International Adoption is TWO Processes…Agencies only help with HALF
With so many adoptive parents receiving Notices of Intent to Deny (NOID)s and waiting for investigations on their immigration case abroad, I have come to realize that it is not obvious that an overseas adoption really involves two processes: Adoption and Immigration. The latter is completely swept under the rug when the adoption industry markets adoption. Adoption agencies completely divorce themselves from the immigration aspect though they never tell adoptive parents this until the adoptive parent is having an immigration issue…by then it is too late as the adoptive parent has guardianship or has adopted the child. Adoption agencies should be clear in their marketing. They should say, “We only help with HALF” because that is the truth.
See http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Laws/Memoranda/Static_Files_Memoranda/Archives%201998-2008/2005/rfe021605.pdf for specific information on Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and NOIDs.
ALONE
ALL adoptive parents are alone at their embassy appointment(s) to gain a visa. Adoptive parents are ALONE with the consular officer as they testify to the truth of their children’s paperwork. ALL adoptive parents must rely on their agency’s handling of the paperwork. If there are errors, ALL adoptive parents ALONE must determine what the errors are. “Overcoming the deficiency” is how it is officially put. ALL adoptive parents are subject to this in every foreign country. THINK HARD about this before you choose the country. THINK HARD about the ethics of your agency and specifically PAPERWORK issues when you adopt. YOU WILL BE LEFT ALONE if there are errors. The onus is ALWAYS on the adoptive parent. ALWAYS. Remember that when you decide of your own free will to ignore US Department of State warnings.
PATTERNS
The Department of State gives warnings and has been doling them out much more frequently these past few years. Unfortunately, their website does not archive all of them, so it is difficult to trace just how many warnings have been given. PEAR has archived these warnings since their inception. Before selecting a country, be sure to visit http://pear-now.blogspot.com/ to see the pattern. When the Department of State says to not start an adoption in a certain country, they are telling you as clearly as they can that irregularities are happening and that you will be ALONE in the scrutiny of your child’s paperwork.
To paraphrase a former President…”It’s the immigration…stupid” and no adoption agency marketing of your country is going to change that one.
REFORM Puzzle Piece
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