DoS Notice: The Hague Adoption Convention Enters into Force for Swaziland

On July 1, 2013 the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Convention) entered into force for the Kingdom of Swaziland. However, the Government of the Kingdom of Swaziland verbally notified the U.S. Embassy in Mbabane that the current suspension on intercountry adoptions will remain in effect until the country has fully implemented the Convention. The …

DOS Adoption Notice: Bolivia/Procedural Barriers to Hague Adoptions

Bolivia April 26, 2013 Notice: Procedural Barriers to Hague Adoptions The Office of Children’s Issues and the U.S. Embassy in La Paz have received numerous inquiries from prospective adoptive parents interested in adopting children from Bolivia. Bolivia is a Party to the Hague Adoption Convention.  Therefore, in order to adopt a Bolivian child, prospective adoptive parents are required to work …

DOS Adoption Notice: Adoptions from Lesotho to Begin Under the Hague Adoption Convention

Lesotho   March 1, 2013 Notice: Adoptions from Lesotho to Begin Under the Hague Adoption Convention The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Convention) entered into force for Lesotho on December 1, 2012. At that time, Lesotho did not yet have a fully functional Convention process in place and elected to suspend intercountry …

DOS Adoption Notice: Vietnam Update

Vietnam December 2012 Notice: Special Advisor Jacobs Visits Vietnam  Special Advisor for Children’s Issues Ambassador Susan Jacobs recently met with host government officials in Vietnam to discuss Vietnam’s current progress on adoption reform to meet obligations under the Hague Convention and improve child welfare.  Vietnam became a party to the Hague Adoption Convention (the Convention) February 1, 2012, and is …

DOS Adoption Alert: The Hague Adoption Convention Enters into Force for Lesotho

Lesotho December 5, 2012 Alert: The Hague Adoption Convention Enters into Force for Lesotho On December 1, 2012 the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Convention) entered into force for Lesotho.  However, the Government of Lesotho notified the U.S. Embassy in Maseru that the Government of Lesotho is suspending receipt of new adoption …

DOS Adoption Notice: Update on Inter-country Adoptions in Cambodia

Cambodia November 30, 2012 Notice: Update on Inter-country Adoptions in Cambodia The Special Advisor for Children’s Issues, Ambassador Susan Jacobs, met with host government officials in Cambodia on October 28 and 29 regarding Cambodia’s efforts to meet obligations under the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption (the Convention).  The United States continues to support Cambodia’s efforts to improve its child welfare …

Updates from Philippine Adoption Authority (ICAB)

The Australian Central Authority under the Hague has published the following information on its intercountry adoption web pages. Please note that despite the fact that the Australian government states this information was made available to all Central Authorities in September 2012, the US DOS has not published any updated information concerning the Philippine program since the winter of 2011.  For …

DOS Adoption Notice: Colombia’s revised procedures for determining children’s eligibility for intercountry adoption

Colombia October 22, 2012  Notice: Colombia’s revised procedures for determining children’s eligibility for intercountry adoption   Colombia’s Institute for Family Welfare (ICBF) recently announced revised procedures for determining a child’s eligibility for intercountry adoption, which may affect some adoptions involving U.S. families. This process is known in Colombia as the “re-establishment of rights.” ICBF implemented these new procedures as a …