On May 17, 2024, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) reaffirmed the evidentiary standards established by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for U.S. citizens seeking Green Cards for children adopted from countries that are signatories to the Hague Adoption Convention. This decision underscores the importance of maintaining rigorous documentation and procedural requirements to ensure the integrity of international adoptions.
The Hague Adoption Convention is an international agreement designed to protect the best interests of adopted children and prevent illegal, irregular, premature, or ill-prepared adoptions. By supporting USCIS’s evidentiary standards, the BIA reinforces the commitment of the United States to these principles. These standards include providing detailed proof of a legitimate and ethical adoption process, as well as evidence of the child’s eligibility for immigration benefits under U.S. law.
Obtaining a Green Card for an adopted child involves meeting specific evidentiary requirements set by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to ensure the adoption complies with U.S. and international laws. These requirements help confirm the legitimacy of the adoption process and the child’s eligibility for immigration benefits.
This decision is a significant step in upholding the integrity and transparency of the international adoption process. It reassures both adoptive families and the international community that the U.S. remains dedicated to ethical adoption practices. Families adopting internationally can expect thorough scrutiny to ensure that every adoption is in the best interest of the child and compliant with both U.S. and international regulations. This commitment helps safeguard the welfare of adopted children and maintains the trust and cooperation between the United States and other Hague Convention member countries.
Learn More: How Do Citizenship and Naturalization Apply To Adopted Children?
It is important to note that the process of obtaining a Green Card or U.S. citizenship through adoption can be complicated. And it varies depending on individual circumstances. Therefore, it is important to consult an experienced immigration attorney. This will help ensure all the necessary steps are taken and all relevant paperwork is filed correctly.
At Godoy Law Office Immigration Lawyers, we understand the importance of securing citizenship for your adopted child. We have experience helping families with this process. We can assist you in determining which documents you need to submit. Plus, we provide legal advice throughout the entire application process. Contact us today at 630-345-4164.
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Immigration Attorney Mario Godoy has years of experience guiding clients with immigration issues through the immigration process along with guiding clients through the criminal case. Godoy focuses on family-based immigration law, business immigration law, removal defense, and criminal defense representation of immigrants. A criminal charge or conviction can be devastating to your immigration case. With over a decade of immigration law experience and memories of family members who were deported due to bad legal advice, Godoy is committed to helping other immigrant families receive the legal justice they deserve. As a legal entrepreneur who practices immigration law, criminal law, estate and probate law, and running two successful law firms, Mario Godoy understands the importance of keeping families together and making a home and future in America.