International Adoption Guidelines - International Adoption Guatemala

Travel.state.gov, Apr 23, 2007

International Adoption Guatemala

Alot more prospective parents are seeking international adoption in Guatemala, the US State department has several guidelines when adopting childern from overseas.

Prospective adopting parents are strongly encouraged to consult the Department of Homeland Security’s Citizenship and Immigration Services (DHS/CIS) publication M-249, The Immigration of Adopted and Prospective Adopting Children , as well as the Department of State publication, International Adoptions.

Are you seeking information about international adoption? Guatemala, along with the US both have different requirements.Please reasearch these guidelines before moving forward with the adoption process.To adopt a child the child must have an immigrant visa.

There are two categories under which a child may be adopted

Category 1 (INA 101(b)(1)(E))

• Child was adopted before the age of 16.

• Child has resided with American Citizen parents for at least two years


Category 2 (INA 101(b)(1)(F))

• Child is an a orphan

  
  The Department of State strongly advises U.S. citizens to verify that a particular child will fit into one of these two categories per U.S. immigration law.

  An orphan is defined as a child thathas no parents due to the death or disappearance of, abandonment or desertion by, or separation from or loss of both parents.

  An orphan is also defined as a child who's sole or surviving parent is incapable of providing proper care and has, in writing, irrevocably released the child for emigration and adoption. There are several other guidelines but those are the main definitions of an orphan.

  However adopting a child from Guatemala is not recommended due to the problems with the Guatemala adoption process.