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New Controls in Marshall Islands
On October 1, new controls went into effect, allowing international adoptions to resume. Read about it here.
Traveling Back to China?
If you're traveling back to China with your China-born adoptee, make yourself aware of visa application requirements. Read about it here.
Guatemala Update
See below.
Country Updates
| COUNTRY | UPDATED | COMMENTS |
| BOLIVIA | 20-SEP-02 | Bolivia ratified the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption in Janaury 2002. The Government of Bolivia has informed the American Embassy in La Paz that Bolvia will approve international adoptions only when the prospective adopting parent(s) reside in countries which have become party to the Convention. Prospective parents who are legal residents of Bolivia or American-Bolivian dual nationals may adopt orphans under Bolivian law. It is expected that the Convention will enter into force in the United States in 2004. more on adopting from Bolivia |
| BULGARIA | 19-SEP-03 | Bulgaria is moving forward with establishment of a child register required under new laws. Read more. more on adopting from Bulgaria |
| CAMBODIA | 05-JUN-02 | Americans trying to circumvent the halt in Cambodian adoptions by going through the judicial system may be unable to obtain an orphan visa. For a more complete view, see this article from The New York Times. (May require registration which is free.) more on adopting from Cambodia |
| CHINA | 24-JUN-03 | The hold on international adoptions has been lifted. more on adopting from China |
| COLOMBIA | 16-JUN-03 | Travel warnings have been updated by the State Dept. for Colombia. |
| GUATEMALA | 06-OCT-03 | A motion has been filed to halt adoptions, but they are currently moving forward under a notarial process; however, parents are advised to check with their agencies to make sure their applications are in queue.. See details. more on adopting from Guatemala |
| INDIA | 16-JUN-03 | Adoptions by foreigners are being challenged by charges of illegal practices, causing delays. Source: New York Times more on adopting from India |
| KAZAKHSTAN | 23-MAR-02 | Word has it that no more independent adoption will be allowed from Kazakhstan - and only agencies whose families proceed with children's registration will be allowed to operate. more on adopting from Kazakhstan |
| LAOS | 12-DEC-94 | The government of Laos suspended all adoptions by foreign citizens. |
| LATVIA | 31-OCT-01 | Procedures are likely to change in 2002. |
| LIBERIA | 19-JUN-03 | Travel warnings have been posted for Liberia and visa services at the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia have been suspended until further notice. |
| MARSHALL ISLANDS (RMI) | 16-OCT-03 | New controls have been implemented allowing Marshall Islands adoptions to resume. Read about it. more on adopting from the Marshall Islands |
| MOLDOVA | 26-OCT-02 | Rumor has it that the Moldovan government has ended the ban on U.S. adoptions. Watch the Web site of the US Consulate in Chisinau for official info and new (more stringent) regulations. |
| MONGOLIA | 06-JUN-02 | U.S. citizens are cautioned against adopting from Mongolia. |
| ROMANIA | 01-JUN-03 | The moratorium on international adoptions scheduled to lift by the end of 2003 ... more info |
| SARAWAK | 30-JUL-02 | U.S. citizens are cautioned about adoption in Sarawak due to unknown outcomes. |
| SOUTH AFRICA | 24-OCT-01 | Laws will be eased in order to improve adoption opportunities of the more than 2 million anticipated AIDS/HIV orphans. Source: Welfare Minister Zola Skweyiya more on adopting from South Africa |
| UKRAINE | 27-APR-03 | Effective May 1, 2003, the homestudy must be accompanied by a certified translation. As of Feb. 2003, Ukraine requires two complete dossiers for the adoptions of two children, even siblings. Keep up with procedures from the US Embassy Consular Services, Kyiv, Ukraine. Feb. 2003: Charges of child trafficking have been made against the National Adoption Center. Read more. more on adopting from Ukraine |
| VIETNAM | 18-MAR-03 | Until negotiations between the U.S. and Vietnam are concluded under the new Vietnamese regulations, American citizens are advised not to pursue adoptions from Vietnam at this time. more on adopting from Vietnam |
If your adoption process was delayed due to SARS, you may be able to get an extension on your I-600A under a new interim rule.
Form N-643 Replaced with N-600
17-Jun-03 - BCIS (formerly INS) has replaced N-643 (Application for a Certificate of Citizenship) with N-600. Filing fee: $145 for a minor adopted child. All info on the site has been updated. Download the form here (free).
Fingerprints Good for 15 Months
As of April 1, this is being enforced even for families traveling to adopt when the 15 months expire. Families are advised to update fingerprints before traveling. Details.
INS Update: March 1, 2003
The Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) has been absorbed under Homeland Security, and is now known as the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS). For full information: INS Absorbed by Homeland Security. Here at the site, Filing fees and forms downloads are updated.
State Department Update
Important Notice Regarding Adoption Agents and Facilitators - July 18, 2002
The State Department has received a growing number of complaints concerning adoption facilitators operating in various countries.
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