The information in this circular relating to the legal requirements of specific foreign countries is provided for general information only. Questions involving interpretation of specific foreign laws should be addressed to foreign legal counsel.
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 licensing office of the Department of Health and Family Services in the state where the agency is located.
Recent U.S. immigrant visa statistics reflect the following pattern for visa issuance to orphans:
FY-1996: IR-3 immigrant visas issued to Filipino orphans adopted abroad - 31
IR-4 immigrant visas issued to Filipino orphans adopted in the U.S. - 198
FY-1997: IR-3 visas - 19, IR-4 visas - 144
FY-1998: IR-3 visas - 33, IR-4 visas - 167
FY-1999: IR-3 visas - 28, IR-4 visas - 167
FY-2000: IR-3 visas - 23, IR-4 visas - 150
Please note that U.S. citizens residing in the Philippines and adopting children while living in the Philippines are subject to additional requirements. These documents need to be authenticated:
Generally, U.S. civil records, such as birth, death, and marriage certificates must bear the seal of the issuing office. Then it must be authenticated by the state''s Secretary of State in your state capital, then by the U.S. Department of State Authentication''s office and then by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in the United States. Check with the Philippine Consulate in the U.S. with jurisdiction over your state to see what seals and signatures the Consulate can authenticate. It may be possible to eliminate some of the steps if the Consulate has the seal of the local issuing authority on file.
Tax returns, medical reports and police clearances should likewise be authenticated, beginning with the seal of notary public in the United States or some appropriate issuing office. The notary''s seal should be authenticated by the county clerk where the notary is licensed or some similar authority. The document should then be authenticated by the state Secretary of State; (in your state capital) the U.S. Department of State Authentication''s Office, and the Philippine Embassy or Consulate.
The government office responsible for domestic adoptions in Philippines are the Regional Trial Courts, which issue the adoption decrees, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which is also involved in the legal proceedings. For the Inter-country adoptions, the offices responsible for adoption are the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Inter-Country Adoption Board (ICAB).
The adoption procedure differs depending on whether the U.S. citizen adoptive parents are residents in the Philippines or are permanently residing abroad.
In general during Inter-country adoptions, custody of the child is granted to the prospective adoptive parents who then bring the child to their home country. The adoption is filed with a court in the adoptive parents'' home country.
Domestic Adoption
1) Pre- Adoption Seminar: The Domestic Adoption Act provides that adoptive parents attend adoption seminars prior to the filing of the adoption application.
2) Application for Adoption: After completing the required pre-adoption seminars, the adoptive parents file the adoption application with the DSWD, a social service office of a local government unit, or a licensed and accredited child-placing agency.
3) Home study: The adoptive parents then make arrangements for a home study to be conducted by the DSWD or a child-placing agency.
4) Matching: Matching of the child to the adoptive parents is conducted by the DSWD.
5) Placement: The child is placed with the prospective adoptive parents once the pre-adoption placement authority has been issued. This period of custody is known as supervised trial custody.
6) Consent to Adoption: At the conclusion of the trial period, the DSWD issues its written consent to adoption.
7) Petition for adoption: Once the adoptive parents have received the consent to adopt, they must file an adoption petition with the Regional Trial Court within thirty days. Upon approval of the adoption, the court issues an adoption decree and enters a judgement.
8) Authorization to travel abroad: Once the adoption is final; the DSWD will issue written authorization for the child to travel abroad. The birth certificate of the child is also amended to reflect the names of the adoptive parents.
Inter-Country Adoption- Any U.S. citizen permanently residing abroad may file an application for inter-country adoption.
1) Application: A U.S. citizen residing abroad and who is interested in adopting a child from the Philippines may file an application with ICAB. This application is filed through a U.S. adoption agency accredited by ICAB.
2) Child recommended for inter-country adoption: The DSWD recommends for inter-country adoption a child previously committed to the Philippine government. This recommendation certifies that inter-country adoption is in the best interest of the child.
3) Matching: The Inter-Country Adoption Placement Committee matches the child with a person or couple interested in adopting and refers its proposal back to ICAB for approval. Please note that the Inter-Country Adoption Act of 1995 specifically prohibits contact between the child and prospective adoptive parent (s) before such matching has been approved by the Board.
4) Placement Authority: The Inter-Country Adoption Board notifies the U.S. adoption agency of its matching decision within five days. The adoptive parents have 15 days to respond. If they agree to the proposed match, the Board issues a Placement Authority within five days. This placement authority allows the applicants to take custody of the child.
