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 Notice: DRC Changes at Embassy Kinshasa for adoption-related immigrant visa processing

Democratic Republic of Congo  February 7, 2013 Notice: Changes at Embassy Kinshasa for adoption-related immigrant visa processing Due to the increase in the volume of intercountry adoptions from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) by U.S. citizen families, U.S. Embassy Kinshasa announces several changes to its procedures for adoption related immigrant visa processing.  On January 31, 2013, Embassy Kinshasa …

DOS Adoption Notice: Adoption Notice for Nigeria

Nigeria   January 29, 2013 Notice: Adoption Notice for Nigeria Adoption and guardianship decrees from Nigerian states that lack adoption laws, and adoptions by persons of non-Nigerian heritage, may not be allowable under Nigerian law or acceptable for purposes of U.S. immigration. The Department of State is aware of instances in which U.S. citizens have sought or are seeking to …

DOS Adoption Alert: Families, Agencies Report Difficulties in Completing Russian Adoptions

Russia   January 11, 2013 Alert: Families, Agencies Report Difficulties in Completing Russian Adoptions On December 28, President Vladimir Putin signed into law Federal Law No. 272-FZ, which went into effect on January 1, 2013. The law bans the adoption of Russian children by U.S. citizens, bars adoption service providers from assisting U.S. citizens to adopt Russian children, and requires …

DOS Adoption Alert: Russian President Vladimir Putin Signs Legislation to Ban Intercountry Adoption by U.S. Families into Law

Russia  December 28, 2012 Alert: Russian President Vladimir Putin Signs Legislation to Ban Intercountry Adoption by U.S. Families into Law On December 28, President Vladimir Putin signed Federal Law No. 186614-6 which prohibits the adoption of Russian children by U.S. families.  This law will go into effect on January 1, 2013. The Department of State remains actively engaged with the …

DOS Adoption Alert: Federation Council approves Legislation to Ban Intercountry Adoption by U.S. Families

Russia   December 26, 2012 Adoption Alert: Federation Council approves Legislation to Ban Intercountry Adoption by U.S. Families The Department of State continues to follow developments in Russia related to Federal Law No. 186614-6 and remains actively engaged in discussions with the Russian government regarding concerns that, if signed into law, this legislation will needlessly remove the opportunity for hundreds of …

DOS Adoption Alert: Status of Russian Adoption Legislation

Russia   December 21, 2012 Alert: Legislation to Ban Intercountry Adoption by U.S. Families Passes the Russian Duma and Moves to the Federation Council for Review  The Department of State continues to follow developments in Russia’s legislature related to Federal Law No 186614-6 and remains actively engaged with the Russian government.  We are concerned by measures in the bill, approved …