The Colombian Institute for Family Welfare (ICBF) formally announced several important changes in Colombia’s management of intercountry adoptions. Beginning July 15, 2013, ICBF will no longer accept new intercountry adoption applications from non-Colombian citizens living abroad interested in adopting a child under 6 years and 11 months old, unless ICBF considers the child to have special characteristics or needs. Families …
Category: DOS Alerts/Notices
DoS Alert: Democratic Republic of the Congo Immigration Authorities Resume Limited Issuance of Exit Permits to Children Adopted in Tribunal pour Enfants
This alert updates the Department of State’s May 2 adoption alert regarding the suspension of issuance of exit permits to adopted Congolese children seeking to depart the country with their adoptive parents. On June 17, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) General Directorate of Migration (Direction Generale de Migration, DGM) informed the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa that the DGM has partially …
DoS Alert on Post-Placement Reports in Russia Adoptions
Russia requires post-placement reports to provide information regarding the welfare of children adopted by U.S. families. Reports should be prepared in accordance with the requirements established by the Russian government and as agreed to during the adoption process. All reports should be translated into Russian. Reports may be submitted to the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation …
DoS Notice: U.S. – Ireland Operating Arrangement for Outgoing Adoptions of U.S. Children by Irish Prospective Adoptive Parents
June 7, 2013 The Department of State and the Adoption Authority of Ireland have concluded discussions on an operating arrangement for Irish prospective adoptive parents to adopt children who are eligible for intercountry adoption in the United States and who will emigrate from the U.S. to Ireland under Hague Adoption Convention (Convention) procedures. The operating arrangement includes eligibility standards for …
DOS Notice re China: New Location for Consulate General Guangzhou
June 7, 2013 The U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou, which processes all U.S. immigrant visas in China, will be moving to the Zhujiang New Town area of Guangzhou. This spacious and modern facility will house consular services for visa applicants and for U.S. citizens. The Consulate General will suspend operations on or about July 15, and will resume adoption-related visa …
DoS Alert on El Salvador: Adoption Delays and Complications
El Salvador and the United States are parties to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (“Convention”). Therefore, all adoptions between El Salvador and the United States initiated after April 1, 2008, must meet the requirements of the Convention and the U.S. and Salvadoran laws implementing the Convention. The U.S. Embassy in San …
Update on Intercountry Adoptions in Guatemala
Joint USCIS-State Delegation to Guatemala During the week of May 13, 2013, Special Advisor for Children’s Issues Ambassador Susan Jacobs traveled with USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas to Guatemala for meetings with Guatemalan government officials of agencies directly involved in adoptions, including the Procuraduría General de la Nación (PGN) and the Guatemalan National Council on Adoption (CNA). They also met with members of the Supreme …
DOS Alert: All Adoption Cases with the Ghanaian Department of Social Welfare are Subject to Suspension
Ghana May 20, 2013 The Government of Ghana has temporarily suspended processing of all adoption cases, including intercountry adoptions, pending Ghana’s review of its current adoption procedures. All adoption cases which have not received final approval by the Ghanaian Department of Social Welfare are subject to this suspension. At this time, adoption cases which have completed processing with the Ghanaian …
DOS Notice: Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of CongoMay 16, 2013 Notice for Individuals Seeking Further Information Following the Department of State’s May 14 Conference Call The Department of State has received information that a number of adoption service providers and prospective adoptive families were unable to join the conference call on adoptions from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on May 14, 2013. …
Alert: Update on China
Alert: Update on ChinaMay 16, 2013 – The U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou to Resume Normal Operations Friday, May 17, 2013. For more information, please see Guangzhou U.S. Embassy website (http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/adoption.html). http://adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_alerts_notices.php?alert_notice_type=alerts&alert_notice_file=china_2 Ethics, Transparency, Support~ What All Adoptions Deserve.http://www.pear-now.org/ People for Ethical Adoption Reform www.pear-now.org