US State Departement - Adoption info Rwanda
INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION
RWANDA
August 2008
DISCLAIMER: The following is intended as a general guide to assist U.S. citizens who plan to adopt a child from a foreign country. Three sets of laws are particularly relevant: 1) the laws of the child’s country of birth govern all activity in that country including the eligibility of individual children for adoption, as well as the adoption of children in that country in general; 2) the laws of the adoptive parents’ state of residence establish qualifications they must meet in order to adopt; and 3) U.S. immigration law governs the immigration of the child to the United States. In addition, the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, to which the United States became a party on April 1, 2008, establishes legal and regulatory requirements for intercountry adoption.
The adoption of children from countries that are party to the Hague Convention must follow the procedures outlined by the Convention, and its U.S. implementing legislation, the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA). More information on the IAA and the Convention can be found on our website under Hague Adoption Convention.
The information in this flyer relating to the legal requirements of specific foreign countries is based on public sources and our current understanding. It does not necessarily reflect the actual state of the laws of a child’s country of birth and is provided for general information only. Moreover, U.S. immigration law, including regulations and interpretation, changes from time to time. This flyer reflects our current understanding of the law as of this date and is not legally authoritative. Questions involving foreign and U.S. immigration laws and legal interpretation should be addressed respectively to qualified foreign or U.S. legal counsel.
THE HAGUE CONVENTION ON INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION: Rwanda is not a party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (the Convention). Therefore the entering into force of the Convention for the United States on April 1, 2008, did not change intercountry adoption processing for Rwanda.
NOTE:Immigrant visas for Rwandan citizens including adopted orphans are issued at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya . Please visit the web site for the Immigrant Visa Section at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi for information on immigrant visa services. http://nairobi.usembassy.gov/immigrant_visas.html or e-mail: nairobiivdv@state.gov.
PATTERNS OF IMMIGRATION OF ADOPTED CHILDREN TO THE UNITED STATES: Recent U.S. immigrant visa statistics indicate that twelve immigrant visas were issued to Rwandan orphans in the last five fiscal years.
ADOPTION AUTHORITY IN RWANDA :
Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF)
P.O. Box 969
Kigali, Rwanda
Tel: 011-250-587-128
Fax: 011-250-587-127
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ADOPTIVE PARENTS: Adoptive parents must be under age 50. However, a judge can waive the age requirement. Prospective parents currently must send the required documents (listed below) to the Ministry of Gender and Family for initial approval before commencing the adoption process in Rwanda .
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS: There are no residency requirements for foreign adoptive parents.
TIME FRAME: Allow at least 6 months to complete the Rwandan adoption and subsequent U.S. immigration procedures.
ADOPTION AGENCIES AND ATTORNEYS: The Ministry of Family and Gender has previously refused to work with attorneys in the adoption process.
No American adoption agencies are currently officially registered by the Government of Rwanda; only one, the Gladney Center , has informal approval from the Ministry of Family and Gender.
Prospective adoptive parents are advised to fully research any adoption agency or facilitator they plan to use for adoption services. For U.S.-based agencies, it is suggested that prospective adoptive parents contact the Better Business Bureau and/or the licensing authority in the U.S. state where the agency is located or licensed. Please also see Important Notice Regarding Adoption Agents and Facilitators at the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs web site travel.state.gov.
ADOPTION FEES IN RWANDA : There are no Rwandan government fees associated with intercountry adoptions. However, adoptive parents can expect to pay attorneys’ fees for services rendered.
The U.S. Embassy in Rwanda discourages the payment of any fees that are not properly receipted, “donations,” or “expediting” fees, that may be requested from prospective adoptive parents. Such fees have the appearance of “buying” a baby and put all future adoptions in Rwanda at risk.
ADOPTION PROCEDURES IN RWANDA : After receiving an advance approval to adopt (I-600A) from the Department of Homeland Security in their district in the U.S. , prospective adoptive parents must petition the local Rwandan court having jurisdiction over the prospective adoptive child’s residence. Once the adoption is approved, the adoption decree is filed at the local vital records registry for the child’s place of residence.
Documents are filed with the Ministry of Family and Gender. A travel letter from that office is required for the child to exit Rwanda . Documents from the Government of Rwanda are in French. Prospective adoptive parents will need English translations of the birth certificates and death certificates (if applicable) of the adopted child’s birth parents to complete immigrant visa processing in Nairobi . The U.S. Embassy in Rwanda can assist in locating translation services, but no U.S. Government resources are available for translating documents. Adoptive parents should file their I-600 forms at the US Embassy in Kigali upon completing the adoption and prior to traveling to the US Embassy in Nairobi for the immigrant visa.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR ADOPTION IN RWANDA :
Birth certificate(s) of the adoptive parent(s). If a birth certificate is unavailable, a legal or administrative certificate that proves date of birth and identity may be submitted;
Original birth certificate of the child to be adopted;
Marriage Certificate of adoptive parents
Waiver of age limit certificate, if applicable (for adoptive parents over the age of 50);
The “Act of Adoption,” which is prepared by the local Bureau de l'Etat Civil (Vital Statistics Office);
Declaration of the adoptive parent’s spouse and adult children consenting to the adoption;
The Adoption Act. The act must reference the information on the birth and death certificates, whichever are applicable, as well as the identities/documents of the adopting persons (passports and International Adoptive Home Study);
Authorization letter for departing Rwanda (issued by the Ministry of Family and Gender)
Legal Judgment Document (a court order approving the adoption), which is prepared by the local court having jurisdiction where the child is located.
