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On January 17th of this year, Haiti’s Central Adoption Authority, Institut du Bien Etre Social et de Recherches, known as “IBESR” announced the nineteen agencies approved to do adoptions in Haiti. As we have previously shared, we are happy to announce that MLJ Adoptions, Inc. is one of those nineteen agencies! Since our announcement, there has been a whirlwind of activity! Many calls and emails from interested families have been flooding in! We were so excited to share, but had little information available. Now weeks later there is still very little information, but we have gained some clarification.
As a member of the Joint Council on International Children’s Services (JCICS), MLJ Adoptions was able to participate in an informational call where the requirements for parents adopting from Haiti were confirmed to be:
- One parent must be at least 35 years old
- Married couples must be married 10 years and other couples must verify they have been together for 10 years
- Single women must be over the age of 35
- Couples with biological children will require a presidential dispensation
- Must be of Christian religion
We had also heard many rumors concerning quotas, and it was confirmed by JCICS that IBESR will initially have a quota of one dossier submission per approved agency. We are hearing this is temporary, as IBESR learns the new process and is operating smoothly under the Hague system. There is a likelihood of special needs cases will be considered outside of the initial quota, however we do not yet know what IBESR specifically defines as special needs. JCICS will work together with the approved agencies to potentially increase this quota on behalf of the children waiting for families.
Lastly, at this time Haiti is not yet Hague compliant but is working towards this goal. It is anticipated that it will happen within the next several months. Until this time, there is some confusion as to how United States Citizenship and Immigration (USCIS) will process visas for families. Families that were grandfathered in will come home under the I-600 visa form until Haiti is fully Hague compliant. It is our understanding that families will continue to file the I-600A until that point, and USCIS may put forth a plan for families temporarily, as they did for China when they went to a Hague Adoption Process.
We are very excited about our Haiti program and being able to help many Haitian children find their forever families! Sometime in the near future, we will be making a trip to Haiti and will be reporting updates as they are available. Be sure to watch for more information in mid-March as we offer the opportunity to take part in another conference call on Haiti. As MLJ continues to get information, we will continue to update our families.
If you would like more information on adopting children from Haiti, please click here.
Photo Credit: FMSC
Lydia Tarr
Lydia Tarr works as the International Program Director for MLJ Adoptions’ programs in Bulgaria and Ukraine. She is the adoptive mother of four children from Ukraine and was recognized as a 2013 Angel in Adoption by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s (CCAI) Angels in Adoption Program.
Lydia Tarr
Lydia Tarr works as the International Program Director for MLJ Adoptions’ programs in Bulgaria and Ukraine. She is the adoptive mother of four children from Ukraine and was recognized as a 2013 Angel in Adoption by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s (CCAI) Angels in Adoption Program.