Account
Get our app
Account Start free trial Log in

Ask a Lawyer

Get legal advice from Rocket Lawyer network attorneys. We make it affordable and simple.

Ask a Lawyer

Get started

First, you must choose an accredited adoption service provider.  Only accredited agencies can provide adoption services between the U.S. and other Hague countries. In addition to helping you find a child for adoption, these agencies can also help you secure the parental rights and perform a home study for the Department of Homeland Security.  They will also provide you with background on the the child and help determine if this adoption is in the child's best interest.

Next, you mus be found eligible to adopt by the U.S. government. Fill out the Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country and file it with the USCIS; the home study form the first step should also be submitted.

The third step is to be referred to a child.  The adoption service provider will send your I-800A and home study form to the foreign country's central adoption authority.  The foreign country will help match you with a child and make sure that the legal custodian of that child consents to adoption.  This information will be included in a report which will be sent to you. This report will also contain the child's birth certificate and a copy of the consent given by the legal custodians of the child.   Information concerning the child's medical and social history will also be included.

Fourthly, you must apply for the child to be eligible for immigration to the U.S.  Notify the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for provisional approval to adopt that particular child.  A child being adopted from one of the countries participating in the Hague Adoption Process must be certified as a Convention adoptee in order to immigrate; the I-800 or Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative is the form you need to complete this requirement. Your application will receive provisional approval if all the requirements are met and the ASP will send a visa application to a Consular Officer at the U.S. embassy of the home country of the child.  

The next step in the Hague Adoption Process is to gain legal custody of the child after completing the prior steps.  The process for gaining legal custody of a child varies from country to country.  The United States Inter-country Adoption site contains information for each respective country.  

Finally, you need to obtain an immigrant visa for the child. This involves applying for a new birth certificate for your child, getting a passport from the child's country of citizenship, and procuring a U.S. passport for the child as well.

Please note: This page offers general legal information, not but not legal advice tailored for your specific legal situation. Rocket Lawyer Incorporated isn't a law firm or a substitute for one. For further information on this topic, you can Ask a Legal Pro.


Written and Reviewed by Experts
Written and Reviewed by Experts
This article was created, edited and reviewed by trained editorial staff who specialize in translating complex legal topics into plain language.

At Rocket Lawyer, we believe legal information should be both reliable and easy to understand—so you don't need a law degree to feel informed. We follow a rigorous editorial policy to ensure every article is helpful, clear, and as accurate and up-to-date as possible.

About this page:

  • This article was written and reviewed by Rocket Lawyer editorial staff
  • This article was last reviewed or updated on Mar 07, 2023

Ask a Legal Pro

Our Legal Pros are here for you.
Characters remaining: 600
Meet our featured Legal Pros

Try Rocket Lawyer FREE for 7 days

Get trusted legal help at a price that works for you. Your free 7-day trial includes:

Unlimited documents & signatures
Personalize, RocketSign®, and share any legal document you need

Business filings made simple
Start your business, stay compliant, and protect your ideas — all in one place

Ask a Legal Pro
Get answers to your legal questions or have your documents reviewed by a Legal Pro

Retain a Legal Pro
Get personalized help for more complex legal matters

Member-only savings
Enjoy exclusive discounts for Legal Pro services and partner offers

Legal help, anywhere
Use our free app to get legal support whenever and wherever you need it