The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention) is an international agreement to safeguard intercountry adoptions.

The Hague Adoption Convention applies to all adoptions between the United States and the other counties that have joined it (Convention countries).  Adopting a child from a Convention country is similar in many ways to adopting a child from a country not party to the Convention. However, there are some key differences.  In particular, those seeking to adopt receive greater protections if they adopt from a Convention country.

If you choose to adopt internationally from a Convention country, Adoption Connection adoption social workers will help guide you through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Hague Convention process:

• Adoption Connection works with you to complete your homestudy.
• You submit form I-800A to USCIS with your hometudy. Your homestudy must be no more than 6 months old at the time it is submitted to USCIS
• You will receive an approval from USCIS
• USCIS will transmit the approval (I-171 H) to the child’s country
• The child’s country accepts you as an adopting family
• A match is established and you will receive a referral of a child
• When you accept the referral, you will file an I-800 with USCIS
• USCIS will adjudicate the I-800 prior to the adoption
• USCIS will issue a provisional approval
• The US Department of State (DOS) receives a VISA application for the child
• If acceptable, DOS “annotates” the visa application
• DOS issues an Article 5 letter that notifies the child’s country of your suitability as parents
• The child’s country schedules transfer of custody
• You file for a visa application interview at the DOS office in child’s country
• DOS issues a Convention Certificate to Adoption or a Custody Order
• Final approval is given by DOS for the I-800 and via application
• You and your child return to the USA
• IH – 3 usually automatic citizenship
• IH – 4 legal permanent resident until adoption is completed in US probate court

Back to I Want to Adopt