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	=Who Can Be Adopted=		=Who Can Be Adopted=
		+	Nicaragua has specific requirements that a child must meet in order to be eligible for adoption. Generally, the child must not have living parent(s) or [[Extended Family|extended family]] members willing to provide care. For example, if a child is living with an aunt and uncle, no matter how dire the financial situation, that child is not an orphan under Nicaraguan law and may not be an orphan under U.S. law either. Please contact Nicaragua's Ministry of the Family should you require more details on what qualifies a child as an orphan under Nicaraguan law. In addition to Nicaraguan requirements, a child must meet the definition of an orphan  under U.S. law for you to bring him or her to the United States.
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		+	Under Nicaraguan law, adoptions must be completed before the child turns 15 years old. However, if the child has been under the care of the prospective [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]] for at least three years the adoption can be completed up until the time the child turns 21.
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		+	Under U.S. law, the final [[Adoption Petition|adoption petition]] must be filed before the child turns 16 years old unless the child has a biological sibling under age 16 that is also being [[adopted]].
	=How to Adopt=		=How to Adopt=

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Revision as of 23:05, 7 April 2014

Hague Convention Information

Nicaragua 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 Nicaragua did not change.

Nicaraguan law does not allow for a Nicaraguan child to travel to the United States to be adopted. Therefore, prospective adoptive parents must obtain a full and final adoption under Nicaraguan law before the child can immigrate to the United States. Prospective adoptive parents can expect a lengthy process to adopt a child in Nicaragua.

Important Notice: The adoption process in Nicaragua is lengthy and fraught with delays and uncertainty. The entire adoption process - when successful - can take two to three years, with twelve to eighteen months of that processing requiring the adoptive parent's physical presence in Nicaragua.

Nicaraguan law does not allow for a Nicaraguan child to travel to the United States to be adopted. Therefore, prospective adoptive parent(s) must obtain a full and final adoption under Nicaraguan law before the child can immigrate to the United States.

Please note that Nicaraguan adoption law requires a three- to six-month fostering period that must take place in Nicaragua. During this time, prospective adoptive parent(s) are expected to live with and care for the child in Nicaragua. Nicaraguan law prioritizes adoptions by Nicaraguan citizens, meaning that Nicaraguan parent(s) willing and eligible to adopt a child might jump to the head of the queue in front of non-Nicaraguans who may have already been waiting months to adopt a child. If adopting more than one child, be sure all paperwork is filed simultaneously. If not, delays will occur.

The Nicaraguan Ministry of the Family has a history of abrupt staffing changes and requesting documents from adoptive parents not initially required as part of the process. It is strongly suggested that prospective adoptive parent(s) hire a Nicaraguan attorney to assist them in keeping their adoption case on track. Few Nicaraguan government officials speak English. Please see below for a list of attorneys registered with the U.S. Embassy in Managua.

Who Can Adopt

To bring an adopted child to the United States from Nicaragua, you must first be found eligible to adopt by the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government agency responsible for making this determination is U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Learn more.

In addition to U.S. requirements for prospective adoptive parent(s), Nicaragua also has the following eligibility requirements:

Residency

Prospective adoptive parent(s) must either be Nicaraguan citizens, have a permanent residence in Nicaragua and plan to remain in Nicaragua until the child reaches 21 years of age, or be U.S. citizens with approved I-600A or I-600 forms.

Age of Adopting Parents

Officially, prospective adoptive parent(s) must be between 25 and 40 years of age. However, the Ministry of the Family has been known to be flexible on this requirement on a case-by-case basis.

Marriage

Both singles and married couples are eligible to adopt. However, the process can be significantly longer for single parent(s).

Income

N/A

Other

N/A

Who Can Be Adopted

Nicaragua has specific requirements that a child must meet in order to be eligible for adoption. Generally, the child must not have living parent(s) or extended family members willing to provide care. For example, if a child is living with an aunt and uncle, no matter how dire the financial situation, that child is not an orphan under Nicaraguan law and may not be an orphan under U.S. law either. Please contact Nicaragua's Ministry of the Family should you require more details on what qualifies a child as an orphan under Nicaraguan law. In addition to Nicaraguan requirements, a child must meet the definition of an orphan under U.S. law for you to bring him or her to the United States.

Under Nicaraguan law, adoptions must be completed before the child turns 15 years old. However, if the child has been under the care of the prospective adoptive parents for at least three years the adoption can be completed up until the time the child turns 21.

Under U.S. law, the final adoption petition must be filed before the child turns 16 years old unless the child has a biological sibling under age 16 that is also being adopted.

How to Adopt

Adoption Authority

The Process

Traveling Abroad

Applying for Your U.S. Passport

A valid U.S. passport is required to enter and leave Nicaragua. 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 Nicaragua, 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 Nicaragua, 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

SOURCE

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