USCIS has released the following information with regards to the Universal Accrditation Act to help clear up questions by prospective adoptive parents and adoption service providers: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=ac818aea586bd310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=8d5e901bf9873210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD The Universal Accreditation Act of 2012 The Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act of 2012 (UAA) goes into effect on July 14, 2014. As of that date, all agencies or persons that provide adoption …
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Announcing New Officers and Directors of PEAR
Parents for Ethical Adoption Reform, PEAR, welcomes a new President and four new members to its volunteer Board of Directors. Barbara McArtney, a founding member of PEAR and current Interim President, will become our new President. Joining PEAR as general directors are: Thaddeus Batt, CTO and Managing Partner, SpireMedia, Inc.; Elizabeth Dahl, attorney; Holly Mulford, pediatric nurse practitioner and blogger …
DOS Adoption Notice: Health Concerns in Ethiopia
Ethiopia April 2, 2013 Notice: Health Concerns in Ethiopia On March 14, 2013, U.S. Embassy Addis Ababa released an important message for U.S. citizens via email to U.S. adoption service providers and a notice on the U.S. Embassy Addis Ababa website about a recent increase in suspected meningitis cases in Ethiopia. The suspected cases are primarily in the Southern Nations, …
DOS Adoption Alert: Serbia Adoption
March 29, 2013 Alert: Serbia Adoption U.S. Embassy Belgrade has received reports that one or more U.S. adoption agencies may be giving prospective adoptive parents misleading information about the process of adoption in Serbia. Serbia places a priority on domestic adoption. The only children who are generally available for intercountry adoption are children with special needs. There are no adoption …
DOS Adoption Notice: India Partially Lifts Suspension on Acceptance of New Adoption Applications
India March 28, 2013 India Partially Lifts Suspension on Acceptance of New Adoption Applications This Adoption Notice is a follow up to the Notice of November 30, 2012. The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) informed us that it is accepting new applications for intercountry adoptions from prospective adoptive parents in foreign countries, including the United States, seeking to adopt …
DOS Adoption Notice: Reports of the Removal of Children from Orphanages in the DRC
Democratic Republic of Congo March 15, 2013 Notice: Reports of the Removal of Children from Orphanages in the DRC The U.S. Department of State recently received several reports that children adopted in the Democratic Republic of Congo have reportedly been taken from orphanages by a birth parent or relative after the adoption decree and certificate of non-appeal was issued …
Adoption Alert: Morocco Update
Morocco March 8, 2013 Alert: Morocco On September 21, 2012, Moroccan Justice Minister El Mostapha Ramid published a notice instructing Moroccan prosecutors to oppose any petitions filed with a juvenile judge seeking the granting of Kafala guardianship decrees to foreign prospective adoptive parents (PAPs) who do not reside in Morocco. In his notice, he asks the prosecutors to emphasize to …
DOS Adoption Notice: Adoptions from Lesotho to Begin Under the Hague Adoption Convention
Lesotho March 1, 2013 Notice: Adoptions from Lesotho to Begin Under the Hague Adoption Convention The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Convention) entered into force for Lesotho on December 1, 2012. At that time, Lesotho did not yet have a fully functional Convention process in place and elected to suspend intercountry …
DOS Adoption Notice: Taiwan implements a Pre-Adoption Immigration Review requirement for all adoptions by U.S. citizens of children residing in Taiwan
Taiwan February 27, 2013 Notice: Taiwan implements a Pre-Adoption Immigration Review requirement for all adoptions by U.S. citizens of children residing in Taiwan The Department of State shares the follow web alert posted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on February 26, 2013. In January, the Taiwan Child Welfare Bureau issued an administrative order that requires all adoption cases …
DOS Adoption Alert: Haiti authorizes U.S. adoption service providers
Haiti February 8, 2013 Alert: Haiti authorizes U.S. adoption service providers Haiti’s adoption authority, Institut du Bien-Être Social et de Recherches (IBESR), has authorized a limited number of U.S. adoption service providers (ASPs) to provide adoption services in Haiti pursuant to its new administrative adoption procedures, which became effective on November 5, 2012. Although these new procedures are part …