Adoption ARK - Nepal

US Asst Secy Arrives Nepal To Discuss Inter-country Adoption

noreply@blogger.com (Adoption Ark) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 17:04:00 +0000

KATHMANDU, Feb 16: United States Assistant Secretary of State for Consular
Affairs Janice Jacobs arrived in Kathmandu on Wednesday for a two-day visit.

Jacob´s visit comes a day after the US Under Secretary of State for
Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero, who arrived in Kathmandu on
Sunday, wrapped her visit to Nepal.

According to a press statement issued by US Embassy in Kathmandu, the visit
will primarily focus on the issue of inter-country adoption from Nepal.

Assistant Secretary Jacobs is scheduled to hold meetings with officials at
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and the Ministry for Women, Children
and Social Welfare (MoWCSW) to discuss the US government´s concerns on the
inter-country adoption process.

The visit of a senior US official to Kathmandu comes in the wake of concerns
being raised by international community that inter-country adoption from
Nepal is subject to widespread abuses.

In an apparent bid to address the concerns, the MoWCSW last month amended
the conditions and procedures relating to inter-country adoption.

This news item is printed from myrepublica.com - a sister publication of
Republica national daily.
© Nepal Republic Media Pvt. Ltd. Kathmandu Nepal.

Adoption Tax Credit Form

noreply@blogger.com (Adoption Ark) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 17:35:00 +0000

The Adoption Tax Credit can be confusing. Please visit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQryETwRziA for more information on the
qualifications and filing instructions. You can also view the form at
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8839.pdf

Adoption ARK's Report Card

noreply@blogger.com (Adoption Ark) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 16:40:00 +0000

Adoption ARK is very excited to share with you our latest survey results. Our “Report Card” reflects our commitment to orphaned children and the clients that we serve. International Adoption is not just a job; it’s a calling. At Adoption ARK, we are honored to assist you in adopting a child and we thank you for choosing us as your international adoption agency. Thank you to all the clients that participated.

View Adoption ARK’s Report Card at http://www.adoptionark.org/upload/adoptionarkreportcard_87895.pdf

Sincerely,
The Team at Adoption ARK
(847) 215-2755

Follow Adoption ARK on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/adoptionark
Visit our YouTube page http://www.youtube.com/user/AdoptionArk

Adopting one child won't change the world; but for that child, the world will change.

A Situation in Nepal

noreply@blogger.com (Adoption Ark) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 19:51:00 +0000

Adoption ARK would like to make you aware of a very serious situation facing adoptive parents.

On August 6, 2010, The Department of State and The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) branches suspended adoptions of abandoned children in Nepal. At that time, many families were in the final stages of the Nepal Adoption Program, some were even in Nepal.

Prior to August 6th, the issuing of a visa for a Nepali orphan took approximately 1-2 weeks. Now, since August 6th, not a single visa has been issued even though more than 20 families have filed their I-600 form. During this time, some parents have been living in Nepal, waiting for the Visa’s to be issued for their children; Children that have been in their custody all this time and are legally adopted according to the government of Nepal. Other children are still in the care of an orphanage, waiting for their families to be united. Understandably, the delay of these visas has left the parents, as well as their newly adopted children, in emotional distress. The children are unable to leave Nepal without the necessary visas. Parents who are in Nepal are faced with the decision to either stay in Nepal for an indefinite period or leave the children that they have been parenting and bonding with in Nepal; which would be devastating to the emotional well being of the child.

In addition, the USCIS in New Delhi is suggesting that these Nepali adoptions will require the assistance of a US Immigration Lawyer and this additional cost places considerable financial burdens on parents in this process. This burden was not shared by those processed prior to 6th August even though the paperwork associated with the adoptions was essentially the same.

Adoption ARK understands that each adoption case requires an I-604 investigation before the visa can be issued. We support this process, undertaken in a timely manner, to ensure that adoption takes place in the best interest of the child. However, the Department of States decision not to accept visa applications for abandoned children is very concerning and has the potential to affect adoptions in all countries, not just Nepal.

