How to Adopt a Child from Syria

The Syrian refugee crisis may have inspired you to adopt a child from Syria. Because of the upheaval in the country, adopting a child can be difficult. One reason for this is that it is often difficult for officials to confirm that a child is actually an orphan. Additionally, since Syria is not a member of the Hague Adoption Convention, the process of adopting a Syrian child is a bit more complex than adopting a child from another country.[1]

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Applying for Adoption

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    Find a licensed agency to facilitate your adoption. To adopt a child from another country, you must go through an adoption agency that is accredited and approved. You can find a list of approved adoption service providers on the US State Department website.[2]
    • Not every agency has adoption programs set up in every country of origin. If possible, try to find an agency that has experience placing children from Syria and other Middle Eastern countries. These agencies will have groundwork and connections in the region that others do not.
    • It shouldn't cost you anything to talk to someone at an adoption agency, so try to talk to several before you make your final decision.
    • Since it can take several years to finalize an intercountry adoption, you want to make sure you're comfortable with the agency and the social workers who will be working with you.
  2. Image titled Adopt a Child from Syria Step 2
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    Consult an experienced intercountry adoption attorney. Given the complexity of adopting a child from Syria, you may find the assistance of an experienced adoption attorney beneficial. An attorney can cut through legal red tape as well as shepherd you through the process.[3]
    • As with adoption agencies, if you decide to hire an attorney, try to talk to at least 3 before you choose the one you want to hire. Look for someone who has experience with adoptions of Syrian children, or at least with children in the region or children from war-torn areas.
    • Most adoption attorneys provide a free initial consultation. If they don't, be prepared to pay a few hundred dollars for an initial consultation. Don't assume one attorney is better than another based on the fact that they charge for the initial consultation.
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    Complete the agency application. Once you've chosen your agency and decided to begin the adoption process, you'll be given a basic form to fill out so you can be preliminarily approved. The form typically requires basic information about you and your household.[4]
    • Answer all the questions on the application as completely and honestly as possible, even if it means you have to include information that you think may hurt your chances of being approved. It's important for you to be completely honest through all stages of the process.
    • If you don't know the answer to all questions off the top of your head, such as financial or work history questions, take the time to look up the information. You'll need the specifics later anyway, when you begin your home study.
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    Take required parenting classes. You typically must complete at least 10 hours of parenting education classes before you will be eligible for intercountry adoption. These classes cover basic parenting skills as well as cultural education.[5]
    • The cost of these courses may be included in the agency fees, or you may have to pay a third party. To speed up the process, plan to take your classes as soon as possible.
  5. Image titled Adopt a Child from Syria Step 5
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    Gather documentation and references. Intercountry adoptions require more detailed background information than domestic adoptions do. Some of this information can take time to get together, so you want to start the process as soon as possible.[6]
    • You may need a notarized letter from your employer that states how much money you make and how long you've been employed with them.
    • You'll also need to undergo a thorough background and fingerprint check.
    • Even though many of the requirements are the same as they would be for domestic adoption, the process can take longer because all the documents you submit must be certified or notarized.
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    Complete a home study. The home study is a long process through which your social worker will evaluate you, your home, and the background of you and all adults in your household. The social worker's home study report will include a conclusion regarding your readiness to adopt a child.[7]
    • Expect the home study process to be stressful and intrusive. All of it is designed to ensure that orphaned children are placed in good homes where they will be well taken care of.
    • Be open and honest with the social worker, and don't hold back anything that you think might have a negative impact on your chances. The social worker isn't out to get you – they want as many families as possible to be approved for adoption.
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    File Form I-600A with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Since Syria is a non-Hague country, Form I-600A is required before you will be allowed to adopt a child. Since it can take awhile for the form to be approved, you want to file it as soon as possible. Your adoption social worker or attorney will help with this.[8]
    • Expect to pay a fee of at least $775, plus $85 for each adult in your household for biometrics (fingerprints). You have to get fingerprints from USCIS even if you've already gotten them for background checks.
    • You can download the form and instructions from the USCIS website. If you cannot afford the filing fees, you may be eligible for a fee waiver. Check the USCIS website for more information and to apply to have the fees waived.[9]
Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Finding a Child

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    Gain approval from USCIS. While the home study report is the agency's final approval to adopt, you still need approval from USCIS. The agency will approve you after evaluation of your Form I-600A and all documents you provide with that form.[10]
    • Expect the USCIS approval process to take several months. During this time you'll work with your social worker to prepare for your child.
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    Seek approval from Syria. If USCIS approves you as an adoptive parent, you still must get approval from the child's country of origin. To adopt a child from Syria, you must get approval from the adoption authority in Amman, Jordan.[11]
    • This is the final step before you can start looking for a child. Expect it to take several months as well.
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    Identify an available child. Assuming all approvals are granted, your adoption agency will start looking for an orphaned child that meets whatever criteria you established. Your social worker typically will have profiles of children for you to evaluate and make your final decision.[12]
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    Request an overseas investigation. Once you've chosen the child you want to adopt, USCIS must investigate that child's background to make sure they actually are an orphan. This process can take several months.[13]
    • You won't get the go-ahead to adopt the child until USCIS finds sufficient evidence that the child is, in fact, an orphan.
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    Make travel arrangements. In most cases you'll have to travel to the child's country of origin to meet and finalize the adoption of the child. For Syrian children, this may mean that you're traveling to Jordan, or to another country where the child currently lives as a refugee.[14]
Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Getting an Immigrant Visa

