''The official flag of Samoa.'''<BR/>Source: cia.gov.}}
+{{#eimage:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/maps/ws-map.gif|410x579px|thumb|'''Map.'''<BR/>Source: cia.gov.}}
-{{#eimage:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/maps/ws-map.gif|410x579px|thumb|'''Map of Samoa.'''<BR/>Source: cia.gov.}}
+{{#eimage:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/locator/aus/ws_large_locator.gif|410x579px|thumb|'''Map.'''<BR/>Source: cia.gov.}}
-{{#eimage:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/locator/aus/ws_large_locator.gif|410x579px|thumb|'''Map of Samoa.'''<BR/>Source: cia.gov.}}
+{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Samoa_upolu.jpg/800px-Samoa_upolu.jpg|410x579px|thumb|''' View of Upolu.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
-{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Samoa_upolu.jpg/800px-Samoa_upolu.jpg|410x579px|thumb|''' View of Upolu, Independent Samoa. This is Falefa Valley, looking north from Le Mafa pass at the east end of Upolu Island.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
 {{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Samoa_Familie.JPG/800px-Samoa_Familie.JPG|410x579px|thumb|'''A Samoan family.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
-{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/Apia_Samoa_Temple-new.jpg/628px-Apia_Samoa_Temple-new.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''Apia Samoa Temple of The [[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]].'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
+{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/Apia_Samoa_Temple-new.jpg/628px-Apia_Samoa_Temple-new.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''Apia LDS [[Samoa]] Temple.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
-{{#eimage:https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3695/13076561963_c9acd8155d.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''Samoa.'''<BR/>Source: flickr.com.}}
+{{#eimage:https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3695/13076561963_c9acd8155d.jpg|410x579px|thumb|''''''<BR/>Source: flickr.com.}}
-{{#eimage:https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2681/4181924770_f74cc0d607.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''Children in Samoa.'''<BR/>Source: flickr.com.}}
+{{#eimage:https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2681/4181924770_f74cc0d607.jpg|410x579px|thumb|''''''<BR/>Source: flickr.com.}}
-{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Coat_of_arms_of_Samoa.svg/457px-Coat_of_arms_of_Samoa.svg.png|410x579px|thumb|'''The official coat of arms of Samoa.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
+{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Coat_of_arms_of_Samoa.svg/457px-Coat_of_arms_of_Samoa.svg.png|410x579px|thumb|'''The official coat of arms.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
-{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/23/Siva_Afi_-_Fire_spinning.jpg/448px-Siva_Afi_-_Fire_spinning.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''A Samoan fire dancer, Samoa.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
+{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/23/Siva_Afi_-_Fire_spinning.jpg/448px-Siva_Afi_-_Fire_spinning.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''A Samoan fire dancer.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
-=Hague Convention Information=
+'''Notice: As of July 14, 2014, all individuals and agencies facilitating [[international]] adoptions must be in compliance with the Intercountry [[Universal Accreditation Act]].'''
-Samoa 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 Samoa did not change.
+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.
-Samoan law places restrictions on the "overseas adoption" of Samoan children by any person who is not a citizen of Samoa. See the "Eligibility Requirements" section below for further details.
+=About Samoa=
+[[New Zealand]] occupied the German protectorate of Western [[Samoa]] at the outbreak of World War I in 1914. It continued to administer the islands as a mandate and then as a trust territory until 1962, when the islands became the first Polynesian nation to reestablish independence in the 20th century. The country dropped the "Western" from its name in 1997.
-The American Embassy Apia, Samoa, does not process immigrant visas. This process must be completed through the American Consulate General in Auckland, [[New Zealand]].
-=Who Can Adopt=
+=Hague Convention Information=
-To bring an [[adopted]] child to United States from Samoa, 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). Learn more.
+[[Samoa]] 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 [[Samoa]] did not change.
-In addition to these U.S. requirements for prospective [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]], Samoa also has the following requirements for prospective [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]]:
-==Residency==
+Samoan law places restrictions on the "overseas [[adoption]]" of Samoan children by any person who is not a citizen of [[Samoa]]. See the "Eligibility Requirements" section below for further details.
-There is no specific requirement that the applicants be residents of Samoa.
-==Age of Adopting Parents==
+The American Embassy Apia, [[Samoa]], does not process immigrant visas. This process must be completed through the American Consulate General in Auckland, [[New Zealand]].
-Prospective [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]] must be of the age of majority, which is 21.
+=Who Can Adopt=
-==Marriage==
+To bring an [[adopted]] child to United States from [[Samoa]], 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 [[Who Can Adopt from Samoa]].
-Prospective [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]] may be married or single.
-==Income==
+=Who Can Be Adopted=
-Prospective [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]] must be able to demonstrate a sufficient income to comfortably provide for an [[adopted]] child.
