How to Adopt From Colombia
Adoption of a Colombian child by American parents is overseen by the Colombian Family Welfare Institute (ICBF) and the United States government; adoptions in Colombia are subject to the Hague Adoption Convention regulations, ensuring child safety and welfare. Though the adoption process is often long and challenging, many American families choose to adopt from Colombia, with over 200 children being adopted from the country each year between 1998 and 2010.
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Instructions
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Select an adoption agency to help with the adoption process. The agency must be an approved provider by both the United States and Colombia in order to assist with your adoption and provides help with your home study and paperwork requirements.
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Complete your adoption eligibility application form, Form I-800A. This form and accompanying documentation, including a fingerprint record, marriage records and proof of American citizenship must be submitted to the United States Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) and approved before the adoption process can proceed.
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Prepare a document package for Colombian officials with the assistance of your adoption agency. Before you are matched with a child, you must provide a range of documents, including your birth certificates, those of any previously adopted children, proof of a recent medical exam and financial security and a home study, among other records. Once you have completed all of the required paperwork, the packet is sent to ICBF for processing and to determine your adoption eligibility.
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Match with a Colombian child once you have been approved by both the United States and Colombia to adopt. You must decide, within two months of being matched, if the child selected for your family is a good match for you based on pictures and recent assessments.
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Prepare to adopt the child. Before you travel to Colombia to bring your child to the United States, you must complete USCIS form I-800, "Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative" to ensure the child is eligible to immigrate to the United States. You must also apply for a visa for your child. Obtain your own passport and visa in advance of your trip to Colombia as well.
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Travel to Colombia to adopt your child. Under Colombian law, you must visit the country to complete the adoption in the presence of a family judge. Work with your adoption agency to schedule your travel and adoption time frame, as each specific case is different.
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Apply for new documents for your child before returning to the United States. Request a copy of your child's new birth certificate, listing you as the parent, and a new Colombian passport for the child when the adoption decree is processed. Visit the United States Embassy in Bogota, Colombia once you have received the passport and birth certificate to receive the child's immigration visa.
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