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Difference between revisions of "Adopting from Botswana"

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(Who Can Adopt)
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=Who Can Adopt=
 
=Who Can Adopt=
  
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In addition to U.S. immigration requirements, you must also meet the following requirements in order to adopt a child from Botswana:
  
 
==Residency==
 
==Residency==
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While prospective adoptive parents are not required to be permanent residents of Botswana in order to adopt, officials of the Department of Social Work within the Ministry of Local Government will verify work and residency documents before placing a prospective adoptive parent's name on the adoption “wait list.” When matched with a prospective adoptive child, prospective adoptive parents must foster the child first.
  
 
==Age of Adopting Parents==
 
==Age of Adopting Parents==
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No person under the age of 25 may adopt a child, either either individually or jointly with their spouse.
  
 
==Marriage==
 
==Marriage==
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A married couple, widower, widow, unmarried, separated, or divorced person may adopt a child in Botswana.
  
 
==Income==
 
==Income==
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Even though there are no set income requirements, social workers will verify that prospective parents have adequate financial resources to care for a child.
  
 
==Other==
 
==Other==
  
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While Botswana society is broadly tolerant, the penal code contains provisions that are widely understood to penalize same sex relations and there are no laws that protect the LGBT community from discrimination. The U.S. Embassy is unaware of any successful adoptions of children from Botswana by same sex couples from the United States. Same sex couples contemplating adopting a child from Botswana should seek legal advice in Botswana.
  
 
=Who Can Be Adopted=
 
=Who Can Be Adopted=

Revision as of 00:01, 18 February 2014

Hague Convention Information

Botswana is not party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption(the Hague Adoption Convention). Intercountry adoptions of children from non-Hague countries are processed in accordance with 8 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 204.3 as it relates to orphans as defined under the Immigration and Nationality Act, Section 101(b)(1)(F).


NOTE: The Ministry of Local Government maintains a list of families (currently over 200 families, both citizens and foreigners) who wish to adopt children. Currently, this list is much longer than the number of available children and families can wait many months or years before being matched.


Prospective adoptive parents must foster a prospective adoptive child for a period of six months in Botswana before they may conclude a full and final adoption. Once a child is legally adopted in Botswana, the adoptive parents must remain in Botswana with the child for a period of 12 months before they can legally remove the child to a different country. The Ministry of Local Government will grant exceptions in cases where there is a compelling reason (such as employment or schooling) for the adoptive family to depart Botswana. This legal requirement makes intercountry adoptions from Botswana extremely difficult for anyone other than long term residents. In traditional Setswana culture, adoption is neither common nor a preferred option for orphans or abandoned children. Extended families usually assume the role left to the state in many other countries. The Government of Botswana does not prefer these unofficial arrangements, and is currently re-writing the Adoption Act of 1952 in order to implement clear and compulsory legal procedures for custody, guardianship, and adoption of minors.


U.S. IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTIONS


To bring an adopted child to the United States from Botswana, 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 orphan under U.S. law in order to be eligible to immigrate to the United States on an IR-3 or IR-4 immigrant visa.

Who Can Adopt

In addition to U.S. immigration requirements, you must also meet the following requirements in order to adopt a child from Botswana:

Residency

While prospective adoptive parents are not required to be permanent residents of Botswana in order to adopt, officials of the Department of Social Work within the Ministry of Local Government will verify work and residency documents before placing a prospective adoptive parent's name on the adoption “wait list.” When matched with a prospective adoptive child, prospective adoptive parents must foster the child first.

Age of Adopting Parents

No person under the age of 25 may adopt a child, either either individually or jointly with their spouse.

Marriage

A married couple, widower, widow, unmarried, separated, or divorced person may adopt a child in Botswana.

Income

Even though there are no set income requirements, social workers will verify that prospective parents have adequate financial resources to care for a child.

Other

While Botswana society is broadly tolerant, the penal code contains provisions that are widely understood to penalize same sex relations and there are no laws that protect the LGBT community from discrimination. The U.S. Embassy is unaware of any successful adoptions of children from Botswana by same sex couples from the United States. Same sex couples contemplating adopting a child from Botswana should seek legal advice in Botswana.

Who Can Be Adopted

How to Adopt

Adoption Authority

The Process

Traveling Abroad

After Adoption

SOURCE

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