DoS Notice on Mexico: Updated information on U.S.-based Hague Accredited Adoption Service Providers authorized by Mexican Central Authority.

The Mexican Central Authority recently provided the U.S. Central Authority with official notification that, in August 2013, it granted authorization to provide adoption services in Mexico to five additional U.S.-based Convention accredited adoption service providers.  This action brings the total number of U.S. adoption service providers authorized in Mexico to eleven:  Carolina Adoption Services, Inc International Child Foundation Across the …

DoS Notice: Vietnam’s Department Of Adoptions is Accepting Applications From U.S. Hague-Accredited Adoption Service Providers Wishing To Facilitate Adoptions In Vietnam Under A Limited Intercountry Adoption Program

July 2013 Department of Adoptions within the Ministry of Justice of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is now accepting applications from U.S. Hague-accredited adoption service providers (ASPs) for authorization to operate a limited intercountry adoption program for children with special needs as defined by Vietnamese law, children older than five, and children in biological sibling groups of two or more …

DoS Notice: No U.S. Adoption Service Providers Currently Authorized to Facilitate Adoptions in Nepal

July 17, 2013 The Nepali Ministry of Women and Child Social Welfare (MWCSW) informed the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu that as of July 1, 2013, no U.S. adoption service providers (ASP) are authorized to facilitate adoptions in Nepal.  According to the MWCSW, the authorization of all adoption service providers expired on December 31, 2012.  The Ministry also informed the Department …

DoS Notice: Updated information on U.S.-based Hague Accredited Adoption Service Providers authorized by Mexican Central Authority

July 11, 2013 The Mexican Central Authority informed us that, in June 2013, it granted authorization to provide adoption services in Mexico to three additional U.S. based Convention accredited adoption service providers, bringing the total number of U.S. adoption service providers authorized in Mexico to six:  Across the World Adoptions Carolina Adoption Services, Inc International Child Foundation All God’s Children …

DOS Adoption Notice: Health Concerns in Ethiopia

Ethiopia April 2, 2013 Notice: Health Concerns in Ethiopia On March 14, 2013, U.S. Embassy Addis Ababa released an important message for U.S. citizens via email to U.S. adoption service providers and a notice on the U.S. Embassy Addis Ababa website about a recent increase in suspected meningitis cases in Ethiopia.  The suspected cases are primarily in the Southern Nations, …

DOS Adoption Alert: Haiti authorizes U.S. adoption service providers

Haiti   February 8, 2013 Alert: Haiti authorizes U.S. adoption service providers Haiti’s adoption authority, Institut du Bien-Être Social et de Recherches (IBESR), has authorized a limited number of U.S. adoption service providers (ASPs) to provide adoption services in Haiti pursuant to its new administrative adoption procedures, which became effective on November 5, 2012.  Although these new procedures are part …

DOS Adoption Notice: Notes from Ambassador Jacobs’ Meeting with Adoption Service Providers on December 11, 2012 in Addis Ababa

Ethiopia January 25, 2013 Notice: Notes from Ambassador Jacobs’ Meeting with Adoption Service Providers on December 11, 2012 in Addis Ababa During a visit to Addis Ababa from December 8-11, 2012, Ambassador Susan Jacobs, Special Advisor for Children’s Issues, met with the staff of U.S.-based Adoption Service Providers (ASPs).  The Office of Children’s Issues posts this notice to provide interested …

Universal Accreditation Act Becomes Law

President Obama signed the Intercountry adoption Universal Accreditation Act on January 14, 2013.  The DOS published the following Announcement on the Universal Accreditation Act:    On January 14, 2013, the President signed The Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act of 2012 (UAA), one of the last bills passed in the final days of the 112th Congress. The effective date of the …

DOS Notice: U.S. Department of State Continues to Recommend Against Adopting from Nepal

Nepal December 31, 2012 Notice: U.S. Department of State Continues to Recommend Against Adopting from Nepal The Nepali Ministry of Women and Child Social Welfare (MWCSW) informed the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu that as of December 2012, there are seven U.S. adoption service providers authorized to facilitate adoptions in Nepal at this time, and another ten U.S. adoption service providers …

Legislative Update: Universal Accreditation Introduced

Two identical bills were recently introduced, one in the House, one in the Senate, to amend the Intercountry Adoption Act, expanding the requirement for accreditation for all US adoption agencies offering intercountry adoption services. Both versions have been introduced and are now in Committee. The full text of the amendments can be found here (they are identical): House version: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr6027/textSenate …