Please take a moment and help these children & parents by signing the petition at http://www.petition2congress.com/2/3608/go/ and asking for the United States Government to take action and bring these families home.

Sincerely,

The Team at Adoption ARK

www.adoptionark.org

New Orphan Processing Procedures

noreply@blogger.com (Adoption Ark) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:48:00 +0000

Dear Prospective Adoptive Parents, Adoption Service Providers with Nepal Programs, and Adoption Stakeholders,

New Orphan Processing Procedures for Cases not Subject to the Suspension in Nepal

August 27, 2010

Summary: In an effort to protect the interests of U.S. prospective adoptive parents who are adopting from Nepal, the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu is implementing new procedures to ensure that the adoptive child will be eligible to immigrate to the United States BEFORE the prospective adoptive parents travel to Nepal and complete the Nepali adoption process. The procedures in this announcement apply only to prospective adoptive parents who were officially matched with Nepali children prior to August 6, 2010, and whose Form I-600, Petition to Classify an Orphan as an Immediate Relative, has not yet been adjudicated. If prospective adoptive parents whose cases meet these qualifications choose to follow the procedures outlined below, the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu will determine whether the children for whom they are petitioning meet the definition of orphan under U.S. law - one of the requirements for approval of the Form I-600 petition and visa issuance. End summary.

Background:

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of State have encountered inconsistent and unreliable documentation regarding the reported abandonment of children for adoption in Nepal. These problems led the U.S. government to suspend processing of new orphan cases involving Nepali children claimed to have been abandoned, effective August 6. However, a number of cases were already underway as of that date and are now being processed to conclusion.

On August 27, 2010, the USCIS delegated authority to the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu to approve any Form I-600, Petition to Classify an Orphan as an Immediate Relative, on behalf of a Nepali child residing in Nepal who is and whose case is exempt from the suspension of processing announced August 6, 2010. The exemption applies to cases in which the prospective adoptive parents: 1) received an official referral letter from the Government of Nepal's Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare (MOWCSW) prior to August 6, 2010, informing them of a proposed match, or 2) who seek to adopt a Nepali child who has been relinquished by known parent(s) and whose identity and relationship can be confirmed.

Prospective adoptive parents involved in a case exempt from the suspension are strongly encouraged to file their completed Form I-600 petition with the U.S. Embassy Kathmandu prior to traveling to Nepal to finalize the adoption. The Embassy will then complete the required Form I-604 Determination of Child for Adoption (sometimes referred to as the "orphan investigation") and inform the prospective adoptive parents of the results.

Procedures:

Prospective adoptive parents who wish to participate in this program should send their completed, signed Form I-600 petition and supporting documents (other than the adoption order), including a copy of the Government of Nepal's official referral letter dated prior to August 6, 2010, if available, through their U.S. adoption service provider to their local agency representative in Nepal. Local agency representatives may deliver Form I-600 petitions and supporting documents to the Embassy's American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit Monday through Friday between the hours of 1:30 and 4:00 p.m. They should tell the Embassy security guard that they are coming to deliver adoption documents. All Form I-600 petitions and supporting documents (other than the adoption order) should be delivered in person by local agency representatives. Prospective adoptive parents should not mail Form I-600 petitions or supporting documents directly to the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu.

Upon delivery of the Form I-600 petition and supporting documents, the local agency representative will be given written confirmation from the Embassy that the documents have been received. A consular officer will perform a preliminary review of the case to ensure that the Form I-600 petition has been properly completed and signed (and includes the appropriate fee, if required) and that all of the required documents have been submitted to enable the Embassy to initiate the I-604 investigation. If the petition and supporting documents are in order, the case will be added to the list of cases pending an I-604 investigation.

