Haiti Information
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Imporant info for familes in process of adopting from Haiti | Donate Now | Useful Links
In a January 18, 2010 Press Release, The Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolotano in coordination with the U.S. Department of State announced that a humanitarian parole policy allowing orphaned children from Haiti to enter the United States temporarily on an individual bases to ensure they receive the care they as part of the U.S. government’s ongoing support of international recovery efforts after last week’s earthquake.
More information about the Humanitarian Parole can be found on the USCIS Website.
On January 15, 2010, The Department of State posted a release regarding inquiries from American citizens concerned about the plight of children affected by the earthquake in Haiti. We understand that some Americans want to respond to the need of the children in Haiti by opening their homes to the orphans created by this disaster, however, we want to reiterate that it can be extremely difficult in these circumstances to determine the eligibility of children for intercountry adoption.
Some children in Haiti have been temporarily separated from the parents and other family members, so the focus at this time is reconnecting families who have been torn apart by this devastating tragedy. If it is discovered that a child has been left parentless, they are often taken in by other relatives in the extended family.
During times of crisis, it can also be exceptionally difficult to fulfill the legal requirements for adoption of both the U.S. and the child’s country of origin. This is especially true when civil authority breaks down or temporarily ceases to function. It can also be difficult to gather documents necessary to fulfill the legal requirements of U.S. immigration law. There are many ways in which U.S. citizens can help the children in areas of natural disaster or conflict. For example, individuals who wish to assist can make a financial contribution to a reputable relief or humanitarian organization working in that country.
For families currently waiting to bring their adopted child home from Haiti or who were in the process of adopting a child from Haiti, JCICS is curretly registering in process cases as well as accepting donations on their website.
The Department of State is asking that families adopting from Haiti whose adoptions are in process to also send an email to haitiandoptions@dhs.gov and provide a list of all known information about the child. Due to the devastation in Haiti, it is possible that adoption documentation has been displaced or destroyed, so they are asking parents to remain patient while the necessary information is retrieved and the process can move forward. If you have already sent your documentation to askci@state.gov , it will be forwarded to USCIS on your behalf.
USCIS requests that all communications from prospective adoptive parents and adoption service providers should be formatted as follows:
- Subject line: LAST NAME, First name of the adopting parent, and USCIS case number and NVC case number, if; available
- If you are adopting more than one child, please send separate e-mails for each child
- Include the name, DOB, gender of the child, and the current location of the child in Haiti
- Include any contact information for the child’s current whereabouts
- Please include a recent photograph of the child
- Attachments: please limit attachments to 10 megabytes per e-mail message. If necessary, split your communication into more than one message, and indicate in the subject line the total number of e-mails and the message number (i.e. “1 of 2”)
The following case documents may be useful to USCIS;
- Full and final Haitian adoption decree
- GOH Custody grant to prospective adoptive parents for emigration and adoption OR
- Secondary evidence of either of the adoption or custody decree
- Proof of travel by the prospective adoptive parents to Haiti to visit the child
- Photos of the child and prospective adoptive parents together
- ASP “Acceptance of Referral” letter signed by the prospective adoptive parents
- IBESR approval
- Legal relinquishment or award of custody to the Haitian orphanage
- Secondary evidence of the above (e.g. e-mail correspondence, copies, ASP correspondence)
If you’d like to help, the following organizations are accepting cash donations:
- International Committee of the Red Cross
- UNICEF
- Save the Children
- LDS Philanthropies
- The United Methodist Church Committee on Relief
- World Vision
- Doctors Without Borders
- The American Red Cross
When making a donation to assist with the need in Haiti, make sure you are donating to a reputable organization.
For more information on Intercountry Adoption, you can visit the International Adoption webpage at Adoption.com or the U.S. State Department’s website on Intercountry Adoption.
