Citizenship Proceedings for Adopted Children: Pitfalls and Practice Tips (Update)

Adopting children from abroad can be a multi-year process that involves navigating both international legal procedures and the U.S. immigration process. High-profile deportations of adoptees whose parents failed to secure them U.S. citizenship highlight the fact that immigration filings are a critical piece of this process as well. Even attorneys who only handle domestic adoptions may run afoul of Immigration laws unknowingly. Family law practitioners who handle any type of adoption will want to learn a simple test to determine if their domestic adoption requires an immigration consultation.

This program, presented by Karen Stoutamyer Law, of Law Offices of Karen S. Law, PLC, a specialist in international adoptions, will review the fundamentals of citizenship for children involved in adoption proceedings in the U.S., including common problems that can arise, errors that attorneys often make, and practical advice on obtaining the best result for the parents and child.

Learning Objectives:

1. Assist adoptive parents in domestic adoptions of foreign-born children with the problems that may arise in obtaining lawful status

2. Explain the implications of the Hague Adoption Convention on domestic and foreign adoptions

3. Review the appropriate pathways for immigration of adopted children who live abroad

4. Explore alternatives to adoption for lawful status for adopted children, such as SIJS, VAWA, etc.

5. Detail the requirements for citizenship under the Child Citizenship Act