+[[Samoa]] has specific requirements that a child must meet in order to be eligible for [[adoption]]. You cannot [[adopt]] a child in [[Samoa]] unless he or she meets multiple requirements. To learn more please read about [[Who Can Be Adopted from Samoa]].
-==Other==
-None.
+=How to Adopt=
-=Who Can Be Adopted=
+==Adoption Authority==
-Samoa has specific requirements that a child must meet in order to be eligible for adoption. You cannot [[adopt]] a child in Samoa unless he or she meets the requirements outlined below.
+'''Samoan [[Adoption]] Authority'''
+The government offices responsible for adoptions in [[Samoa]] are the Ministry of Justice & Courts Administration, and the Office of the Attorney General.
-In addition to these requirements, a child must meet the definition of an orphan under U.S. law for you to bring him or her back to the United States. Learn more about these U.S. requirements.
+==The Process==
-'''ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:'''
+The process for adopting a child from [[Samoa]] generally includes the following steps:
-'''[[Relinquishment]] Requirements:''' A form confirming the [[relinquishment]] of the rights of the natural parents over the child is included in the Court adoption application.
-'''Age Requirements:''' The child must be below the age of 21 years old.
+# Choose an [[Adoption Service Provider]]
+# Apply to be Found Eligible to [[Adopt]]
+# Be Matched with a Child
+# [[Adopt]] the Child (or Gain [[Legal Custody]]) in [[Samoa]]
+# Apply for the Child to be Found Eligible for [[Adoption]]
+# Bring Your Child Home
-'''Waiting Period:'''Subject to the time required to prepare and process Court papers and Court schedule. OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Samoan law requires that before any Samoan court grants an adoption of a Samoan child to a citizen of another country, the Samoan Attorney General must certify that:
+To learn more about this process please read about [[How to Adopt from Samoa]].
-::::(a) the child has no suitable family members in Samoa who are willing and able to care for the child in Samoa; and
-::::(b) there is no other suitable arrangement available in Samoa.
+=Traveling Abroad=
-=How to Adopt=
+'''Applying for Your U.S. Passport'''
+A valid U.S. passport is required to enter and leave [[Samoa]]. 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 Samoa]].
-==    Adoption Authority==
-==The Process==
+=After Adoption=
-=Traveling Abroad=
+'''What resources are available to assist families after the [[adoption]]?'''
-'''Applying for Your U.S. Passport'''
+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.
-A valid U.S. passport is required to enter and leave Samoa. 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://pptform.state.gov/ 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.
+Here are some good places to start your support group search:
-'''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 Samoa, see the Department of State's [http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country.html Country Specific Information].
+[https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_postadoption.cfm Child Welfare Information Gateway]
+[http://www.nacac.org/ North American Council on Adoptable Children]
-'''Staying Safe on Your Trip'''
+[http://www.adoptionservices.org/adoption_support_groups_family/index.htm Adoption Services Support Group for Adopting Persons]
-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 [http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country.html 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.
+==Contact Information==
-'''Staying in Touch on Your Trip'''
+'''U.S. Embassy in [[Samoa]] '''
-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 Samoa, registration assists the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in reaching you. Registration is free and can be done online.
+th Floor, ACB Building,
+Matafele Street
+Apia, [[Samoa|SAMOA]]
+Tel: (685) 21436
+Fax: (685) 22030
+Email: AmEmbApia@state.gov
-=After Adoption=
-'''What resources are available to assist families after the [[adoption]]?'''
+'''Samoan [[Adoption]] Authority'''
+Ministry of Justice & Courts Administration
+APIA
+Tel: (685) 22-671
+Fax: (685) 21-050
-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.
+'''Office of the Attorney General'''
+P.O. Box 27, APIA
+Tel: (685) 20-295
+Email: attorney.general@samoa.ws
-Here are some good places to start your support group search:
+Embassy of [[Samoa]]: [[Samoa]] does not have an embassy in [[Washington]], DC. The only Samoan representation in the United States is:
-[https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_postadoption.cfm Child Welfare Information Gateway]
-[http://www.nacac.org/ North American Council on Adoptable Children]
+Permanent Mission of [[Samoa]] to the United Nations
+Second Avenue, Suite 400J
+[[New York]], [[New York]] 10017
+Tel: 212 599 6196
+Fax: 212 599 0797
+Email: samoa@un.int
-[http://www.adoptionservices.org/adoption_support_groups_family/index.htm Adoption Services Support Group for Adopting Persons]
+'''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: [http://adoption.state.gov 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'''
+'''Intercountry [[Adoption]], Bureau of Consular Affairs.  U.S. Department of State Country Information''' adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_info.php?country-select=samoa
 [[Category: International Adoption]]

Difference between revisions of "Adopting from Samoa"