Adoption from Haiti

Haiti, a tropical island nation in the Caribbean, is considered the poorest nation in the western hemisphere. Of the seven million people inhabiting Haiti, over 70 percent of the adult population is unable to find employment. Due to great political unrest and the dire economic circumstances, many Haitian children have been abandoned by their parents. Our orphanage, just outside the city of Port-Au-Prince, has three houses that are home to 127 children. We are honored to have the opportunity to help shepherd these children to new, loving homes.

The Haiti adoption process has slowed down to the point it is now taking 18 - 24 months from referral to bringing a child home! This slow down is do to Haiti trying to make changes in their adoption laws. There are many organizations and groups advocating on behalf of the children to return the process back to the shorter time frame it was just a year or two ago. With the longer processing time in Haiti the need for adoptions has actually increased. We have many waiting children who need families. We encourage you to not let the long processing time stop you from adopting these beautiful children.

Available Children

• Healthly infants and children up to 13 years old are available.

• Sibling groups and special needs children are also available for adoption.

• Waiting Children

Parents Eligible to Adopt

• Couples and single women may adopt from Haiti.

• Adoptive parents must be at least 30 years old.

• Couples must be married for 5 years or living together for 10 years.

• No more than 2 biological children.

• Those with physical disabilities can adopt from Haiti as long as they can care for the child.

Process

• Dossier is submitted to IBESR (Haitian Social Services) for approval.

• Once approved by IBESR case goes to court.

• When adoption granted case goes to Ministry of Interior for approval to apply for passport.

• When passport is obtained case goes to U.S. Immigration for approval to issue visa.

• U.S. Immigration sends approval to U.S. Consulate in Haiti to issue the child's visa.

• Parents receive an invitation to travel once our team in Haiti has the child's visa.

• Whole process is currently talking 18 - 24 months from the time dossier is received in Haiti.

Travel Requirements

• Although travel is not required, we encourage parents to go to Haiti to receive their child.

• Stay in Haiti is just a few days.

• If travel is not possible LVI will arrange for an escort.

Fees

$4,500Life's Vision agency fee

$500Emergency Fund

$8,000Country fee

Note: Fees do not include travel to Haiti, accommodations, food, personal spending, gifts, U.S. preparation and fees of dossier documents, INS, passport and visa expenses.

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