Legal work, in country support, and translation services if needed will be provided to families during their stay abroad directly by MOHIC’s qualified staff members. While many couples or individuals are afraid of adopting illegally, she erased the fears and went through the procedures and conditions for adopting a child in Lagos State through Little Saints Orphanage home, ‘’Adoption is an enviable act of love. The Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act of 2012 requires that an accredited or approved adoption service provider act as the primary provider in every Convention or non-Convention intercountry adoption case, and that adoption service providers providing any adoption services, as defined at 22 CFR Part 96.2, on behalf of prospective adoptive parents be accredited or approved, or be a supervised or exempted provider. The Lagos State, Nigeria Program is a wonderful opportunity for families in a country where there are many children in need of loving, permanent homes. Adoption decrees must state that they are final in order for an immigrant visa to be issued to the adopted child. Courts may also waive or amend any or all of these provisions on a case by case basis if it is deemed in the best interest of the child. Our agency has formal partnerships with over forty agencies in other states already and contacts with a score of others to provide the necessary services to our out-of-state families. Prospective adoptive parents should not attempt to process their adoption through local officials who may attempt to circumvent the legal process. Central District Area, Abuja, Nigeria Divorce decrees (if applicable) Proof of Nigerian citizenship. Please review each step carefully before proceeding with an adoption to ensure that the adoption is conducted in conformity with both U.S. and Nigerian law. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Fax: (234)-9-461-4036. The process for adopting a child from Nigeria generally includes the following steps: Choose a U.S. If the complaint is not resolved through the provider’s complaint process, you may file the complaint through the Complaint Registry. Children in the Program: Children range in age from about 2 to 8 years old at the time of adoption. police report. Adopt the Child in Nigeria (or Obtain Legal Custody of the Child for Purposes of Emigration and Adoption) 5. The Obama Administration’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) is a signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders. Morgan Hill Children Foundation will also handle international adoptions for Nigerian-American dual citizens only from Akwa Ibom and Cross River States. Birth certificates. Every child is a gift from God. In many cases, further investigation may be required. Families usually will have two trips to Nigeria: the first and longer visit would involve at least six weeks for bonding with a child culminating with the finalization of the adoption. Marriage certificates. Along the way, there are many points where adoption laws will have an effect on your child's adoption. Email: support-nigeria@ustraveldocs.com Within Colorado, A Family in Bloom Adoption has qualified and experienced social workers and case managers that can provide all the services necessary from start to finish for a successful international adoption, from the initial application, home study, US Immigration, match, and placement and post-placement services. Adoption is governed in Nigeria by two laws: The Child Right Act 2003 and the Adoption Law of the State where one seeks to adopt. Website: www.ustraveldocs.com/ng There are many public and private non-profit post-adoption services available for children and their families. Prospective adoptive parents must also have the child they want to adopt in their home (in Nigeria) for a period of several months to several years before they will be able to obtain an adoption in Nigeria. Adoption is an enviable act of love. They are referred for intercountry adoption generally due to economic distress or abandonment. The U.S.-Nigeria Bi-national Commission is a strategic dialogue designed to expand mutual cooperation across a broad range of shared interests. A complaint may be filed at any time, including after your child has received an immigrant visa and travelled to the United States. child’s rights law 2007. a law to enforce the rights and advance the welfare of the child, and to amend and consolidate all legislations relating to the protection and welfare of the child in lagos state and for other connected and incidental purposes (28th may 2007) commencement. The length of the bonding period is determined by the court at the time the child is placed with the prospective adoptive parents but is usually at least three months. E. Single (unmarried) persons below the age of thirty-five (35) years are not eligible to adopt. • Unmarried couples are discouraged from adopting, although the … A Family in Bloom Adoption is privileged to be one of a select few agencies approved and permitted by contractual agreement to work with American families for international adoption from Lagos State. Your primary provider can provide or point you to post-placement/post-adoption services to help your adopted child and your family transition smoothly and deal effectively with the many adjustments required in an intercountry adoption. Last week there was an announcement of the closure of the US Embassy in Lagos. A prospective adoptive parent cannot have the child reside with another family member in lieu of living with the prospective adoptive parent, even if a Power of Attorney is in effect. 