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Adopting from Dominica

Revision as of 05:50, 2 March 2014 by Admin (Talk | contribs)

Hague Convention Information

Dominica 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 Dominica did not change.

Who Can Adopt

To bring an adopted child to United States from Dominica, 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.

Residency

The Dominica government has no specific residency requirements for prospective adoptive parents.

Age of Adopting Parents

Adoptive parents should not be under the age of twenty-five (25) years old.

Marriage

N/A

Income

The adopting parent(s) should be employed or have means of supporting the child. There is no specific income requirement.

Other

N/A

Who Can Be Adopted

Dominica has no specific requirements that a child must meet in order to be eligible for adoption. 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

Dominica's Adoption Authority

The Welfare Division is the adoption authority in Dominica. It is part of the Ministry of Community Development and Gender Affairs .

The Process

The process for adopting a child from Dominica generally includes the following steps:


1. Choose an Adoption Service Provider 2. Apply to be Found Eligible to Adopt 3. Be Matched with a Child 4. Adopt the Child in Dominica 5. Apply for the Child to be Found Eligible for Adoption 6. Bring Your Child Home


1.Choose an Adoption Service Provider

The first step in adopting a child from Dominica 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

To bring an adopted child from Dominica 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 Dominica 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 Dominica 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 Dominica'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 Dominica

The process for finalizing the adoption (or gaining legal custody) in Dominica generally includes the following:

  • ROLE OF THE ADOPTION AUTHORITY:' Parents are not matched to children. An adoption process begins when a child has been identified for adoption. Prospective adoptive parents must submit to the Welfare Division a copy of their home study report and W2 tax form.
  • TIME FRAME: There is no specified period. A short hearing is required after all requirements are met and all documents are in order.
  • ADOPTION FEES: Adoption fees vary from lawyer to lawyer but an adoptive parent can expect to pay at least US $700 to $1000 for an adoption, including stamp duty.
  • DOCUMENTS REQUIRED: The following are required documents:

Traveling Abroad

After Adoption

SOURCE

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