The MOWCSW has informed the U.S. Embassy it is willing to grant extensions on the 60 day period between the date of the authorization to travel letter and finalizing the adoptions in Nepal, to give the Embassy time to complete the required I-604 investigation. Prospective adoptive parents who have received the MOWCSW's travel authorization letter should include a copy with the documents that their local agency representative delivers to the ACS Unit. After the Embassy confirms that the prospective adoptive parents have received an official referral letter from the MOWCSW dated prior to August 6, 2010, the Embassy will request an extension of the 60 days in writing from the MOWCSW on behalf of the prospective adoptive parents. A copy of the Embassy's letter requesting the extension will be provided to the prospective adoptive parents by email for their records. When the Embassy receives a response from the Ministry, the Embassy will share this response with the prospective adoptive parent.

If, after completing the Form I-604 investigation of the case, the Embassy finds that the evidence establishes that the beneficiary child is an orphan under U.S. immigration law, the prospective adoptive parents will be notified in writing that they may travel to Nepal to complete their adoption.

Upon completion of the adoption, the Embassy will be able to complete the adjudication of the Form I-600. Note that the I-604 Investigation results are not the only consideration in the I-600 adjudication.

If the Form I-600 Petition is approved, further documents (such as the child's medical report, etc.) will be required at that time for the visa interview. These documents could affect the child's eligibility to receive an IR-3 or IR-4 immigrant visa.

Notification from the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu to travel and complete an adoption following these procedures should therefore not be construed as a guarantee that the Form I-600 petition will be approved or that the child will be issued an immigrant visa. After their adoption is finalized, the adoptive parents or their local agency representative should submit the original adoption order and the child's Nepali passport to the Embassy and request an immigrant visa appointment. If Embassy Kathmandu determines that the Form I-600 petition is not clearly approvable, the prospective adoptive parents will be notified in writing that the Embassy has forwarded their Form I-600 petition and supporting documents to USCIS New Delhi for further review and action.

With the exception of those families already in Nepal at the time of this announcement, USCIS and the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu will process the Form I-600 petitions in the order that they are filed, regardless of whether the petitioner is in Nepal. If a petitioner chooses to travel to Nepal to file the Form I-600 petition after the date of this announcement, the petitioner should anticipate a lengthy stay in Nepal while the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu conducts the required investigation and while USCIS conducts any necessary review.

Domestically Filed Form I-600 Petitions for Children from Nepal:

Effective immediately, the USCIS National Benefits Center (NBC) will forward any pending Form I-600 petitions filed domestically on behalf of children from Nepal to the National Visa Center (NVC) and notify the petitioner(s) of the transfers. In addition, any Form I-600 petition received by the NBC after August 6, 2010 will be forwarded to the NVC. Once the NVC receives a Form I-600 petition from the NBC, it will scan the documents and forward the case to the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu for processing.

Ruth Lincoln

Adoption Division, Office of Children's Issues Overseas Citizens Services Bureau of Consular Affairs U.S. Department of State Washington, D.C.

Tel: (202) 736-4995

Statement by The Joint Council

noreply@blogger.com (Adoption Ark) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:52:00 +0000

Below is a Statement made by The Joint Council on International Children’s Services. Adoption ARK is monitoring the situation in Nepal and will update this blog as we get more information.

U.S. Government Closes Adoptions

Joint Council's Nepal initiative stems from the joint announcement<http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2010/08/145767.htm> on August 6, 2010 by the U.S. Department of State (DOS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services stating the suspension of new adoption cases for children presented as abandoned in Nepal. Additionally, DOS has published a Q&A<http://adoption.state.gov/news/NepalFAQ.html> on the suspension. The primary cause of the closure appears to be that U.S. government has determined the documentation on the children is not reliable, the origin of child cannot be adequately assessed and the child's adoptability cannot be assured.

A History of Concern

The closure of adoptions in Nepal follows a long history of concerns regarding corruption. Most recently, DOS announcements in March 2010 and May 2010 strongly discouraged adoptive parents from choosing to adopt from Nepal. And on July 14 2010, DOS requested the contact information of adoptive parents with the apparent intent of determining the number of families adopting Nepalese children and informing them directly of DOS actions.

