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Resources for Adoptive Parents (a very partial guide)
Haitian Update: February 1, 2010. Haitian Adoption FAQs. Please click on the link below for a very good FAQs compilation on the current status of adoption from Haiti. http://dailynightly.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2010/02/01/2190724.aspx Haiti Update: 1-20-10. The U.S. embassy in Port au Prince has been issuing visas and humanitarian parole documents to a limited number of children. Ground transportation and traffic conditions are very difficult. Efforts are being made to try to expedite the handover of children who arrive in the United States to their U.S. families. Humanitarian Parole Requirements for Haitian Children: 1-19-10DHS and DOS are working together toissue travel documents (either immigrant visas or humanitarian parole authorizations) for children whofall intothe twocategories described below. Once these children are cleared totravel, the U.S. Embassy in Port au Prince will facilitate their evacuation tothe United States sothey may be united with their American adoptive parents. Under applicable laws, unaccompanied minors entering the country without a parent or legal guardian are subject tospecial procedures regarding their custody and care. DHS coordinates with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement on the cases of these unaccompanied minors. All cases will be evaluated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Depending on their circumstances, and information available some children will receive immigrant visas with permanent immigration status and will require nofurther processing. Those whoenter under humanitarian parole status will need tohave their immigration status resolved after arrival. Eligibility for Humanitarian Parole-Category 1 Children whohave been legally confirmed as orphans eligible for intercountry adoption by the Government of Haiti, were in the process of being adopted by Americans prior toJan. 12, 2010 and meet the below criteria. Required Criteria
Category 2 Children whohave been identified by an adoption service provider or facilitator as eligible for intercountry adoption, were matched toprospective American adoptive parents prior toJan. 12, 2010 and meet the below criteria. Required Criteria
Other Orphaned or Separated Children Given the severity of the disaster in Haiti, we understand that there are additional children that have been orphaned and/or separated from relatives and may alsobe in varying stages of the adoption process. DHS and the U.S. Department of State continue toevaluate additional eligibility criteria and will provide additional information as soon as it is available. USCIS encourages U.S. citizens with pending adoption cases in Haiti tosend us detailed information about their cases toHaitianAdoptions@dhs.gov. Please visit the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov and the U.S. Department of State website at www.adoption.state.gov for more information and updates. |