Adoption

Americans adopt thousands of foreign children every year. This can be a lengthy, very expensive, complicated but ultimately very rewarding process. However, it is very important to be aware of the immigration and international laws that govern international adoptions.

Planning on a foreign adoption?

If you are planning on adopting a foreign child there are some very important laws and international treaties that will determine the legal and U.S. immigration status of the planned adoption. If these laws are not followed, your adopted child may not be able to live in the U.S. and you may even have to have the adoption vacated or annulled in the foreign country and start again, which can be emotionally deviating, extremely expensive and legally complicated.

U.S. immigration laws regarding adoption can be very strict and complicated and even more so if you are adopting a family member like a nice, nephew or grand child. If you or someone you know is planning to adopt a foreign child knowledge of the law is vital. Our immigration attorneys have experience dealing with complicated foreign adoptions. Contact us for a free consultation so we can save you from making some common but painful mistakes.

Already adopted foreign child?

If you have already adopted a foreign child but you are unsure as to their immigration status, do not assume that they are a U.S. citizen automatically because of the adoption. A number of factors determine the immigration status of a foreign child adopted by a U.S. citizen, including their country of birth, their age, whether or not the child is biologically related to you, and whether the foreign adoption will be recognized in the U.S.

Unfortunately families often only realize that there is a problem when they try to bring their adopted child back to the U.S. In some cases the adopted child is living in the U.S. and doesn’t know there is a problem with their immigration status until they apply for college or a job. Unless the adoption has been approved by USCIS do not assume that your child’s immigration status is settled. If you have any doubts contact our experienced attorneys for a free consultation so we can discuss the immigration status of your child and fix any problems that may exist.