Nepal adoptions were previously suspended in May 2007 and only reopened in early 2009. Since the reopening, concerns regarding corruption have been raised by not only the U.S. government but also in a report by Terre des Hommes and through the decision of virtually all European countries to cease adoptions with Nepal.

Joint Council has also expressed concerns. In 2007, Joint Council launched the Nepal Initiative for Families and Children which successfully contributed to the adoptions of over 400 children caught in the 2007 closure. When the suspension was lifted in 2009, Joint Council stated its concerns regarding the worldwide total number of service providers licensed by the Nepalese government. And at our Annual Conference in March 2010, Nepal was added to our list of 'countries at risk of closing'.

Alternatives to Closure

Regarding the substantial allegations of corruption surrounding adoptions in Nepal Joint Council continues to forcefully advocate that those who are responsible for abuses be investigated, arrested and prosecuted. Failing to take aggressive action against the individuals involved only further compromises children's rights. And when the reaction to abuse is not the prosecution of the perpetrators but rather the elimination of intercountry adoption, children are further victimized and their rights stripped away.

Joint Council and all others concerned about those children who live without parental care, must be more aggressive in our role in the elimination of corruption and abuse. Whether through intentional illegalities, unintended consequences or weak oversight, our collective failure to ensure ethical adoptions and the development a full spectrum of permanency services, only contributes to the elimination of a child's right to a family.

As just one part of a more aggressive role, Joint Council joins many other leading advocates in supporting the recommendations delineated by EJ Graff in her recent article on intercountry adoption. These recommendations include laws which would make 'baby buying' illegal and require Hague accreditation for service providers with programs in foreign countries. Joint Council's position on Ms. Graff's recommendations can be found here<http://www.brandeis.edu/investigate/gender/adoption/expertsrespond_JCICS.html>.

Proactive Protection

Children and families can best be protected and their rights ensured through the proactive leadership of the U.S. government and a policy that states "children belong in families". Without aggressive leadership, family-centric policies and the resources to back it up; children's rights will continue to be slowly stripped away. And perhaps most sadly, upon the closure of adoption, the U.S. government offers no programs to support the parentless children the closure is purported to protect.

A "children belong in families" policy is the goal of the Families For Orphans Act. This landmark legislation is our best hope at preventing children from being abandoned and of finding permanent families for children without parental care. Without such a 'game changer', existing families will continue to be forced to abandon their children, domestic adoption will continue to languish and intercountry adoption will continue to be eliminated one country at a time .

Joint Council will continue to work aggressively with the governments of Nepal and the U.S. along with adoption service providers to ensure that the children of Nepal will once again have the right to a family through legal and ethical intercountry adoption. Joint Council calls on members of the international community, including the U.S. Department of State, to both assist the government of Nepal in reopening a ethical adoption system and to provide life-giving aide to the growing number of Nepalese children who remain without the love and nurturing of a safe and permanent family.

Adoption Alert from the U.S. Dept. of State

noreply@blogger.com (Adoption Ark) — Wed, 26 May 2010 20:49:00 +0000

Adoption Alert: Nepal

May 26, 2010

Caution About Pursuing Adoption in Nepal

The U.S. Department of State strongly discourages prospective adoptive parents from choosing adoption in Nepal because of grave concerns about the reliability of Nepal’s adoption system and the accuracy of the information in children’s official files. The Department also strongly discourages adoption service providers from accepting new applications for adoption from Nepal until reforms are made, and asks them to be vigilant about possible unethical or illegal activities under the current adoption system.

The Hague Conference on Private International Law recently released a report on its Intercountry Adoption Technical Assistance Program, based on a visit by a delegate from the Hague Conference’s Permanent Bureau to Nepal in November 2009, available at (http://www.hcch.net/upload/wop/nepal_rpt09.pdf). This report is the result of an independent analysis of Nepal’s intercountry adoption system under the new Terms and Conditions put in place in 2008. The report details a number of weaknesses in Nepal’s adoption system, including ongoing

concern about the falsification of documents, improper financial gain, and lack of a child protection system.