Recommendation from Rwandan Embassy in Washington, DC
Home Study Report
Certificate of Good Behavior / Police Record
Certificate of Complete Identification
Household Composition
Proof of Income
Adoption acceptance letter from US Department of State (because Rwanda has not ratified the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, available from US Embassy Consular Office)
Note: Documents should be certified by a notary public as well as by the Rwandan Embassy in the U.S. , if possible.
AUTHENTICATING DOCUMENTS TO BE USED ABROAD: For more information on authenticating U.S. documents to be used abroad, please see the Judicial Assistance section of our website.
RWANDAN EMBASSY IN THE U.S. :
Rwandan Embassy in the United States
1714 New Hampshire Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20009
Phone: 202-232-2882/3/4
Fax: 202-232-4544
e-mail: rwandemb@rwandemb.org
http://www.rwandemb.org
U.S. IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS: Prospective adoptive parents are strongly encouraged to consult the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service publicationThe Immigration of Adopted and Prospective Adoptive Children , as well as the Department of State publication, International Adoptions. Before completing an adoption abroad, prospective adoptive parents are strongly encouraged to read the requirements for filing Form I-600A, Petition to Classify Orphan as Immediate Relative and Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative in the State Department flyer “How Can Adopted Children Come to the United States .”
Parents who do not have an approved I-600A must file their Form I-600 (Petition t Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative) with the USCIS office having jurisdiction over their place of residence in the United States . In general, a parent who has an approved I-600A may file Form I-600 either in the U.S. or at a USCIS office in the country where the immigrant visa will be issued. If there is no USCIS office in that country, the I-600 may be filed with the consular section of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where the adoption case is being processed.
U.S. EMBASSIES IN RWANDA AND KENYA : Americans living or traveling abroad are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov/, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within the country of travel. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The Consular Section is located at:
Rwanda :
Embassy of the United States of America
2657 Avenue de la Gendarmerie
B.P. 28
Kigali, Rwanda
E-mail: consularkigali@state.gov
Website: http://kigali.usembassy.gov
Tel: (250) 596-400 X 2592
Fax: (250) 596-591
Kenya :
Embassy of the United States of America
United Nations Avenue , Gigiri
P.O. Box 606
00621 Nairobi, Kenya
E-mail: consularnairobi@state.gov
Tel: (254) 20-363-6000
Fax: (254) 20-363-6410
APPLYING FOR A VISA AT THE U.S. EMBASSY IN NAIROBI : U.S. immigrant visas for Rwandan citizens are issued at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya . Please visit the web site for the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi for more information on immigrant visa application procedures at http://nairobi.usembassy.gov/immigrant_visas.html or e-mail nairobiivdv@state.gov .
NOTE: Visa issuance after the final interview now generally takes at least 24 hours and it will not normally be possible to provide the visa to adoptive parents on the day of the interview. Adoptive parents should verify current processing times at the appropriate consulate or embassy before making final travel arrangements.
ACQUIRING U.S. CITIZENSHIP: Please see the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 for further information on acquisition of U.S. citizenship for adopted children.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Citizens Services - For information on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction, and security information for U.S. citizens traveling abroad, call Toll Free 1-888-407-4747. This number is available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST/EDT, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Callers who are unable to use toll-free numbers, such as those calling from overseas, may obtain information and assistance during these hours by calling 1-202-501-4444.
U.S. Department of State Visa Office - For information on immigrant visas for adopted orphans, call (202) 663-1225. Press 1 for additional information on visas, and press 0 to speak to a Visa Information Officer, available 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST/EDT, Monday through Friday (except Wednesdays 11 a.m. - 12:00 noon)
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) - recorded information for requesting immigrant visa application forms, 1-800-870-FORM (3676).
National Visa Center (NVC) Public Inquiries (603) 334-0700, Email: nvcinquiry@state.gov.
Country Specific Information - The State Department has general information about hiring a foreign attorney and authenticating documents that may supplement the country-specific information provided in this flyer. In addition, the State Department publishes Country Specific Information for every country in the world, providing information such as location of the U.S. Embassy, health conditions, political situations, and crime reports. If the situation in a country poses a specific threat to the safety and security of American citizens that is not addressed in the CSI for that country, the State Department may issue a Travel Alert alerting U.S. citizens to local security situations. If conditions in a country are sufficiently serious, the State Department may issue a Travel Warning recommending that U.S. citizens avoid traveling to that country. These documents are available on the Internet at travel.state.gov or by calling the State Department's Office of Overseas Citizen Services Toll Free at 1-888-407-4747. This number is available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Callers who are unable to use toll-free numbers, such as those calling from overseas, may obtain information and assistance during these hours.
USCIS web site