Hague Convention Adoptions and US Citizenship
Adoptions often lend themselves to immigration problems when the child and/or parents are from different countries or have different citizenship or immigration statuses.
The Hague Convention was signed to reduce the complications arising from such adoptions.
The Hague Convention was signed by many countries around the world and the US is a member.
As such, the US has adopted procedures to enact and enforce the regulations.
This article will briefly discuss the process for a Hague Adoption.
Prospective parents for Hague Convention adoptions must concurrently submit an I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country, and a home study (discussed below) to USCIS.
After the I-800A is approved, the prospective parents must then file an I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative.
The prospective parents will only be able to adopt after the I-800A, home study, and I-800 are approved by USCIS.
Form I-800A should be submitted with the following evidence: proof of US citizenship (certificate of naturalization), proof of marriage (marriage certificate), and a home study.
A home study is a review of the applicants and how suitable the environment would be for a child.
Specifically, U.
S.
regulations for Hague adoptions require that: First, the home study must be conducted by an accredited/approved adoption service provider, supervised provider, or an exempted provider.
(A social work professional or organization that only performs the study, and does not provide any other adoption services in the case is known as an exempted provider, and does not have to be accredited.
However, the study must subsequently be approved by an accredited adoption service provider.
) Second, the adoption service provider ensures that the study is performed in accordance with state and federal law.
Third, the agency's employee who conducts the home study is authorized or licensed to complete the study under the laws of the states in which he or she operates, and is also supervised by someone who has prior experience in family and child services or intercountry adoption.
Adoption service providers must ensure the timely transmission of the approved study to the Central Authority or other competent authority of the child's country of origin.
Fourth, the expected total fee and estimated expenses for a home study are disclosed in writing.
Fifth, the study must include a determination of the prospective adoptive parent(s)' suitability to adopt.
Sixth, when completed, a true copy of the study must be transmitted to the Central Authority or other competent authority for adoption in the country from which the parents plan to adopt.
Home studies for Hague adoptions must be submitted to USCIS at the same time of filing the I-800A.
More information about home studies for Hague adoptions, including information about home study updates and amendments, can be found in USCIS' instructions for filing Form I-800A.
The Hague Convention was signed to reduce the complications arising from such adoptions.
The Hague Convention was signed by many countries around the world and the US is a member.
As such, the US has adopted procedures to enact and enforce the regulations.
This article will briefly discuss the process for a Hague Adoption.
Prospective parents for Hague Convention adoptions must concurrently submit an I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country, and a home study (discussed below) to USCIS.
After the I-800A is approved, the prospective parents must then file an I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative.
The prospective parents will only be able to adopt after the I-800A, home study, and I-800 are approved by USCIS.
Form I-800A should be submitted with the following evidence: proof of US citizenship (certificate of naturalization), proof of marriage (marriage certificate), and a home study.
A home study is a review of the applicants and how suitable the environment would be for a child.
Specifically, U.
S.
regulations for Hague adoptions require that: First, the home study must be conducted by an accredited/approved adoption service provider, supervised provider, or an exempted provider.
(A social work professional or organization that only performs the study, and does not provide any other adoption services in the case is known as an exempted provider, and does not have to be accredited.
However, the study must subsequently be approved by an accredited adoption service provider.
) Second, the adoption service provider ensures that the study is performed in accordance with state and federal law.
Third, the agency's employee who conducts the home study is authorized or licensed to complete the study under the laws of the states in which he or she operates, and is also supervised by someone who has prior experience in family and child services or intercountry adoption.
Adoption service providers must ensure the timely transmission of the approved study to the Central Authority or other competent authority of the child's country of origin.
Fourth, the expected total fee and estimated expenses for a home study are disclosed in writing.
Fifth, the study must include a determination of the prospective adoptive parent(s)' suitability to adopt.
Sixth, when completed, a true copy of the study must be transmitted to the Central Authority or other competent authority for adoption in the country from which the parents plan to adopt.
Home studies for Hague adoptions must be submitted to USCIS at the same time of filing the I-800A.
More information about home studies for Hague adoptions, including information about home study updates and amendments, can be found in USCIS' instructions for filing Form I-800A.
Source...