Although the U.S. Embassy in Nepal has only seen a handful of adoption cases since the new Terms and Conditions went into effect, we share many of the concerns outlined in the Hague report. As a case in point, in one of the first cases processed by the Government of Nepal after the revision of the Terms and Conditions, the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu found that the adopted child was not a true orphan and that the birth parents were actively searching for the child.

We encourage parents who have filed an application with the Ministry of Women, Children and

Social Welfare (MoWCSW) in Nepal, but have not yet been matched with a child or received an Adoption Decree issued by the Government of Nepal, to consider a change of countries. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) allow one change of country to be made in connection with one’s I-600A application without fee. A request to change countries should be made in writing to the USCIS Field Office where the I-600A was originally filed. More information about how to request a change of country can be found on the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov (Any subsequent request for a change of country would require a fee.).

Hague-accredited U.S. adoption services providers, and adoption service providers that may apply for Hague accreditation in the future are reminded that their actions in facilitating and/or processing adoptions in any country (whether Hague or non-Hague) will be evaluated during the Hague accreditation or accreditation renewal processes in accordance with the accreditation regulations (22 CFR Part 96), including whether, among other things, the provider has established and rigorously followed ethical adoption practices and operates in the best interest of prospective adoptive children.

Consular Officers are required to conduct an I-604 investigation to verify the child’s orphan status prior to immigrant visa processing. We generally rely upon the host government’s diligence to protect the safety and interests of their own children through careful administration of their national adoption process and use the I-604 investigation to confirm that this process has been followed. Because Nepal’s adoption process is questionable, it can be very difficult to satisfy the requirements of the I-604 investigation. Thus, these investigations could take a matter of months. Prospective adoptive parents are advised that they need to have flexible travel plans and be prepared to stay in Nepal while awaiting the results of the I-604 investigation or plan to make two trips (one to finalize the adoption and a second after the I-604 investigation is completed to bring their child home.)

When an I-600 is adjudicated by USCIS in the United States, consular officers must then conduct an I-604 investigation once the approved petition reaches the Embassy in Nepal to verify the child’s orphan status prior to immigrant visa processing. For I-600 applications filed at the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu, the I-604 investigation is initiated after the prospective adoptive parents have appeared before a consular officer to sign the application.

Both DOS and USCIS recognize that it would be preferable for the I-604 investigations to be completed earlier in the process. However, under current procedures, the U.S. Embassy cannot begin the I-604 investigation until the PAPs have filed their I-600 application and have submitted the necessary documents pertaining to the adoptive child, such as police reports, newspaper announcements and certification of orphan status. The Department of State and USCIS are currently in discussion about possible ways to revise the procedures under U.S. Government control to mitigate this problem.

The U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu continues to meet with officials within the Government of Nepal and with other foreign missions concerning the current status of adoptions in Nepal. The February 25, 2010 joint statement issued by the International Adoption Working Group (an ad hoc group of Embassies in Nepal who have an interest in intercountry adoption issues) may be found at http://nepal.usembassy.gov/pr-2-24-2010.html.

Adoptive parents may contact the Embassy at adoptionsnepal@state.gov if they have questions.

Please continue to monitor http://adoption.state.gov for updated information as it becomes available.

Exciting News About the Adoption Tax Credit

noreply@blogger.com (Adoption Ark) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:41:00 +0000

Adoptive Parents and future adoptive parents can breathe a sigh of relief. The Adoption Tax Credit has been renewed, increased, and made refundable.

· Was extended until December, 2011

· The adoption tax credit increased from $12,170 to $13,170

· And, is now refundable instead of just being credited to the amount owed

This is great news for new adoptive parents and those parents planning to adopt in the near future. If you are considering adoption please give Adoption ARK a call! We would love to help you work on your budget and adoption plans.

