Adopting from Guinea

Hague Convention Information

Guinea is party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention). Intercountry adoption processing in Hague countries is done in accordance with the requirements of the Convention; the U.S. implementing legislation, the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA); and the IAA’s implementing regulations, as well as the implementing legislation and regulations of Guinea.

Guinea does not allow adoption service providers or orphanages to assist with intercountry adoptions. Prospective adoptive parents must work with an accredited or approved adoption service provider for U.S. processing elements, but should expect to work directly with Guinean authorities or a licensed Guinean attorney for services in Guinea.

NOTE: Special transition provisions apply to adoptions initiated before April 1, 2008. Read about Transition Cases.

U.S. IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTIONS

To bring an adopted child to the United States from Guinea, you must meet eligibility and suitability requirements. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) determines who can adopt under U.S. immigration law. Additionally, a child must meet the definition of Convention adoptee under U.S. law in order to immigrate to the United States on an IH-3 or IH-4 immigrant visa.

Who Can Adopt

In addition to the U.S. requirements, Guinea obliges prospective adoptive parents to meet the following requirements in order to adopt a child from Guinea:

Residency

The Government of Guinea requires prospective adoptive parent(s) to be present for the final step in the adoption process in order to witness the child's acceptance of the prospective adoptive parent(s). Prospective adoptive parent(s) should plan to be in Guinea for one to three weeks.

Age of Adopting Parents

Prospective adoptive parent(s) must be at least 15 years older than the child they propose to adopt.

Marriage

A married couple must have been together at least five (5) years.

Income

None specified.

Other

There is no statutory bar to adoption by a single parent or same-sex parents apart from the age requirement above.

Who Can Be Adopted

Because Guinea is party to The Hague Adoption Convention, children from Guinea must meet the requirements of the Convention in order to be eligible for adoption. For example, the adoption may take place only if the competent authorities of Guinea have determined that placement of the child within Guinea has been given due consideration and that an intercountry adoption is in the child’s best interests. In addition to Guinea’s requirements, a child must meet the definition of Convention adoptee to be eligible for an immigrant visa that will allow you to bring him or her to the United States.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Relinquishment: An Affidavit of Consent must be obtained from the parent in the case of a single parent relinquishing a child for intercountry adoption, or from a representative of the child's family if the parents are deceased or abandoned the child.

Abandonment: Local police authorities will obtain an Order of Abandonment from the court for any child found to be without parents or known family.

Age of Adoptive Child: To be adopted, a child must be under the age of 15; a child age 13 or 14 must consent to a prospective adoption.

Sibling Adoptions: Nothing specified.

Special Needs or Medical Conditions: Nothing specified.

Waiting Period or Foster Care: Nothing specified.

After Adoption

SOURCE

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