On November 1, 2016 the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Convention) will enter into force for Kyrgyzstan. The United States will begin processing intercountry adoptions from Kyrgyzstan that are initiated on or after November 1, 2016 under the Convention. Prospective adoptive parents should work with their accredited adoption service provider (ASP) that is authorized by the Government of Kyrgyzstan to ensure they follow the procedures for a Convention adoption as set forth by the Ministry of Labor and Social Development under Kyrgyz law.

We would like to bring a number of important changes to the attention of prospective adoptive parents and ASPs. Beginning November 1, families interested in adopting from Kyrgyzstan are required to follow procedures for completing a Convention adoption, including filing the Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country, with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and, subsequently, Form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative.  Please be advised that, to satisfy U.S. immigration requirements, the adoption should not be finalized until the Form I-800 has been filed and an Article 5/17 determination has been made by the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek. The Article 5/17 determination must be presented to the Kyrgyz court prior to the approval of a final adoption. Failure to follow these steps will substantially delay the process of bringing your child to the United States.

We are currently working with the Kyrgyz Central Authority to understand whether, or to what extent, Kyrgyzstan may allow certain adoption cases started before November 1 to continue to proceed as non-Convention cases. We will notify prospective adoptive parents and ASPs as soon as we have further information.

The Department of State will provide updated information on adoption.state.gov as it becomes available. If you have any questions about this notice, please contact the Office of Children’s Issues at 1-888-407-4747 within the United States, or 202-501-4444 from outside the United States. ”

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