PEAR’s Fall Newsletter

Greetings to all of our members, followers, and curious folks wondering what we are up to. Fall Membership Drive Our Fall Membership Drive officially commenced on November 20, 2008. An e-blitz to over 400 online and offline adoption information and support groups was undertaken in an effort to make the adoption community aware of the missions and current projects of …

USCIS Posts FAQ on Intercountry Adoption

The USCIS published an updated list of FAQ on Intercountry adoptions dated9/29/08. The New FAQ can be found at: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=0dc16c30c3fac110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD&vgnextchannel=68439c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD Tiny URL: http://tinyurl.com/3zr4qb If either link gives you trouble, just go to: http://www.uscis.gov/ and click on “Press Room” in the upper righthand corner. The FAQ address some frequent concerns stated by PAPs in process of adopting from Hague and Non-Hague …

UPDATE on I800a Processing for Hague Convention Cases

Notification of a change in processing for Hague Convention cases was published in the Federal Register on August 26, 2008. The notice regards a change in filing location for I-800A and I800 applications and other related forms for adoptions from Hague Convention countries. Beginning September 25, 2008, all listed forms should be filed with the following USCIS Chicago Lockbox facility …

Government Resources for Hague Information

The US Department of State has put together a lot of information for families, and the general public, on the Hague Convention and Adoption. If you have questions and concerns about the implementation of the Hague, please see: Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption. Of special interest for families is the pdf download entitled: Information for Parents http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/convention/convention_462.html and,Intercountry Adoption News …

April First and the Hague Convention

Today I received the following announcement from the US Department of State: Hague Intercountry Adoption Convention Enters into Force From the US Department of State: On April 1, 2008, the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (the Convention) enters into force for the United States. As of this date, the provisions of the …

Hague Convention Countries

PEAR has been receiving requests from PAPs, APs and the general public as to which countries are “Convention” countries under the new US regulations. According to the DOS website, “[a] Convention country means a country that is a party to the Hague Adoption Convention and with which the Convention is in force with respect to the United States. DOS will …

Clarification on Accredited and Approved Entities List

Many prospective adoptive parents have expressed concerns over the DOS list of Hague Accredited and Approved Entities that was published on Friday, February 29, 2008. The published list is substantially shorter than the list of agencies that applied for accreditation. According to the DOS, the accrediting agencies, COA and Colorado, will continue to review applications on a daily and weekly …

US Hague Accreditations Announced by DOS

The US Department of State published the list of agencies and persons approved to perform Hague convention adoptions last evening. The list of agencies with accreditation or temporary accreditation to perform adoptions in Hague Convention countries can be found at: http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/convention/convention_4169.html Agencies that did not meet the original deadline for application are currently being considered and the list will be …