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Adopting from Vanuatu
Source: cia.gov.
Source: cia.gov.
Source: cia.gov.
Source: Wikipedia.org.
Source: Wikipedia.org.
Source: Wikipedia.org.
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.
Contents
Hague Convention Information
Vanuatu 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 Vanuatu did not change. The U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, has responsibility for the well-being of U.S. citizens in Vanuatu.
Who Can Adopt
To bring an adopted child to United States from Vanuatu, 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.
In addition to these U.S. requirements for adoptive parents, Vanuatu also has the following requirements for adoptive parents:
Residency
Although prospective adoptive parents do not need to be permanent residents of Vanuatu, they must remain in Vanuatu for the three-to-four-month period it takes for an adoption to be finalized.
Age of Adopting Parents
Prospective adoptive parents must be 18 years of age or older.
Marriage
Both married and single individuals are eligible to adopt.
Income
Although there are no income requirements, prospective adoptive parents must satisfy the Ni-Vanuatu courts that they are financially secure.
Other
None.
Who Can Be Adopted
Vanuatu has specific requirements that a child must meet in order to be eligible for adoption. You cannot adopt a child in Vanuatu unless he or she meets these requirements.
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.
How to Adopt
Adoption Authority
Vanuatu's Adoption Authority
Ni-Vanuatu Courts
The Process
The process for adopting a child from Vanuatu 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 Vanuatu
- Apply for the Child to be Found Eligible for Adoption
- Bring Your Child Home
1. Choose an Adoption Service Provider
In general 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.
There are no adoption agencies in Vanuatu. However, American prospective adoptive parents may still wish to enlist the services of an American adoption agency to assist them with the overall intercountry adoption process
2. Apply to be Found Eligible to Adopt
To bring an adopted child from Vanuatu 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). Learn how.
In addition to meeting the U.S. requirements for adoptive parents, you need to meet the requirements of Vanuatu as described in the Who Can Adopt section.
3. Be Matched with a Child
If you are eligible to adopt, and a child is available for intercountry adoption, the central adoption authority in Vanuatu will provide you with a referral to a child. Each family must decide for itself whether or not it will be able to meet the needs of a particular child and provide a permanent family placement for the referred child.
The child must be eligible to be adopted according to Vanuatu'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. Learn more.
4. Adopt the Child (or Gain Legal Custody) in Vanuatu
The process for finalizing the adoption (or gaining legal custody) in Vanuatu generally includes the following:
- ROLE OF THE ADOPTION AUTHORITY: The Ni-Vanuatu courts oversee the adoption system.
- ROLE OF THE COURT: The Ni-Vanuatu courts review and approve the adoption.
- ROLE OF ADOPTION AGENCIES: The adoption agency assists the prospective adoptive parents with the adoption process.
- ADOPTION APPLICATION: Applications for adoption are obtained from and must be submitted when completed to the Courthouse in Port Vila (Capital of Vanuatu).
- TIME FRAME: The estimated time for an adoption to be processed is about three to four months.
- ADOPTION FEES: Prospective adoptive parents should expect to pay less than $100 USD in Ni-Vanuatu government fees related to processing an adoption. It may or may not be necessary for prospective parents to pay additional fees to lawyers, depending on the services rendered.
- DOCUMENTS REQUIRED: When submitted to the Ni-Vanuatu court, the adoption dossier must contain:
- 1. A completed adoption application;
- 2. Child's birth certificate;
- 3. Bank statements for the prospective adoptive parents; and
- 4. Prospective adopting parents' marriage license (or proof of single status). NOTE: Additional documents may be requested. If you are asked to provide proof that a document from the United States is authentic, we can help. Learn how.
5. Apply for the Child to be Found Eligible for Adoption
After you finalize the adoption (or gain legal custody) in Vanuatu, the U.S Government, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) MUST determine whether the child is eligible under U.S. law to be adopted (Form I-600). Learn how.
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 new birth certificate for your child, so that you can later apply for a passport. Your name will be added to the new birth certificate.
- 2. Vanuatu Passport
Your child is not yet a U.S. citizen, so he/she will need a travel document or Passport from Vanuatu.
- 3. U.S. Immigrant Visa
After you obtain the final adoption decree, new birth certificate, and passport for your child, you also need to apply for an U.S. visa from the United States Embassy in Port Moresby for your child. After the adoption (or custody for purpose of adoption) is granted, visit the U.S. Embassy for final review and approval of the child's I-600 petition and to obtain a visa for the child. This immigrant visa allows your child to travel home with you. As part of this process, the Consular Officer must be provided the "Panel Physician's" medical report on the child if it was not provided during the provisional approval stage. Learn more.
Specific questions about adoption in Vanuatu or immigrant visas for adopted children from Vanuatu may be addressed to the U.S. Embassy in Papua New Guinea, at the address listed in the Contacts section of this information.
NOTE: Most immigrant visas cannot be issued the same day, but rather take a week or so for name checks to clear the computer databases.
Child Citizenship Act
For adoptions finalized abroad: The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 allows your new child to acquire American citizenship automatically when he or she enters the United States as lawful permanent residents.
For adoptions finalized in the United States: The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 allows your new child to acquire American citizenship automatically when the court in the United States issues the final adoption decree.
Please be aware that if your child did not qualify to become a citizen upon entry to the United States, it is very important that you take the steps necessary so that your child does qualify as soon as possible. Failure to obtain citizenship for your child can impact many areas of his/her life including family travel, eligibility for education and education grants, and voting.
Learn more about the Child Citizenship Act.
Traveling Abroad
Applying for Your U.S. Passport
A valid U.S. passport is required to enter and leave Vanuatu. 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 Vanuatu, 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 Vanuatu, 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
Contact Information
U.S. Embassy, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Douglas Street P.O. Box 1492 Port Moresby, N.C.D. 121 Papua New Guinea Telephone: (675) 321-1455 Fax: (675) 321-1593 Email: ConsularPortMoresby@state.gov
The U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, has responsibility for the well-being of U.S. citizens in Vanuatu.
Ni-Vanuatu Adoption Authority
Vanuatu Courts Courthouse in Port Vila Private Mail Bag 9041 Port Vila, Vanuatu Tel: (678) 22420
Vanuatu Mission to the United Nations
42 Broadway Suite 1200-18 New York, NY 10004 Tel: (212) 425-9600 Fax: (212) 425-9652 Email: vmsnyc@attglobal.net
Vanuatu does not have an embassy in Washington, D.C.
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[1]