Angola adoption 2011

Angola is not party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention). Therefore, when the Hague Adoption Convention entered into force for the United States on April 1, 2011, intercountry adoption processing for Angola did not change. (Adoption 2011)

While adopting in Angola is not a complex process, it can take years to identify a child for adoption and to complete all of the required paperwork due to the inefficiencies of the Angolan bureaucracy and the fact that it takes an Act of the National Assembly to approve a foreign adoption. Prospective adoptive parents should note that Angolan adoption laws are being revised and they are very strict. To ensure that the adoption process is completed successfully and in a timely manner, the U.S. Embassy in Angola strongly suggests that adoptive parents consult an Angolan attorney. (Adoption 2011)

While adopting in Angola is not a complex process, it can take years to identify a child for adoption and to complete all of the required paperwork due to the inefficiencies of the Angolan bureaucracy and the fact that it takes an Act of the National Assembly to approve a foreign adoption. Prospective adoptive parents should note that Angolan adoption laws are being revised and they are very strict. To ensure that the adoption process is completed successfully and in a timely manner, the U.S. Embassy in Angola strongly suggests that adoptive parents consult an Angolan attorney. (Adoption 2011)

WHO CAN ADOPT

To bring an adopted child to United States from Angola, you must be found eligible to adopt by the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government agency responsible for making this determination is the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In addition to these U.S. requirements for prospective adoptive parents, Angola also has the following requirements for prospective adoptive parents: (Adoption 2011)

WHO CAN BE ADOPTED

Angola has specific requirements that a child must meet in order to be eligible for adoption. You cannot adopt a child in Angola unless he or she meets the requirements outlined below.

In addition to these requirements, a child must meet the definition of an orphan under U.S. law for you to bring him or her back to the United States. (Adoption 2011)

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

•Relinquishment Requirements: Adoption requires the consent of the parents or the legal representative of the prospective adoptive child. Consent will be waived with regard to a child or adolescent whose parents are unknown or who have been stripped of their parental rights(Adoption 2011)

HOW TO ADOPT

Angola’s Adoption Authorities, 2011:

Ministry of Justice, Family Court Room.
Sala da Familia, Tribunal Provincial de Luanda
Rua Amilcar Cabral No. 17, 5th and 7th Floor
Luanda, Angola
No telephone numbers for the public are available
INAC - National Institute of the Child
Rua N’Gola M’Bambi
Luanda, Angola
Telephone: 244-222 322 611; 222 323 683; 222 322 753

The Process

1. Choose an Adoption Service Provider
The first step in adopting a child from Angola is usually to select a licensed agency in the United States that can help with your adoption. Adoption service providers must be licensed by the U.S. state in which they operate. There are no adoption agencies in Angola. Adoptions are handled exclusively by the Ministry of Justice. A list of adoption attorneys in Angola may be found at the web site of the U.S. Embassy in Luanda, Angola. (Adoption 2011)

2. Apply to be Found Eligible to Adopt
To bring an adopted child from Angola to the United States, you must apply to be found eligible to adopt (Form I-600A) by the U.S. Government, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). (Adoption 2011)
In addition to meeting the U.S. requirements for adoptive parents, you need to meet the requirements of Angola as described in the Who Can Adopt section. (Adoption 2011)

3. Be Matched with a Child
If you are eligible to adopt, and a child is available for intercountry adoption, the central adoption authority in Angola will provide you with a referral to a child. Each family must decide for itself whether or not it will be able to meet the needs of a particular child and provide a permanent family placement for the referred child. (Adoption 2011)
The child must be eligible to be adopted according to Angolan requirements, as described in the Who Can be Adopted section. The child must also meet the definition of an orphan under U.S. law. (Adoption 2011)

4. Adopt the Child (or Gain Legal Custody) in Angola
The process for finalizing the adoption (or gaining legal custody) in Angola generally includes the following.

