RESOURCE: Parenting Discussion

PEAR board members have recently been contacted by adoptive families concerned with reports of trafficking in Ethiopia, Guatemala, Vietnam and China. While we attempt to assist families with uncovering the truth behind their adoptions, we also wish to offer them support and resources in dealing with these truths. One resource we would like to recommend to adoptive families is the …

UPDATE to DOS Adoption Alert Guatemala

On October 15, 2009, the DOS published the following Addendum/Update to their Adoption Alert on Guatemala: Notice for Guatemala “Other Pending” Adoption Cases The following are brief updates on issues or related developments on pending non-hogar adoption cases. *The Embassy continues to approve an average of 4-6 visa applications of completed adoption cases per week. Consular officers and the U.S. …

Ethiopia Adoption NoticeU.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATEBureau of Consular AffairsOffice of Children’s Issues——————————————————————————– Adoption Processing at the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa October 15, 2009 Taking into consideration recent allegations of misconduct in intercountry adoptions in Ethiopia the Department of State would like to remind adoptive parents that before an immigrant visa may be issued to an adopted child, a U.S. …

US Embassy in Kathmandu Not Conducting Preinvestigations

On September 29, 2009, the DOS issued an Adoption Notice for Nepal that contained the following statement: “As part of required processing for orphan adoption cases, the Embassy conducts a thorough investigation of each case. Prospective adoptive parents should be aware that the investigation process may take several months, which could mean that prospective adoptive parents who travel to Nepal …

IMPORTANT UPDATE: USCIS I 600 and I 600a Processing

The USCIS sent out the following news release on October 6, 2009: USCIS Update: Change of Filing Location for Form I-600 and I 600A WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced a new address for prospective adoptive parents to submit Form I 600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative, and Form I 600A, Application for Advance Processing …

IMPORTANT UPDATE: USCIS I 600 and I 600a Processing

The USCIS sent out the following news release on October 6, 2009: USCIS Update: Change of Filing Location for Form I-600 and I 600A WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced a new address for prospective adoptive parents to submit Form I 600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative, and Form I 600A, Application for Advance Processing …

DOS Responds to Questions re: Nam Dinh Adoptions

Below is the text of an email from the DOS responding to PEAR’s questions concerning notification of families and children involved in the adoption cases leading to the recent criminal convictions in Vietnam Dear Ms. Weeks, Thank you for your inquiry regarding the recent convictions of individuals involved in adoption fraud in Vietnam. You have raised some important questions. Below …

DOS Adoption Alert: Guatemala Update

Adoption Alert U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATEBureau of Consular AffairsOffice of Children’s Issues Notice for Guatemala “hogar” adoption cases In Guatemala, a number of private child care facilities or “hogares” have traditionally provided care for children. Some of these hogars were closely associated with the intercountry adoption process and provided care specifically for children awaiting adoption. Allegations of adoption irregularities have …

DOS Adoption Notice – Kenya

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATEBureau of Consular AffairsOffice of Children’s Issues September 30, 2009 Kenya is party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention). As such, all adoptions between Kenya and the United States initiated after April 1, 2008, must meet the requirements of both the Convention and U.S. law …

China Adoption Alert U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATEBureau of Consular AffairsOffice of Children’s Issues——————————————————————————– September 29, 2009 China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) has announced that all prospective adoptive families will be required to work with a U.S. Hague accredited adoption service provider for both transition cases and Convention cases beginning December 1, 2009. This will require all families to work …