5) Application for immigrant Visa: The child appears at the U.S. Embassy for his/her immigrant visa interview. The Inter-Country Adoption Board serves as a proxy for the adoptive parents. ICAB prepares all the necessary documents and fees, including passport and medical exam.
6) Child travels to the United States: The Inter-Country Adoption Act requires the adoptive parent(s) to escort the child from the Philippines to the United States. The adoptive parents must arrive no later than thirty days after the immigrant visa has been issued.
7) Supervision of Trial Custody: Upon assuming custody of the child, the applicants enter a six-month trial period where the accredited U.S. adoption agency monitors the child''s welfare.
8) Petition for Adoption: The U.S. citizen adoptive parent should file an adoption petition with a court in the United States within 6 months of the completion of the trial custody period.
9) Final Adoption Decree: The final U.S. adoption decree should be submitted to ICAB within one month of issuance.
For domestic adoption- the adoptive parent(s) must be at least sixteen years older than the child to be adopted. This requirement may be waived if the petitioner is the biological parent of the adoptee or the spouse of the adoptee''s parent. For the inter-country adoption- the adoptive parent(s) must be at least 27 years old, as well as sixteen years older than the child to be adopted. The latter requirement may be waived if the petitioner is the biological parent of the adoptee or the spouse of the adoptee''s parent. Single parents are eligible for both types of adoption. If an adoptive parent is married, however, he/she must file jointly with his/her spouse.
The following is a list of attorneys; the Embassy assumes no responsibility for the integrity or professional liability of the persons whose names appear on the list:
Calalang Law Office
1045 Ibarra St.
Sampaloc, Manila
Tel: 632-741-1949
Fax: 632-415-4022
Riguera & Riguera Law Office
2F Azucena Arcade
255 Alabang-Zapote Rd.
Las Pinas City
Tel: 632-800-5749
632-543-3182
632-543-3183
Fax: 632-800-5749
R.P. Nogales
St. Michael Int''l Tower
Suite 601
143 - A Yakal St.
Pasong Tamo, Makati City
Tel: 632-893-7062 to 64
Fax: 632-893-7065
Cebu Branch:
Keppel Center
Suite 406
Cebu Business Park
Cardinal Rosales Ave.
cor. Samar Loop, Cebu City
Tel: 032-233-1211 to 1213
032-233-1950
Fax: 032-233-1682
Davao Office:
2nd Floor, Anthony Bldg.
J.P. Laurel Ave.
Bajada, Davao City
Tel: 082- 221-3917
Fax: 082-224-2743 E-mail (for all the offices): syciplaw@globe.com.ph
Ssbg@syciplaw.com
P.B. Flores and Associates Law and Realty
Rm. 2203 Rivergate Complex
General Maxilom Ave.
Cebu City
Tel: 032-254-7770
032-253-2777
Fax: 032- 254-7770 E-mail : cyberlex@Cebu.pw.net.ph
The following is a list of authorized adoption agencies in the U.S. that handle inter-country adoptions:
Bay Area Adoption Services
Department of Public Health & Social Services
123 Chalan Kareta, Rt. 10
Mangilao, Guam 96923
Tel: 671-735-7399
671-735-7171
671-735-7173
Fax: 671-734-5910
Government of Guam
P.O. Box 2816
Agana, Guam 96932
Lifelink/Bensenville Home Society
331 South York Rd.
Bensenville, IL 60106-26080
Tel: 630-766-3570
Fax: 630-860-5130 E-mail: alladopt@psinet.com
Hand in Hand International Adoption
210A North Orange St.
Albion, Indiana 46701
Tel: 219-636-3566
Fax: 219-636-2554 E-mail: indiana@hihiadopt.org
Associated Catholic Charities
19 W. Franklin St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
Fax: 410-659-4060
nternational Social Service American Branch, Inc.
700 Light St.
Baltimore, MD 21230
Tel: 410-230-2734
Fax: 410-230-2741 E-mail: info@issab.org
Nebraska Children''s Home Society
3549 Fontanelle Blvd.
Omaha, Nebraska 68104
Tel: 402-451-0787
Fax: 402-451-0360 E-mail : http://www. nchs.org
Kruegerca@hotmail.com
Voice of International & Domestic Adoptions
354 Allen St.
Hudson, NY 12534
Tel: 518-828-4527
518-828-0688 E-mail: VIDAADOPT@aol.com
Vida@berk.com
Family Adoption Consultants
Macedonia Professional Bldg.