ADOPTION PROCEDURES: The following sections outline the major provisions of the law that apply to adoptions: Adoption by proxy is prohibited; Adoption requires the consent of the parents or the legal representative of the prospective adoptive child. Consent will be waived with regard to a child or adolescent whose parents are unknown or who have been stripped of their parental rights; A home study is required and will be evaluated by a Judge of the Family Court Room from the Provincial Court after the approval of the Parliament (National Assembly).

STEP BY STEP: Prospective adoptive parent(s) should contact a local orphanage to identify a child. After the identification of the child, the orphanage contacts the INAC (National Institute of the Child) for their opinion. INAC issues a document giving permission for the child to be adopted. The process of identifying the child for adoption and receiving approval from INAC can take 6-12 months. The adoptive parent(s) then submit a request to the Parliament (National Assembly) requesting the approval to adopt the child. Along with this request the adoptive parent attaches the following: (Adoption 2011)

  • A copy of the INAC document giving permission for the child to be adopted;
  • Birth certificates of the adoptive parent(s);
  • Marriage certificate (if applicable);
  • Police clearance;
  • Medical exam attesting good physical and mental health, and;
  • Proof of financial support.

    • The process of approval from the Parliament might take between twelve and eighteen months.

    In the meantime the adoptive parent(s) can submit a separate request to the Family Court Room requesting guardianship of the child. The request for guardianship can be submitted at the same time as the request to the National Assembly is submitted. {The request must be accompanied by the same documents listed above. A hearing will be scheduled at which the adoptive parent(s) must be present. If the child is 10 years old or more, he/she will also be heard by the Trustee at the Family Court Room. This process might take three to six months. (Adoption 2011)

    If the child is not an orphan, the adoptive parent (s) will have to mention that on the adoptive parents request and the Trustee of the Family Court Room will send a notification for the parents to appear in person and consent to the adoption of the child. After the consent, the parental rights are terminated. (Adoption 2011)

    Once the National Assembly (Parliament) approves the adoption, the adoptive parent(s) receives the determination. That document must be submitted to the Family Court Room and the Family Court Judge gives final approval of the adoption. (Adoption 2011)

    5. Apply for the Child to be Found Eligible for Adoption
    After you finalize the adoption (or gain legal custody) in Angola, the U.S Government, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) MUST determine whether the child is eligible under U.S. law to be adopted (Form I-600).

    6. Bring Your Child Home
    Now that your adoption is complete (or you have obtained legal custody of the child), there are a few more steps to take before you can head home. Specifically, you need to apply for several documents for your child before he or she can travel to the United States: (Adoption 2011)

    • Birth Certificate You will first need to apply for a new birth certificate for your child, so that you can later apply for a passport. Your name will be added to the new birth certificate. (Adoption 2011)
    • A new birth certificate will be issued after the judge's final approval. The judge orders the issuance of a new birth certificate with the adoptive parent(s) name(s) if they desire
    • Angolan Passport Your child is not yet a U.S. citizen, so he/she will need a travel document or Passport from Angola. (Adoption 2011) To apply for an Angolan passport the adoptive parents have to contact Servicos de Migracao e Estrangeiros (SME) in Luanda.
    • U.S. Immigrant Visa

    After you obtain the new birth certificate and passport for your child, you also need to apply for an U.S. visa from the United States Embassy for your child. After the adoption (or custody for purpose of adoption) is granted, visit the U.S. Embassy for final review and approval of the child’s I-600 petition and to obtain a visa for the child. This immigrant visa allows your child to travel home with you. As part of this process, the Consular Officer must be provided the “Panel Physician’s” medical report on the child if it was not provided during the provisional approval stage. (Adoption 2011)

    Adoptive parents may visit the U.S. Embassy Consular Section on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays between the hours of 2:00 and 4:30 p.m. to drop off paperwork and to schedule an immigrant visa appointment. (Adoption 2011)

    Child Citizenship Act 2011

    For adoptions finalized abroad: The Child Citizenship Act of 2011 allows your new child to acquire American citizenship automatically when he or she enters the United States as lawful permanent residents. (Adoption 2011)

    For adoptions finalized in the United States: The Child Citizenship Act of 2011 allows your new child to acquire American citizenship automatically when the court in the United States issues the final adoption decree. (Adoption 2011)