Talk To A Chicago Immigration Attorney
312-332-2550
FAQs on International Adoption
Looking for A Specific Post? Search Below
Immigrating to the U.S. can be a confusing process for anyone, but when the immigrant is a child, there can be several additional issues to consider, and lots of questions. At Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, our skilled Chicago immigration attorneys have helped many families successfully navigate the immigration adoption process. Here we address some of the most common questions related to adoption through immigration.
If you or a family member is considering international adoption, our office is available to answer your questions and provide assistance. Please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Can a Child Gain Permanent Resident Status Through Adoption?
Yes, but the manner in which children may enter or gain status in the United States through adoption varies widely. Adoption is very complex since the adoption must comply both with the law of the child’s country and the laws of the United States.
Are There International Laws that Apply to Adoption?
Since 2008, most international adoptions are governed by the Hague Convention. The United States is a party to the Hague Convention, and it entered into force in the United States on August 1, 2008. Every adoption finalized after that date must comply with the Hague Convention, provided the child is from a country that is also a party to the Convention. The Convention provides a number of safeguards to ensure that the child to be adopted is not a victim of trafficking or other illegal practices. Over 80 countries are parties to the Hague Convention.
Can I Adopt a Child from a Country that’s Not a Party to the Hague Convention?
If a child is not from a country that is a party to the Hague Convention, then there are two different options for adoption:
- The child has lived with the adoptive parent for two years, and two years have passed since the adoption decree was entered, or
- The Immigration Service determines that the child is an orphan, and the adoptive parents meet certain requirements.
To learn more about the requirements for adopting a child who is considered an orphan, please contact an experienced immigration attorney to discuss your case directly.
If I Marry a Foreign National Who Has Children, Will I Need to Adopt Their Children?
If a U.S. citizen marries a foreign national, and that foreign national already has children, the U.S. citizen may be able to petition for both the spouse and the children – no adoption necessary. If the U.S. citizen and the child’s parents were married prior to the child’s 18th birthday, the child is considered a step-child of the U.S. citizen, under immigration law. The U.S. citizen will not usually have to adopt the child to establish a step-relationship.
Contact Our Dedicated Immigration Lawyers
Adding to your family should be a time of joy, and Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC is dedicated to helping families who wish to grow through international adoption. To request a consultation, please call our office or complete our online contact form, and we’ll be in touch shortly.
Lo que dicen nuestras clientas
Calificación de 5 estrellas | Basado en 200+ reseñas de clientes satisfechos en Google
I had a wonderful experience working with Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC. From start to finish, the team was professional, knowledgeable, and truly dedicated to guiding me through every step of the process. They made what could have been a stressful situation feel smooth and manageable, always answering questions quickly and keeping me updated. I especially want to thank Khabit for his outstanding support—he was patient, detail-oriented, and went above…
Many thanks to attorney Kevin A Raica and his assistant Rafael Rodriguez for all their help. My immigration case went very smoothly and quickly.
We worked with Kevin Raica from Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, and I can confidently say he went above and beyond for us. Our process was very long and at times overwhelming, but Kevin guided us every step of the way with professionalism, patience, and dedication. He was always available to answer our questions, explained everything clearly, and made sure we understood our options at each stage. What stood out…
A family friend referred me to work with Maya Flores at Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC to help me with my U.S. naturalization. Despite the current immigration tension, Maya helped make the process smooth and her familiarity with procedure helped ease my anxiety. She submitted the citizenship application on my behalf and let me know what to expect. I decided to retain her service for the civics interview as well,…
I really want to thank Justin and Kamila; they are the best. I waited almost 20 years and no one could help me get my green card and in 4 months they helped me get my permit, and I got my green card in less then 4 months. They are the best. I will always be grateful for what they did for me, thank you Justin and Kamila!!!!
I am writing this review to express my deepest gratitude for the hard work on our case by our Immigration Attorney, Lauren McClure and her Paralegal, Kamila Lada. My Green Card was approved! I know this wouldn't have been possible without their expertise and dedication. They both were extremely helpful, responsive, and guided us through every step of the way. Lauren took the time to train us for our interview…
I am incredibly grateful to Mr. Burton for his outstanding legal assistance in my immigration case, from my first consultation he heard me patiently demonstrating exceptional professionalism, expertise, and a genuine commitment to my case. Immigration process can be overwhelming and stressful, but he and his team provided clear guidance every step of the way, always answering my questions promptly and reassuring me with their deep expertise. Thanks to their…
I had an outstanding experience working with Brittni Rivera. From our very first consultation, she demonstrated deep expertise, professionalism, and genuine care for my case. Navigating immigration processes can be incredibly stressful, but Brittni made the entire journey much more manageable and transparent. She were always responsive to my questions, provided clear guidance at every step, and never made me feel like just another case. Thanks to her hard work…
Highly recommend this firm. I had the pleasure of working with Lauren McClure and she is absolutely the best. She was very helpful and walked me through every step of the process, she is patient and she got the job done. I am very grateful with her and her team for helping me with the process of my case. Thank you so much.
I have worked with Kevin Raica for my VAWA application. Let me tell you he has been AMAZING. Unlike other lawyers Kevin has always went above and beyond for me. Kevin is not in it for the money he is in it to HELP people and make a difference. He has walked me through the entire process and always answers any questions I have no matter what. This law firm…
¡Programe una consulta!
Publicidad de abogados. Esta información está diseñada solo para información general. La información presentada no debe interpretarse como asesoramiento legal formal ni como la formación de una relación abogado/cliente. Los resultados y testimonios anteriores no son garantía ni predicción del resultado de su caso, y no deben interpretarse como tales. Los resultados pasados no pueden garantizar el rendimiento futuro. Cualquier resultado en un solo caso no pretende crear una expectativa de resultados similares en asuntos futuros porque cada caso involucra muchos factores diferentes, por lo tanto, los resultados diferirán caso por caso. Al proporcionar información de contacto, los usuarios reconocen y dan su consentimiento explícito para ser contactados a través de los métodos de comunicación proporcionados, incluido SMS. Se pueden aplicar tarifas por mensajes y datos. La frecuencia de los mensajes puede variar. Responda STOP para optar por no participar.
NUVEW | Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved | Accessibility Notice | privacy policy