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How to Adopt from Tanzania
Source: Wikipedia.org.
Adoption Authority
Department of Social Welfare
The Process
The process for adopting a child from Tanzania 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 in Tanzania
- Apply for the Child to be Found Eligible for Adoption
- Bring Your Child Home
1. Choose an Adoption Service Provider
The first step in adopting a child is usually to select a licensed agency in the United States that can help with your adoption. Adoption service providers must be licensed by the U.S. state in which they operate. Learn more about choosing the right adoption service provider.
2. Apply to be Found Eligible to Adopt
Before prospective adoptive parents can apply to adopt a child, they must first apply to the Department of Social Welfare to foster the child for a period of no less than three months. After the foster care period has been successfully completed, an adoption petition can be filed.
Prospective adoptive parents complete the application form and provide their District Social Welfare Officer with the names and contact details of at least three references who have known the prospective adoptive parent for at least three years, and one family reference. The District Social Welfare Officer will interview the references. If prospective adoptive parents cannot provide local references, they must provide references from their home country. The District Social Welfare Officer will coordinate with International Social Services in the home country to interview those references.
Prospective adoptive parents must arrange to complete the home study process. The home study will consist of at least four interviews by the District Social Welfare Officer, including at least one visit to the family's home. The home study will evaluate the prospective adoptive parents' physical, mental, and emotional health, as well as financial and marital (if the parent is married) stability.
In general, to bring an adopted child to the United States, you must apply to be found eligible to adopt (Form I-600A) by the U.S. Government, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Read more about Eligibility Requirements. In addition to meeting the U.S. requirements for adoptive parents, you need to meet the requirements of Tanzania as described in the Who Can Adopt section.
The District Social Welfare Officer will send the foster care application, home study, and other relevant supporting documents to the Commissioner for Social Welfare for approval.
3. Be Matched with a Child
When the foster care application has been approved by the Commissioner for Social Welfare, the District Social Welfare Officer will identify children who are eligible for adoption and who meet the criteria of the prospective parents. Both parties will work together to identify a child who is eligible and is best suited for the prospective adoptive family.
The child must be eligible to be adopted according to Tanzania's requirements, as described in the Who can be Adopted section. The child must also meet the definition of an orphan under U.S. law.
Once a child has been identified and accepted by the prospective adoptive parents, the District Social Welfare Officer will place the identified child with the prospective adoptive parents for the foster care period of no less than three months.
After the foster care period, the prospective adoptive parents will meet with the District Social Welfare Officer to discuss whether they wish to adopt a child and whether the Officer intends to approve the prospective adoptive parents' application. Provided that the District Social Welfare Officer approves the adoption, he/she will submit a report and recommendation to the Commissioner.
4. Adopt the Child (or Gain Legal Custody) in Tanzania
If they have not already done so, prospective adoptive parents should retain a Tanzanian attorney experienced in adoption procedures. The Tanganyika Law Society (The Tanzania Mainland Bar Association) should be able to recommend an attorney or firm. Also, the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam maintains a list of attorneys. Take note that the Adoptions Law does apply to Tanzania Mainland only.
The attorney will assist the prospective adoptive parents in filing a petition to legally adopt their foster child and obtain an order from the High Court. The prospective adoptive parents and attorney should maintain close contact with the Social Welfare Department during this period, as that agency will submit a report to the Court in its capacity as the court-appointed Guardian ad Litem of the child.
The process for finalizing the adoption (or gaining legal custody) in Tanzania generally includes the following:
- ROLE OF THE COURT: After the District Social Welfare Officer approves the adoption and the District Social Welfare Officer submits a report and recommendation to the Commissioner of Social Welfare, prospective adoptive parents should retain a Tanzanian attorney experienced in adoption procedures. The Tanganyika Law Society should be able to recommend an attorney or a firm of attorneys to the prospective adoptive parents. Also, the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam maintains a list of attorneys that adoptive parents may consult. The prospective adoptive parent's attorney will assist them in filing a petition to legally adopt their foster child and obtain a court order from the High Court. Close contact should be maintained with the Social Welfare Department during this period, as that agency will submit a report to the Court in its capacity as the court-appointed Guardian ad Litem of the child. In addition to the High Court Adoption Order, the prospective adoptive parent's attorney should also assist you in obtaining an Adoption Certificate for the adopted child. This certificate is issued by the Registrar of Insolvency and Trusteeship (RITA). All children will need a valid passport issued by their country of origin.
