How can I adopt an orphan from Haiti?

How to Adopt Kids from Haiti

• Answer:

  Many couples dream of expanding their family some day. For some, this means having children of their own. For others, adoption is used to expand their families. When a couple decides to adopt a child, they are faced with many decisions. One of the first decisions they must make is from where they would like to adopt a child. Haiti has its own set of regulations and steps to be followed in order to adopt a child. However, as of 2010, all Haitian adoptions have been put on hold due to the earthquake disaster. Difficulty: Moderately Challenging Instructions Select an agency. Research agencies carefully to ensure that they are accredited to be able to help with international adoptions, particularly from Haiti. Ask others whom you know who have adopted for recommendations. Take part in a home study. All adoptions require a home study to qualify. International adoptions, such as from Haiti, require a home study by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This study will look in-depth at your finances, background, living situation and medical records to determine if you are capable of raising a child. Fill out form I-800A and submit it to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This form, combined with your home study, will determine if you will be eligible to adopt from Haiti. If you are approved, you and the U.S. embassy in Haiti will be contacted. Obtain permission to adopt from Haiti. The justice of the peace who has jurisdiction over the child's location must first issue a release of the child from the current legal guardians. This document is then submitted to the "Institut du BienEtre Social et de Recherches (IBESR)," which is the Haitian version of the department of family and children's services in the United States, to investigate both the potential adoptive parents and the child for medical and psychological stability. Once this investigation is complete, the Tribunal Civil or Civil Court in the child's jurisdiction will consider whether to grant permission to follow through with the adoption. File I-800 form with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services . This form allows the United States government to investigate the child being adopted to ensure that he is eligible to immigrate to the United States. You must have a child lined up for adoption and approved by Haiti to complete this step. Travel to Haiti. Adopted children must be picked up in person in order to be adopted. Apply for a visa for the child. This is done at the U.S. embassy in Haiti by filing a IR-3 form. An interview will take place before a visa can be issued. Many documents are required for this interview, including proof of U.S. citizenship, marriage certificate, home-study report, adoption decree, child's birth certificate and passport, medical reports, three photographs of the child's face, visa application and completed I-800. Return to the United States. Once the visa has been approved, you will be able to return to the United States with your new family member. Tips & Warnings Tip: Buy an open-ended ticket to Haiti when picking up your child since the process can take varying amounts of time depending on the specifics of the situation. Warning: Be sure to ask your agency any questions you may have about the process as failure to submit pieces of the process at the appropriate time can result in failure of the adoption.