8536 Crow Dr., Ste 230
Macedonia, OH 44056
Tel: 330-468-0673
Fax: 330-468-0678
Welcome House Social Services of The Pearl S. Buck Foundation
P.O. Box 181
Greenhills Farm
Perkasie, PA 18944-0181
Tel: 215-249-0100
Fax: 215-249-9657
Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin & Upper Michigan, Inc.
1101 W. Clairemont
Suite 2 H Eau Claire
Wisconsin 54701
Tel: 715-833-0992
Fax: 715-833-9466 E-mail: chakala@lsswiss.org
Quasha, Ancheta, Pena & Nolasco
6th Floor, Don Pablo Bldg.
114 Amorsolo St.
Makati City 3117
Tel: 632-892-3011
Fax: 632-817-6423
Romero, Arreza & Magtanong
3rd Floor, DSPI Business Center
210 Nicanor Garcia St.
Bel-Air Village II
Makati City
Tel: 632-896-0447
632-899-8471
632-899-5144
632-899-8343
Fax: 632-896-0447
SyCip, Salazar, Hernandez & Gatmaitan
SyCip Law
All Asia Center
105 Paseo de Roxas
Makati City
Mailing Address: POB 4223
CPO 1002
Manila
Tel: 632-817-9811 to 9820
632-817-2001 to 2009
Fax: 632-817-3896
632-818-7562
Tenefrancia, Agrazamendez, Liceralde & Associate (Tala Law)
Suite 31, Lopez Bldg.
Session Rd.
Baguio City
Tel: 074-443-8624 to 8625
074-443-8347
Fax: 074-443-8347
Rodrigo R. Ridon
18 Fontaine St., East
Bajac- Bajac, Olongapo
Tel: 047-222-5330
Catholic Charities
98 Bosworth St., 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94112-1002
Tel: 415-406-2387
Fax: 415-406-2386
Vista Del Mar Family & Child Service
3200 Motor Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90034
Tel: 310-836-1223
Fax: 310-836-3863
Chrysalis House
4025 N. Fresno St., Ste 106
Fresno, CA 93726
Tel: 559- 229-9862
Fax: 559-229-9863 E-mail: chi11@pacbell.net
International Alliance for Children
Two Ledge Ln.
New Milford, CT 06776
Tel: 860-354-4451
Fax: 860-355-2265
Catholic Charities
200 North Vineyard Blvd., Ste 200
Honolulu, Hawaii 96817-3938
Child & Family Service
Community Service Center, Ste. 20
200 North Vineyard Blvd., Bldg. B
Honolulu, Hawaii 96817-3938
Tel: 808-543-8436
808-681-6353
Fax: 808-599-5711 E-mail: VNAFARRETEBRAGA@cfshawaii.org
New Life Social Services
6316 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL 60659
Tel: 773-478-4773
773-478-4734
Fax: 773-478-7646 E-mail: nlss@aol.com
Wide Horizons for Children, Inc.
38 Edge Hills Rd.
Waltham, MA 02154
Tel: 781-894-5330
Fax: 781-899-2769 E-mail: marylou@whfc.org
http://www. whfc.org
Bethany Christian Services
901 Eastern Ave., NE
Grand rapids, MI 49501-0294
Tel: 616-224-7466
Fax: 616-224-7585
Evergreen Children''s Services
10421 W. Seven Mile Rd.
Detroit, MI 48221
Tel: 313-862-1000
Fax: 313-862-6464
Crossroads Adoption Service
4620 West 77th St., Ste 105
Minneapolis, MN 55435
Tel: 612-831-5707
Fax: 612-831-5129 E-mail: kids@crossroadsadoption.com
Aslnnot@ix.netcom.com
Hope Adoption & Family Services International, Inc.
421 South Main
Stillwater, MN 55082
Tel: 651-439-2446
Fax: 651-439-2071 E-mail : hope@mtn.org
Holt International Children''s Services
1195 Cityview St.
Eugene, OR 97402
P.O. Box 2880
Tel: 541-687-2202
Fax: 541-683-6175 E-mail: info@holtintl.org
Holston United Methodist Home for Children
9915 D. Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN 37922
Tel: 423-638-4171
423-638-4909
Fax: 423-638-7171
423-675-4915 E-mail: Mpromise@aol.com
Carlanderson@holstonhome.org
The U.S. Consular Agency in Cebu provides limited services for U.S. citizens. The Consular Agency address is: Business Office, Waterfront Hotel; Lahug, Cebu City, tel. (63) (32) 231-1261.
