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International Adoption General Information
US Immigration Legal Process
U.S. Immigration and the Foreign Country’s Legal Processes are the most time consuming components of the international adoption process. The Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration governs the process that allows a U.S. citizen to bring a foreign orphan into the United States. The process can be lengthy and you must properly complete each form required by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration in order to receive the orphan visa which allows the child back into the U.S. and qualifies the child for immediate U.S. citizenship. The immigration process takes place in the U.S. and at the U.S. consulate/embassy in the child’s country of origin.
Foreign Country Legal Process
The Foreign Country’s Legal Process typically begins with the adoptive parents gathering a number of required documents (dossier) and submitting those documents to a governing agency, facilitator or attorney in the child’s country of origin. Collecting your dossier can be time consuming and after you obtain the documents they must be authenticated. The authentication process can seem overwhelming but with some assistance, it can be completed with few worries.
Individual State Legal Process
The last part that completes your adoption is the Legal Process within your home state. Most states have a readoption process that allows you to obtain a U.S. adoption decree or birth certificate. In most foreign countries you actually complete an adoption and receive an adoption decree and your home state typically gives it “full faith and credit” (accepts it as if your home state’s court executed the decree). However, some foreign countries do not issue adoption decrees and therefore, you must proceed with a complete adoption in your home state.
Although, I have only given you a brief outline of the adoption process, I hope this will assist you in understanding international adoption. I would love to give you more detailed information, please feel free to contact me with any questions.
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