- ADOPTION APPLICATION: Before prospective adoptive parents can apply to adopt a child, they must first apply to the Department of Social Welfare to physically foster the child for a period of no less than three months. After the foster care period has been successfully completed, an adoption petition can be lodged.
- TIME FRAME: Adoptions may take up to 6 months in Tanzania, depending on the issues of a case.
- DOCUMENTS REQUIRED: No specific documents are required, although it may be prudent to carry documents relating to identity, marital status, family status and financial means. Passports must include valid residency permits. NOTE: Additional documents may be requested. If you are asked to provide proof that a document from the United States is authentic. Read more on Traveling Abroad to learn more about Authenticating U.S. Documents.
5. Apply for the Child to be Found Eligible for Orphan Status
In order to bring an adopted child to the U.S., the U.S Government, Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) MUST determine whether the child qualifies as an orphan as defined by U.S. immigration law (Form I-600).
6. Bring Your Child Home
Now that your adoption is complete (or you have obtained legal custody of the child), there are a few more steps to take before you can head home. Specifically, you need to apply for several documents for your child before he or she can travel to the United States:
- 1. Birth Certificate
You will first need to apply for a certificate of adoption for your child, so that you can later apply for a passport. Your name will be added to the certificate of adoption.
Applications for birth certificates are filed with Registration, Insolvency and Trusteeship Agency (RITA) at:
Kipalapala Street Dar es Salaam, Tanzania P.O. Box 9183 Fax: +255 (22) 2153075 Telephone: +255 (22) 2153069 Website: RITA E-mail: info@rita.go.tz
The adoptive parent must notify the Commissioner for Social Welfare in writing when the adopted child is to be taken out of the country after an adoption order has been made by the court. This notice must be communicated to the Commissioner no less than ninety (90) days before the departure of the adoptive parent/s and adopted child from Tanzania. The commissioner, if satisfied with the notice of intention to travel with the adopted child, will issue a letter allowing the adopting parents to process travel documents and any other immigration processes. Failure to notify the Commissioner is an offence which can, upon conviction, lead to a fine and/or imprisonment of up to two years.
- 3. Tanzania Passport
Your child is not yet a U.S. citizen, so he/she will need a travel document or Passport from Tanzania. All children will need a valid passport issued by their country of origin.
The Tanzanian Ministry of Home Affairs' Immigration Services issues all passports. For more information contact the Office of Immigration at:
Director of Immigration Services P.O.Box 512, DAR ES SALAAM Tel No: +255 - 22 - 2118637 +255 - 22 - 2118640 +255 - 22 - 2118643 Fax: +255 - 22 - 2112174 E-mail: immigration@moha.go.tz Website: Immigration Services Tanzania
- 4. U.S. Immigrant Visa
After you obtain a new birth certificate and Tanzanian passport for your child, you also need to apply for an U.S. visa from the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam for your child. This immigrant visa allows your child to travel home with you. After the adoption is granted, PAP(s) should visit the U.S. Embassy any Monday afternoon to schedule an immigrant visa interview. The Consular Section will schedule the child for the next available appointment, usually within two working days. The child must be present at the Embassy for the immigrant visa interview. As part of this process, the Consular Officer must be provided the "Panel Physician's" medical report on the child. Learn more.
On June 5, 2008, the U.S. Embassy Dar es Salaam's panel physicians began using the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) 2007 Tuberculosis Technical Instructions (TB TIs) for the TB medical screening for all immigrant visa applicants from Tanzania, including adopted children. The 2007 TB TIs include new requirements that affect the pace at which some adoption cases can be concluded. Please visit the CDC's website for further information regarding the 2007 Technical Instructions for Tuberculosis Screening and Treatment for Panel Physicians.
Parents should not make final, non-refundable travel plans to depart Tanzania until they have their child's immigrant visa in hand.
The U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam will conduct the investigation and complete an I-604 only if the child appears in person at the Embassy. Children that have been taken to the United States or other countries, and adopted there, must return to Tanzania in order for the I-604 to be completed.
After the Visa is Issued:
Adoptive parents will need to arrange for a visa for their Tanzanian citizen child to transit Europe or South Africa on the way to the United States. South Africa and all major European countries have embassies in Dar es Salaam which can process transit visa applications.
To learn more about the Child Citizenship Act please read The Child Citizenship Act of 2000.
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