Questions About What Happens After Your Adoption
Do we have to re-adopt our child in the United States?
You have legally adopted your child in the eyes of both the foreign and United States governments. You are now legally responsible for the welfare of your child, and can now claim your child as a dependent on your taxes. If you are a single parent, or a married couple who has traveled together for the adoption, your child probably does not legally need to be re-adopted. However, re-adoption is very strongly recommended.
If you are a married couple, and one spouse does not travel, the child enters the country with a different status in the eyes of the US Immigration. Your adoption is not complete and re-adoption is required, or your child will become an illegal alien. Your child will not automatically receive a Certificate of Citizenship, but will receive a "green card" good for 18 months instead. If you are planning to travel without your spouse, and do not plan to re-adopt your child, you may wish to consult an adoption attorney and/or your local US Immigration office.
Most adoptive parents do re-adopt their children in their state of residence. By re-adopting in the United States, you create a paper trail of your adoption in the United States. A court takes official notice of the adoption, and a birth certificate and adoption decree are issued for your child. Having a United States birth certificate can be very useful when applying for schools and proving that you are the parents of your child. If you ever need official copies of your child's adoption decree or birth certificate, you will not need to obtain them from your child(ren)'s birth country. Further, you will protect your child's inheritance. There have already been lawsuits filed to have internationally adopted children, with no US adoption decrees legally disinherited and ineligible to receive their portion of the adoptive parent's estate or insurance benefits. We strongly recommend that anyone who adopts internationally re-adopt their child in the United States.
Most adoptive parents then hire an attorney and petition the local courts to re-adopt their child. Some states, including Washington State, allow adoptive parents to petition for the adoption themselves without hiring an attorney. We can help you find an attorney, or you can complete the re-adoption on your own.
When will our child become a citizen and no longer need a green card?
Your child will no longer need a green card when they become a citizen of the United States. For married couples who travel together, and singles, your child becomes a citizen as soon as you enter the US. Within a few months of your return you should receive permanent proof of US Citizenship for your child. If only one spouse of a married couple travels, your child is not eligible to become a citizen until you have readopted your child, and applied for US citizenship for your child. Most international adoptive parents provide US citizenship to their children, and many also maintain their child's citizenship in their country of origin. Without American Citizenship, it is possible that your child could be deported if they commit a crime when they grow up.
If you use our post adoption services we can provide copies of needed citizenship application forms, and help in filling them out and submitting them.
What if we have concerns soon after we return to the United States?
Adoptive parents often have concerns they need to discuss. These can be simple concerns about diet or sleeping habits. They may be more involved matters like bonding or child development issues. These might be a small issue you think is barely worth worrying about, or it may be a major problem that's keeping you awake at night.
You are not alone! There are resources to consult, and they start with Americans Adopting Orphans. As a licensed social work agency, it is our goal to make sure that adoptive children and their families are comfortable together. Whatever your concern, chances are good we've seen it before and have some advice that has worked for other clients. For more serious issues, we can guide you to resources or experts. The best way to contact us is by telephone, but feel free to email us or schedule a meeting.
We have found that the six month or more before the first post-placement home study required by the foreign country can be too long. A minor problem can become a major one, or something you thought of as too small a problem can still be addressed. You will be interviewed by your home study provider a month after you return. This interview is for your benefit so that you may bring up any concerns. No report is sent to the foreign country.
Do we have any responsibilities to our child's country of origin?
You will be responsible to tell your child's birth country about the progress your child is making. China requires two post placement home study reports, one at six months and one at twelve months. They are updates of the home study you received at the beginning of the whole adoption process. A social worker will again visit your home, probably from the same agency that performed your original home study. The social worker will evaluate how your child has integrated into your family. These reports will then be forwarded by your agency to China. If you are planning to re-adopt, and if no problems are noted, then one of these reports can be filed with the court, along with your original adoption documents from China. Ukraine requires that you register your adoption with the Ukraine Embassy in Washington DC. They also require one post placement report from a social worker one year after your return, annual reports thereafter written by your family until the child reaches 18 years of age, and to have access to the child if Ukrainian officials choose to visit your home.