International Adoption

International Adoption

The International Adoption Brochure, written by the Consular Section in Port-au-Prince, is being revised to reflect current policies and procedures and is temporarily unavailable. Please check this site again for comprehensive, up-dated information on the adoption process in Haiti and the process of making an application for immigrant visas for adoptive children of U.S. citizens.

Form I-600 is required for all immigrant visa cases involving an application to bring an abandoned or orphaned child to the United States. In Haiti, Form I-600 can be filed at the office of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince if the petitioner is physically present in Haiti at the time of filing. However, due to country conditions, USCIS highly recommends that all I-600s be filed at the domestic USCIS office having jurisdiction over their residence.

If adopting parents choose to file Form I-600 in Port-au-Prince, it must be preceded by a USCIS-approved Form I-600A application for advance processing of orphan petition. Form I-600A can be filed with an overseas office of the USCIS only if the petitioner is residing overseas; otherwise the I-600A must be filed domestically at the Service office having jurisdiction over the filer's place of residence. After a petition to adopt a child is approved by USCIS, the agent in Haiti working with the adopting parents should e-mail the Consular Section at PaPAdoptions@state.gov to schedule an appointment with the Adoptions Unit. After all requirements are fulfilled under Haitian and American law, the immigrant visa is generally issued on the following business day.