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Adopting from Uruguay
Source: cia.gov.
Source: cia.gov.
Source: cia.gov.
Source: Wikipedia.org.
Source: Wikipedia.org.
Source: wikipedia.org.
Source: Wikipedia.org.
Source: flickr.com.
Source: Wikipedia.org.
Contents
Hague Convention Information
Uruguay 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 Uruguay and the United States must meet the requirements of the Convention and U.S. law implementing the Convention.
While intercountry adoptions are legal in Uruguay, Uruguayan law explicitly favors local adoptions over intercountry adoptions. Prospective adoptive parents must live in Uruguay with the child they plan to adopt for a minimum of six months. A judge may reduce this time requirement on a case-by-case basis if he/she believes it is in the best interests of the child.
NOTE: Special transition provisions apply to adoptions initiated before April 1, 2008. Learn more.
Who Can Adopt
Adoption between the United States and Uruguay is governed by the Hague Adoption Convention. Therefore to adopt from Uruguay, 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). Learn more.
In addition to these U.S. requirements for prospective adoptive parents, Uruguay also has the following requirements for prospective adoptive parents:
Residency
Prospective adoptive parents are required to reside in Uruguay for a minimum of six months.
Age of Adopting Parents
Simple Adoption Process: With a simple adoption, birth parents do not relinquish all parental rights over the child. It is important to note that while this may fulfill the adoption requirement in Uruguay, it will not necessarily fulfill the U.S. immigration requirements. Any person more than 25 years old and at least fifteen years older than the child to be adopted, who has had the prospective child under his/her care for at least one year, is eligible to adopt. Consent of the spouse is required if the adopting person is married.
Adoption Legitimating Process: The legitimating process is an irrevocable release of parental rights by the birth parents. The child will be registered as the adoptive parent's child and a new birth certificate is issued bearing the adoptive parents' names. Adoption eligibility requirements for this type of adoption are as follows. Spouses more than 25 years old and at least fifteen years older than the child to be adopted, who have been married for at least four years, and who have had the prospective child under their care for at least one year are eligible. In the case of intercountry adoptions, the guardianship period may be shortened to six months.
Marriage
N/A
Income
N/A
Other
N/A
Who Can Be Adopted
Because Uruguay is party to the Hague Adoption Convention, children from Uruguay must meet the requirements of the Convention in order to be eligible for adoption. For example, the Convention requires that Uruguay attempt to place a child with a family in-country before determining that a child is eligible for intercountry adoption. In addition to Uruguay's requirements, a child must meet the definition of a Convention adoptee for you to bring him or her back to the United States.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Waiting Period DLAYA staff members make the final decision concerning the applicants' eligibility to adopt a child. Once approved, the couple is added to the waiting list. The length of the evaluation process varies according to staff availability. The average waiting time to complete an adoption from start to finish is four years.
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 Uruguay. 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 Uruguay, 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 Uruguay, 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