USCIS Centralizes Processing of Orphan Adoptions Change will Streamline Processing

noreply@blogger.com (Adoption Ark) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 17:46:00 +0000

WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced
that on April 1, 2010, it is centralizing processing and adjudication of all
new orphan (Non-Hague) petitions with the agency's specialized adoptions
team in Missouri.
Prospective adoptive parents will continue to file their Petition to
Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative (Form I 600) and Application for
Advance Processing of Orphan Petition (Form I 600A) with USCIS' Dallas
Lockbox facility. The Lockbox will forward the case to the Orphan Unit at
USCIS' National Benefit Center (NBC) for processing and adjudication. The
applicant will receive a receipt notice with the NBC address and contact
information for follow-up correspondence.
While this takes place behind the scenes, adoptive parents will benefit
because it allows USCIS to:
* Process applications and petitions more efficiently,
* Streamline and standardize work processes, and
* Offer more consistent service.
Parents will also benefit from the specialized skills and experience of the
NBC Non-Hague Adoption Unit, based on the NBC's implementation of the USCIS
Hague Adoption Convention program in 2008.
USCIS has dedicated a toll-free NBC Adoption telephone line, 1-877-424-8374
and published an Orphan Home Study Tip sheet (Form M-760) to aid adoption
service providers and prospective adoptive parents.
Local USCIS field offices in the United States will continue to accept
requests for extensions and change of circumstances for approved Form I-600A
applications in accordance with the current filing instructions. Overseas
U.S. citizens may continue to file Form I-600 at a U.S. Embassy, consulate
or USCIS office abroad that has jurisdiction to accept the petition.
However, in order to file a Form I-600 petition abroad, the petitioner must
have an approved Form I-600A and be physically present in the adoptive
child's country.
Prospective parents who reside abroad may continue to file the Form I-600A
with an overseas USCIS office or the Dallas Lockbox facility.
For more information on orphan adoptions visit:
http://www.uscis.gov/adoptions.

Free Seminar "Parenting Children from Haiti and Other Hard Places"

noreply@blogger.com (Adoption Ark) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:07:00 +0000

Adoption Learning Partners is pleased to bring you this webinar in cooperation with The Evan B. Donaldson Institute and the Joint Council on International Children's Services.

Dr. Karyn Purvis will spend one hour answering parents' questions on parenting their children from Haiti, and other "hard places" (which she will define). Feel free to ask questions about attachment, sleep issues, behavior challenges, family dynamics, or any other challenge you are facing.

Questions should be submitted in advance by completing the form below (please include your child's age). They will be read to Dr. Purvis by our moderator. We'll get to as many questions as time allows.

Dr. Purvis is co-author of the book "The Connected Child," and the Director of the Institute of Child Development at TCU. Her focus is on research based interventions for vulnerable children. She travels extensively, providing training and consultation for families and professionals working with at risk children.

Please register at http://www.bluestreakwebinars.com/AccountManager/RegEv.aspx?PIID=ED50DD8985

noreply@blogger.com (Adoption Ark) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:53:00 +0000

Sandra Bullock won the Oscar for Best Actress last night for her role in the movie ‘The Blind Side.’ If you haven’t seen the movie yet, it is about Michael Oher, a homeless, traumatized boy who became an All American football player and first round NFL draft pick after being taken in by a caring woman and her family. In her acceptance speech Sandra said, “what this film was about for me, which are the moms that take care of the babies and the children no matter where they come from." Adoption ARK couldn’t agree more! Today, on International Women’s Day, Adoption ARK would like to say thank you to all the mom’s that have loving cared for adopted children. Please remember…Adopting one child will not change the world; but for that child the world will change. The world changed for Michael Oher and countless other the day their moms took them in their arms and began a life-long pursuit of loving them unconditionally.

