DOS Alert: China

Alert: Suspension of Adoption Immigrant Visa Interviews The Tianyu office of the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou, including the Adopted Children’s Immigrant Visa Unit (ACIVU), was closed on May 14 and will remain closed through May 17.  The Consulate General staff will contact affected families as soon as possible to provide updated information regarding rescheduling interviews, or returning passports with visas for …

DOS Alert: Government of Ghana Suspends Intercountry Adoptions

Alert: Government of Ghana Suspends Intercountry Adoptions May 13, 2013 The Government of Ghana has temporarily suspended processing of all adoption cases, including intercountry adoptions, pending Ghana’s review of its current adoption procedures. The U.S. Embassy in Accra is seeking further clarification of the scope and duration of this temporary suspension by the Government of Ghana and how this suspension …

Department of State Alert: Serbia

Alert: Serbia Adoption Reports of Misleading Guidance on Intercountry Adoptions from Serbia This Adoption Alert is a follow up to the Alert of March 29, 2013. The U.S. Embassy in Belgrade has received reports that one or more U.S. adoption service providers may be providing prospective adoptive parents misleading information about the Serbian adoption process.  Specifically, there may be misleading information …

DOS Notice: U.S. – Ireland Operating Arrangement

Notice:  U.S. – Ireland Operating Arrangement for Outgoing Adoptions of U.S. Children by Irish Prospective Adoptive Parents The Department of State and the Adoption Authority of Ireland have concluded discussions on an operating arrangement for Irish prospective adoptive parents to adopt children who are eligible for intercountry adoption in the United States and who will emigrate from the U.S. to …

Statement on the Documentary “Stuck”

The Board of Directors of PEAR would like to express some thoughts on the recently released documentary, Stuck, which purports to be an accurate depiction of the current problems with the international adoption process. The documentary shows compelling footage of adorable children in shabby orphanages around the world, and follows the plights of three families with their international adoptions. Stuck …

Department of State Alert: Democratic Republic of the Congo

Alert: Democratic Republic of the Congo Immigration Authorities Suspend Issuance of Exit Permits to Adoptees May 2, 2013 Democratic Republic of Congo On April 29, the Congolese Ministry of Interior and Security, General Direction of Migration (Direction Generale d’Immigration, DGM) informed the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa that the DGM has temporarily suspended issuance of exit permits to adopted Congolese children …

Notice: Malian Law Restricts Intercountry Adoptions

Department of State Notice for Mali Mali  May 1, 2013In December 2011, the Malian National Assembly passed a new Code of Person and the Family.  The Code includes a provision that only Malian citizens will be able to complete intercountry or domestic adoptions from Mali.  In the case of couples planning to adopt, both members of the couple must be …

Department of State Notice for Democratic Republic of Congo

Democratic Republic of Congo April 30, 2013 Notice:  Clarification regarding Embassy Kinshasa adoption-related immigrant visa procedures This notice is intended to clarify the recent procedural changes in processing adoption related immigrant visas and their impact on pending and future adoptions from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).  We appreciate the patience of families and all those involved in adoptions …