International Adoption, Immigration, Re-Adoption
We are happy to answer any additional questions you may have. Send us an email or call us at (800) 960-0907. Are there questions that you think should be included? Please let us know. Our new FAQ's are compiled by you—our visitors and our clients.
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How is the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services involved in international adoption?
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How does one go about gaining USCIS approval to adopt?
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Does my child/ren become an automatic US citizen when adopted abroad?
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Will the USCIS deny our application to adopt if a prospective adoptive parent has a criminal record?
1. How is the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services involved in international adoption?
US Immigration law requires that all U.S. citizens seeking to adopt internationally gain approval by means of obtaining an approved home study completed by a licensed social worker, to apply for "favorable determination to adopt," and finally to apply for an immigrant visa with the appropriate US Embassy abroad responsible for processing orphan petitions for the particular country from which the family is adopting.
AdoptInternational is prepared to bring you through each step of the immigration process and because we have experienced attorneys on staff you will receive expert legal advice throughout the immigration process at no additional expense.
2. How does one go about gaining USCIS approval to adopt?
Prospective adoptive parents must complete form I-600a, Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition, at the beginning of the adoption process and prior to beginning the legal process abroad and then once the adoption is completed in the foreign country, apply for an immigrant by completing for I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as Immediate Relative
3. Does my child/ren become an automatic US citizen when adopted abroad?
US Immigration law provides that if both parents have seen their child prior to the completion of the adoption process then the child is automatically a US citizen. If both parents have not seen their child prior to the completion of the adoption then US Immigration law requires that the child be re-adopted. Each state's law governs the procedures required to accomplish readoption.
4. Will the USCIS deny our application to adopt if a prospective adoptive parent has a criminal record?
Not necessarily. It is extremely important that any and all arrests and convictions are disclosed both to the social worker and agency responsible for completing your home study and to the agency responsible for handling the international adoption process. This applies to arrests and convictions that were sealed or dismissed. The Department of Homeland Security conducts background checks and they are far-reaching so it is entirely possible that these records will appear. If you have not disclosed these events, US immigration will look upon your failure to disclose more seriously, in many cases, then if you had disclosed the event. In the case of AdoptInternational, our Executive Director, Candace O'Brien, and our Director of Legal Services, Howard Weinberg, are both attorneys who can provide advice and consultation during the initial phase of the home study process to ensure a successful outcome wherever possible.
Thank you so much for helping us with [our adoption] Candace. You were absolutely amazing as are your team in Azerbaijan.
—L. Stawowy
More testimonials here
