NYHOMESTUDY BLOG

WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) wants to ensure that prospective adoptive parents are aware of the new rules for intercountry adoptions from China that go into effect on May 1, 2007.

The China Center for Adoption Affairs (CCAA) officially notified the U.S. Embassy in Beijing on December 21, 2006 of the new rules and their effective date.

The rules will significantly impact and limit parents interested in adopting a child from China. Some of the new requirements relate to age, marital status, length of marriage, health and financial status. The CCAA has indicated they will process cases under the current rules as long as the dossier is submitted before May 1, 2007.

Since any family who filed an Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition (Form I-600A) before December 21, 2006 were unaware of the CCAA’s new requirements, USCIS stands ready to assist these prospective adoptive parents. USCIS offices will exercise discretion to expedite adjudication of any

Form I-600A filed before December 21, 2006.

USCIS offices will also allow prospective adoptive parents to file a new Form I-600A, with the appropriate filing fee, if their current approval
notice (Forms I-171H or I-797C) expires before May 1, 2007. The agency will work to expedite adjudication of those applications in order to meet the May 1 deadline.

Transracial Adoptions Evoke Heartfelt Responses
Work on Emotional Topic Brings Personal Stories From Others
Commentary by HARI SREENIVASAN

Feb. 28, 2005 - - There are certain moments when sharing pieces of
information can elicit much more than a response and, for me, telling people
that I was working on a piece about transracial adoptions was a series of such moments.

One co-worker told me about the challenges and internal struggles she and
her family went through when deciding to adopt. Another said he was adopted
and told me about his personal journey in finding out about his birth parents
and the impact it has had on the relationships with the parents who have
raised him. These aren’t the type of conversations that flow freely in newsrooms.
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Guatemala Plans to Announce Protocol of Good Practices on February 16, 2007

The government of Guatemala has invited the U.S. Embassy to attend a
ceremony publicly announcing a “Protocol of Good Practices” on adoption on
Friday,
February 16. As details of the implementation of the Protocol become
available we will provide updated information.

Rumors that the U.S. Embassy is no longer accepting adoption cases are not
correct. The U.S. Embassy continues to process adoption cases as stipulated
under U.S. law and procedures.

The U.S. government supports efforts by the Guatemalan government to
increase protection of children and parents and a smooth transition to
implementation
of the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption for Guatemala.

Miriam’s Comments: There are concerns that these new practices will affect
Guatemalan children in need of adoptive homes and the adoptive parents who
wish to adopt them, in a negative manner.

-600 and I-600A - $670
I-824 (change of Consulate for filing I-600A - $300
N-600 Citizenship application for adopted child - $420

February 14, 2007
By AMY HARMON

There is no established ritual for how an anonymous sperm donor should contact his genetic children. But for Jeffrey Harrison, Valentine’s Day seemed as good an occasion as any.

“It’s a short life,” he said, “and these children need to have some kind of resolution. I thought I could send a little valentine, kind of, to everyone, just saying hello.”

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