3. This time frame may be shortened in the future. Lagos, Akwa Ibom, and Cross Rivers have different regulations for their adoption process than the other Nigerian States. Lagos law prohibits such adoptions other than in exceptional circumstances, for example suchas a niece. The first legal step in adoption is the termination of the parental rights of a child's birthparents. Every child is a gift from God. Be matched with a child. Learn more about quality higher-education opportunities in the U.S. that you will not find anywhere else in the world. The process will take approximately one year from the time of the official registration with the Lagos Ministry of Social Welfare. An adoption order is an order that names individuals who adopt a child, as the child’s legal parents. The following persons can apply to the Family Court for an adoption order in Lagos State: 1. USCIS determines who is suitable and eligible to adopt a child from another country and bring that child to live in the United States under U.S. immigration law. Apply for the child to be found eligible for orphan status. Alerts and Messages for U.S. visitors to Nigeria. But here are what it takes to adopt a child in Nigeria. Please Note: The information on this webpage is a summary of the country specific information for Nigeria provided on the Department of State’s Travel.State.Gov website. Due to adoption fraud and child buying concerns, the U.S. Consulate completes the Form I-604, Determination on Child for Adoption, commonly referred to as the orphan determination, to verify the authenticity of the information provided in the adoption decree and with the Form I-600 petition. Financial documentation. Phone: (234)-9-461-4000 The Child's Right Act, 2003 provides for adoption of a child in Nigeria. All rights reserved. Deciding to Which Adoption Path to Pursue Choose to adopt a child in care if you would like a less … Find the closest American Space in Nigeria where you can connect with the U.S. If married, both members of a married couple must be Nigerian citizens, except in Lagos and Ogun states. THE PROCESS: Visit the Adoption section of the ministry of Youth Sports and Social development. For Nigerian States that do not have a legal authority to complete an adoption, the U.S. Consulate in Lagos may issue an IR4 classification immigrant visa if all U.S. immigration requirements are met. : +234 1 227 8955 The Adoption Law of Lagos State is contained in Chapter A5, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003 and was signed into Law by Governor Bola Tinubu. Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) Our Adoption Comment Page provides several points of contact for adoptive families to comment on their adoption service provider, their experience applying for their child’s visa, or about the Form I-600/A process. A married couple, where both have attained the age of 25 years and there is an order authorizing them to adopt a child… proof of U.S citizenship. Parents should confirm any post-adoption requirements with their legal representatives. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), part of … The process for adopting a child from Nigeria generally includes the following steps: Choose an adoption service provider. the lagos state house of assembly enacts as follows: Often times, adoption decrees from Nigerian courts put stipulations on the adoption, such as not allowing the child to travel beyond the jurisdiction of the court or requiring periodic visits of the child by the social welfare office of the respective Nigerian state. Bring your child home. Monday To Friday except declared Nigerian and U.S. As part of its Schedule, the book has the Adoption Laws of Lagos State, Enugu State as well as the Child Rights Act which Governs the FCT. The process for adopting a child from Nigeria generally includes the following steps: Each of these steps in explained in detail on the Department of State’s Nigeria Intercountry Adoption page, under the How to Adopt section. It must come from a desire to love a child. An application for adoption is made to the High (Family) Court accompanied with the following documents; (a) Where the applicant is a married couple, their marriage certificate or a sworn declaration of marriage; WHO MAY ADOPT The provisions of the Child Rights Act 2003 which is the principal legislation regulating adoption in Nigeria, sets out the required qualifications a … Copyright © 2019 A Family in Bloom Adoption, LLC. Prospective adoptive parents must appear in court to answer questions regarding the adoption. You may wish to take advantage of all the resources available to your family, whether it is another adoptive family, a support group, an advocacy organization, or your religious or community services. The process will take approximately one year from the time of the official registration with the Lagos Ministry of Social Welfare. It actually takes some patience to achieve this, and often it can be a bit tough. It must be because we want to raise a child for God as a demonstration of our love for God. So we recommend pure, unconditional love to adopters who wish to adopt a child from TAF. A child must be below the age of 16 (according to the Adoption Act of 1965) or 17 (according to the Child Rights Law) in order to be adopted. The court order for the release of the child will be issued and the parent adopting the child would be allowed to take the child for a probational period of three months 7. Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive Your first place to visit in the process of adopting a child in Nigeria or (narrowing it down) in Lagos is the Adoption section of the Ministry of Youth Sports and Social development. The Magistrate Court (from the state where the child resides). But here are what it takes to adopt a child in Nigeria. As a result, investigations and the in-country visa application and approval process can cause adoption processing in Lagos to take up to six months to complete, after the initial approval of the Form I-600 by U.S. Apply for Your Child to be Found Eligible to Immigrate to the United States as an Orphan . The children live in government operated orphanages. Children are available from the age range 0 to 12 years, primarily in good health, but also some with special needs. The process for adopting a child from Nigeria generally includes the following steps: Choose an adoption service provider; Apply to be found eligible to adopt; Be matched with a child Adopt (or gain custody of) the child in Nigeria; Apply for the child to be found eligible for orphan status Bring your child home 1. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), part of the Department of Homeland Security. ADOPTION PROCESS IN LAGOS Overview According to Wikipedia, Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting of another, usually a child, from that person’s biological or legal parent or parents, and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities, along with filiation, from the biological parent or parents. House of Mercy is a Lagos based orphanage home providing child protection policies and procedures are in place to ensure children are respected, protected, empowered & active in their own protection.Staff members are skilled, confident and competent. For foreign citizens who want to live permanently in the United States. The Department of State takes all allegations of fraud or misconduct seriously. Call Center no. If you have concerns about your intercountry adoption process, we ask that you share this information with the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, particularly if it involves possible fraud or misconduct specific to your child’s case. It must be motivated by our love for God. How to Adopt a Child in Nigeria. Holidays. Failure to obtain approval for the child in contemplation is an offense punishable by law. Courts in Nigeria do not allow proxy adoptions (whereby prospective adoptive parents appear in court via an intermediary) to minimize document and identity fraud concerns related to adoptions. In general, prospective adoptive parents must first obtain temporary custody of the child and must have physical and temporary legal custody of the child for a bonding period immediately prior to petitioning the court for an adoption decree. Previously only Nigerians that had dual citizenship living in the US could adopt internationally from Lagos State, which remains the case for all of the other Nigerian States. The fees for adoption from Nigeria are reasonable, and it is estimated that the process will take approximately 1.5 years from application to adoption completion depending upon the type of child you are seeking to adopt. Your first place to visit in the process of adopting a child in Nigeria or (narrowing it down) in Lagos is the Adoption section of the Ministry of … 4. It is a book that cuts across borders, a handy tool for lawyers, parents and people wishing to adopt a child. The following persons can apply to the Family Court for an adoption order in Lagos State: 1. If you think your provider’s conduct may not have been in compliance with accreditation standards, first submit your complaint in writing directly to your provider. Once your CIS approval has been received and a child is available for you, you will receive a referral of a child in Nigeria. The final step is the finalization of adoption in court, making you your child's permanent, legal parents. The Adoption Law of Lagos State applies only to the adoption of a person unuder the age of seventeen years who is abandoned,or whose parents and other relatives are unknown or cannot be traced after due enquiry certified by a juvenile court. Adopt (or gain custody of) the child in Nigeria. In this post we will quickly take a look at how to adopt a child in Nigeria. The U.S. Mission in Nigeria encourages anyone considering adopting in Nigeria to thoroughly review the Nigeria Intercountry Adoption Information page for the most up-to-date information available. For security reasons U.S. government personnel are frequently restricted from traveling to certain parts of the country. As is the case with all international adoptions to the US, at least one of the adoptive parents must have American citizenship and the other parent, a US permanent residency card. Please note that the Lagos adoption office that partners with LMI continues to be open for work activities and all other ongoing paperwork for LMI families and our families will continue to receive attention. Please contact us to learn more about our international adoption services. Story continues below advertisement. 6. The US State Department is cognizant and supportive of the involvement of MOHIC for international adoptions from these Nigerian states. For travel to the United States on a temporary basis, including tourism, temporary employment, study and exchange. 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