Adoption Alert: Nepal

noreply@blogger.com (Adoption Ark) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:09:00 +0000

Issued by the U.S. State Department

March 05, 2010

Caution About Pursuing an Adoption in Nepal

The U.S. Department of State strongly discourages prospective adoptive parents from choosing Nepal as a country from which to adopt due to grave concerns about the reliability of Nepal’s adoption system and the accuracy of the information in children’s official files. The Department also strongly discourages adoption service providers from accepting new applications for adoption from Nepal until reforms are made, and to be vigilant about operating in an ethical manner under the current adoption system.

The Hague Conference on Private International Law recently released a report on its Intercountry Adoption Technical Assistance Program, based on a visit by a delegate from the Hague Conference’s Permanent Bureau to Nepal in November 2009 (http://www.hcch.net/upload/wop/nepal_rpt09.pdf). This report is the result of an independent analysis of Nepal’s intercountry adoption system under the new Terms and Conditions put in place in 2008. The report details a number of weaknesses in Nepal’s current adoption system, including the falsification of documents, improper financial gain, and lack of a child protection system.

Based on our own observations and experience with adoption cases in Nepal, the U.S. Department of State shares many of the concerns outlined in the Hague report. In one of the first cases processed by the Government of Nepal after the revision of the Terms and Conditions, the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu found that the adopted child was not a true orphan and that her birth parents were actively searching for her.

We encourage parents who have filed an application with the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare (MWCSW) in Nepal, but have not yet been matched with a child or received an Adoption Decree issued by the Government of Nepal, to consider a change of countries. The Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), allow one change of country to be made in connection with one’s I-600A application without fee. A request to change countries should be made in writing to the USCIS Field Office where the I-600A was originally filed. (Any subsequent request for a change of country would require a fee.)

Hague-accredited U.S. adoption services providers, and adoption service providers that may apply for Hague accreditation in the future, are reminded that their actions in facilitating and/or processing adoptions in any country (whether Hague or non-Hague) will be evaluated during the Hague accreditation or accreditation renewal processes, in accordance with the accreditation regulations (22 CFR Part 96), including whether, among other things, the provider has established and rigorously followed ethical adoption practices and operates in the best interest of prospective adoptive children.

Prospective adoptive parents who currently have active files at the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare and who may already have an approved I-600 Petition to Classify an Orphan as an Immediate Relative from a USCIS domestic Field Office are reminded that consular officers are required by law to conduct an I-604 orphan investigation to verify the child's orphan status in order to the issuance of an IR-3 or IR-4 immigrant visa. Depending on the circumstances of a case, this investigation may take up to several months to complete, even if the I-600 Petition is already approved. In every country, we rely on the host government’s diligence to protect the safety and interests of their own children through careful administration of their national adoption process. In the absence of a reliably diligent partner, it can be very difficult to

confirm that a child is truly an orphan. Cases in which a child’s orphan status cannot be confirmed will be forwarded to USCIS for review and final determination. We strongly recommend that adoptive parents not travel to Nepal until the Embassy has confirmed that the I-604 has been completed. Under current procedures, prospective adoptive parents may file their I-600 petition with USCIS in the United States, which then triggers the I-604 investigation in Nepal. Adoptive parents may contact the Embassy at adoptionsnepal@state.gov should they have questions about the status of their case.

The U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu continues to meet with officials within the Government of Nepal and with other foreign missions concerning the current status of adoptions in Nepal. The joint statement issued by the International Adoption Working Group on February 25, 2010 may be found at http://nepal.usembassy.gov/pr-2-24-2010.html.

Please continue to monitor adoption.state.gov for updated information as it becomes available.

FW: Great Story Written from an Adoptee Perspective

noreply@blogger.com (Adoption Ark) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:54:00 +0000

The article, The Case for International Adoption, is a wonderfully written, very informative example of why International Adoption is such an important aspect of our society. Written by Jeneen Interlandi, an adoptee from Columbia, the article tackles the issue of adoptees being able to develope a cultural identity within a family of a different ethnic background. In the end Jeneen concludes , what matters most is not where a child is from, but whether or not that child is well loved and well cared for by a responsible family—regardless of race or nationality.

Click here to read The Case for International Adoption by Jeneen Interlandi