Adoption
Adoption may create child status for the acquisition of a green card or for claiming U.S. citizenship. Orphans qualify when adopted abroad or coming to the U.S. to be adopted. Adopted children can be considered children for immigration purposes where the child is adopted under the age of 16, and has resided in the legal custody of the petitioning parent for two years. We have helped many adoptees claim immigration benefits. Contact us for more information. We are always happy to let you speak directly with an immigration lawyer.
Eligibility
The adoption must take place before the child is 16 years of age. If the adoption is of a sibling, the sibling can be under 18 years of age. Two years of residency and custody are required for the transmission of status as child under U.S. immigration law, however, orphans are exempt. The residency may occur before or after adoption, and may be with only one of the adoptive parents. Legal custody requires an adoption decree - a power of attorney or sworn or notarized documents will not suffice.
Our Services
We offer full service representation when adopting a child abroad, or when seeking immigration benefits for a child that has already been adopted. We will shepherd the process through agencies in the foreign country, the U.S. consulate and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Contact us to find out more about our services and your particular situation.