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Adopting from Slovakia
Source: Wikipedia.org.
Source: cia.gov.
Source: cia.gov.
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the content of this website is frequently updated, information changes rapidly and therefore, some information may be out of date, and/or contain inaccuracies, omissions or typographical errors.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 Slovakia
Slovakia's roots can be traced to the 9th century state of Great Moravia. Subsequently, the Slovaks became part of the Hungarian Kingdom, where they remained for the next 1,000 years. Following the formation of the dual Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1867, language and education policies favoring the use of Hungarian (Magyarization) resulted in a strengthening of Slovak nationalism and a cultivation of cultural ties with the closely related Czechs, who were under Austrian rule. After the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the close of World War I, the Slovaks joined the Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. During the interwar period, Slovak nationalist leaders pushed for autonomy within Czechoslovakia, and in 1939 Slovakia became an independent state allied with Nazi Germany. Following World War II, Czechoslovakia was reconstituted and came under communist rule within Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe. In 1968, an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of the country's leaders to liberalize communist rule and create "socialism with a human face," ushering in a period of repression known as "normalization." The peaceful "Velvet Revolution" swept the Communist Party from power at the end of 1989 and inaugurated a return to democratic rule and a market economy. On 1 January 1993, the country underwent a nonviolent "velvet divorce" into its two national components, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Slovakia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004 and the euro zone on 1 January 2009.
Hague Convention Information
Slovakia 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 Slovakia.
Below is the limited adoption information that the Department has obtained from the adoption authority of Slovakia. Adoptions from Slovakia are rare; fewer than five adoptions by U.S. citizen parents have taken place since 2006. U.S. citizens interested in adopting children from Slovakia should contact the Central Authority of Slovakia to inquire about applicable laws and procedures. U.S. citizen prospective adoptive parents living in Slovakia who would like to adopt a child from the United States or from a third country should also contact Slovakia’s Central Authority. See contact information below.
Please visit the Department’s Country Specific Information for more information on travelling to Slovakia and the U.S. Embassy in Bratislava’s website for information on consular services.
WARNING: The consular officer will send a letter (referred to as an “Article 5 Letter”) to the Slovakia’s Central Authority in any intercountry adoption involving U.S. citizen parents and a child from Slovakia where all Convention requirements are met and the consular officer determines that the child appears eligible to immigrate to the United States. This letter will inform the Slovakia’s Central Authority that the parents are eligible and suited to adopt, that all indications are that the child may enter and reside permanently in the United States, and that the U.S. Central Authority agrees that the adoption may proceed.
Do not attempt to adopt or obtain custody of a child in Slovakia before a U.S. consular officer issues the Article 5 Letter in any adoption case.
Remember: The consular officer will make a final decision about a child’s eligibility for an immigrant visa later in the adoption process.
Contact Information=
Centrum pre medzinárodnoprávnu ochranu detí a mládeže (Centre for International Legal Protection of Children and Youth) Špitálska 8 P.O. Box 57 814 99 Bratislava Slovakia Tel.: +421(2)59753208 / +421(2)59753248 Fax: +421(2)59753258 E-mail: cipc@cipc.gov.sk Internet: CIPC
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=slovakia