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    Decide whether to complete the adoption in the US or abroad. Your child will need an immigrant visa to enter the US. The type of visa the child needs depends on whether you plan to complete the adoption abroad, or finalize the adoption through the US court system.[15]
    • Your adoption agency will have more information on which method is preferred, depending on the child's situation. If you haven't hired an attorney at this point, you may want to hire one to ensure that the adoption is legal both in the US and in Syria.
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    File Form I-600 with USCIS. Form I-600, Petition to Classify an Orphan as an Immediate Relative, once approved, will allow you to go get the child you've identified and bring them home to live with you as your adopted child.[16]
    • Since you've already filed Form I-600A and received advance approval to adopt, there are no additional filing fees.[17]
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    Receive the child's visa. If you are completing the adoption abroad, your child will receive an IR-3 visa. If the child is coming to the US to be adopted, and you have never seen the child before, they will be given an IR-4 visa.[18]
    • Children with IR-3 visas automatically become US citizens the moment they arrive in the US.
    • If your child has an IR-4 visa, they will become a permanent resident when they reach the US. Once the adoption is completed, they will automatically become US citizens.
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    Complete the adoption. You will either travel to get your child or wait for your child's arrival in the US, depending on what arrangements have been made. If the child is traveling to the US to be adopted, you'll have to complete the adoption through the US courts.[19]
    • If you complete the adoption overseas, you are not required to repeat the adoption process when you return home. An adoption overseas is recognized as a full legal adoption in the US as well.

Warnings

  • This article covers US individuals or families who wish to adopt a child from Syria. If you live in another country, check government resources to determine the process. Some countries, such as Saudi Arabia, have placed bans that prohibit citizens from adopting Syrian children.[20]
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References

  1. ↑ https://travel.state.gov/content/adoptionsabroad/en/country-information/learn-about-a-country/syria.html
  2. ↑ https://travel.state.gov/content/adoptionsabroad/en/adoption-process/how-to-adopt/working-with-an-adoption-service-provider.html
  3. ↑ http://family.findlaw.com/adoption/international-adoption-process-faq-s.html
  4. ↑ https://www.new-beginnings.org/adoption-process/
  5. ↑ https://www.new-beginnings.org/adoption-process/
  6. ↑ https://adoption.com/what-you-should-know-about-an-international-home-study
  7. ↑ https://adoption.com/what-you-should-know-about-an-international-home-study
  8. ↑ https://www.uscis.gov/i-600a
  9. ↑ https://www.uscis.gov/feewaiver
  1. ↑ https://www.new-beginnings.org/adoption-process/
  2. ↑ https://travel.state.gov/content/adoptionsabroad/en/country-information/learn-about-a-country/syria.html
  3. ↑ https://www.new-beginnings.org/adoption-process/
  4. ↑ https://www.uscis.gov/adoption/immigration-through-adoption/orphan-process
  5. ↑ https://www.new-beginnings.org/adoption-process/
  6. ↑ https://www.uscis.gov/adoption/your-child-immigrates-united-states
  7. ↑ http://family.findlaw.com/adoption/international-adoption-process-faq-s.html
  8. ↑ https://www.uscis.gov/i-600
  9. ↑ https://www.uscis.gov/adoption/your-child-immigrates-united-states
  10. ↑ https://www.uscis.gov/adoption/your-child-immigrates-united-states
  11. ↑ http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/01/23/Ban-on-adopting-Syrian-Iraqi-orphans-in-Saudi-Arabia-.html

About this article

Jennifer Mueller, JD
Written by:
Jennifer Mueller, JD
Doctor of Law, Indiana University
This article was written by Jennifer Mueller, JD. Jennifer Mueller is an in-house legal expert at wikiHow. Jennifer reviews, fact-checks, and evaluates wikiHow's legal content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. She received her JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006. This article has been viewed 28,428 times.
56 votes - 83%
Co-authors: 2
Updated: June 21, 2019
Views: 28,428
Article SummaryX

To adopt a child from Syria, start by searching online for a licensed adoption agency and applying to it. You can find a list of approved adoption service providers on the US State Department website. If you can afford it, consider hiring an attorney, since this will make the legal work much easier. Once you've applied to an adoption agency, you’ll usually have to complete at least 10 hours of parenting classes and a home study to make sure your environment will be comfortable for your adopted child. When you’ve passed all the checks, search for children through your adoption agency to find one you want to adopt. Before you fly your child home, you’ll also need to file an I-600 form if you live in the US, which permits you to adopt. For more tips from our Legal co-author, including how to choose a child to adopt, read on!

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