DOS Adoption Alert: Kazakhstan Suspends Intercountry Adoptions

Kazakhstan August 21, 2012 Alert: Kazakhstan Suspends Intercountry Adoptions The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan informed the U.S. Embassy in Astana on August 9 that Kazakhstan is suspending intercountry adoptions to the United States, effective immediately. Ambassador Susan Jacobs, Special Advisor for Children’s Issues, met with government officials in Kazakhstan on August 16 to address the Ministry’s concerns. The …

COA Substantiated Complaints and Adverse Action Reports

The Council on Accreditation has published the most recent collection of reports of Substantiated Complaints and Adverse Actions for Hague Accredited Agencies and Approved Persons. The Reports are available via the COA’s newly revamped website under the category Monitoring and Oversight. http://coanet.org/programs/hague-accreditation-and-approval/monitoring-and-oversight/ The following agencies are listed in the report as having one or more substantiated complaints. Please use the …

DOS Adoption Notice: Morocco

Morocco August 8, 2012    Notice: Ministry of Justice Plans to Review Kafala Laws and Procedures   On July 25, the Moroccan newspaper Akhbar al-Youm (Today’s News) published a story on Justice Minister Mostafa Rahmid’s views on the granting of kafala (guardianship) to non-Muslim, non-resident foreigners. The article quotes Minister Rahmid as saying that he has decided to “stop granting …

UPDATE: Kyrgyzstan – US Special Advisor for Children’s Issues Travels to Kyrgyzstan

The following press release was made yesterday by the Office of Children’s Issues. We are assuming this in response to the recent scandal in Kyrgyzstan involving misconduct by US adoption agencies and the subsequent suspension of their accreditation in Kyrgyzstan. We request the US DOS to disclose the identity of the agency alleged to have given bribes to the Kyrg …

USCIS Revised Country Information for Nepal

USCIS has published an updated version of its country information for Nepal. According to USCIS, “These revisions do not present any significant updates on adoptions in Nepal . Rather, they consolidate existing information and explain the current process for adopting children from Nepal. As this information is intended to help the public, please feel free to share this information.“    …

USCIS Revised Country Information for Nepal

USCIS has published an updated version of its country information for Nepal. According to USCIS, “These revisions do not present any significant updates on adoptions in Nepal . Rather, they consolidate existing information and explain the current process for adopting children from Nepal. As this information is intended to help the public, please feel free to share this information.“    …