| VIETNAM UPDATE |
| ACW is pleased to announce we have been licensed for adoptions in Vietnam. More details will be available soon. Please call 703-549-7774 for updates.
MOU: After a 2 1/2 year moratorium, the United States and Vietnam signed an adoption agreement that will allow adoptions to re-open between the two countries. The agreement was signed on Tuesday, June 21, 2005, in Washington, D.C. Minister Uong signed the agreement for Vietnam and Maura Harty signed for the United States.
Photos from the Signing Ceremony
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| GENERAL INFORMATION |
The Adoption Center of Washington is proud and pleased to announce
that we have committed our resources and services to assist parents
who wish to adopt from Vietnam.
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| CHILDREN AVAILABLE |
Girls and boys of all ages are available. Infants may be as young as 4-5 months at the time of referral. Toddlers and preschoolers are available. Each child is unique and although most are healthy, some have health problems and may have minor disabilities.
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| ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR PROSPECTIVE PARENTS |
Vietnam adoption laws require that couples or single parents (male or female) be at least 20 years older than the child is. This program is open to those who are married or single females. Some regions may not place with large families. Families with no children in their current marriage are requested to be open to either gender when requesting an infant. Non-sectarian; families should demonstrate sincere interest in learning the child’s culture and imparting it to the child.
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| TIME FRAME |
Please call for updates regarding referral time.
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| PROCESS BEFORE TRAVEL |
| All prospective adoptive parents working with our agency go through the following process:
1. Apply with our agency by submitting the application in this packet and a check for $300.
2. Contact USCICS and complete an I 600a to order international adoption forms (the packet is called “I-600A”) at: 1-800-870-3676.
3 Begin the homestudy process (if you do not already have a favorable, updated homestudy).
6. Gather documents for your Dossier (e.g. birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc). Your caseworker will assist you with this process.
7. Attend our Child Care Class (if you are a first-time parent and if you live in the Washington Metropolitan area).
8. Exchange of information regarding a referral for a child (amount of information such as, photo of the child or medical report varies based on the country).
9. Attend a Travel Meeting with your caseworker (in our office or over the phone) to discuss traveling particulars in the foreign country.
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| TRAVELING TO VIETNAM |
Authentication of documents for the dossier will occur in the U.S. before traveling to Vietnam. The Adoption Center of Washington will assist you through this process. In Vietnam, you will meet your child and have the Giving & Receiving Ceremony for
finalization of the adoption. This trip lasts between 2 and 3 weeks days due to the need to acquire the child’s Vietnamese passport.
**Please note: length of travel is subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances in international adoption.
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| GENERAL FEES |
The foreign fee is $12,900 and is due before departing for your first trip to Vietnam. You are also responsible for the cost of your flight to Vietnam and other travel costs (see our fact sheet on Vietnam Estimated Expenses for a breakdown of definite and probable costs).
*Please note: foreign fees are subject to change without notice due to unforeseen circumstances in international adoption.
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| REQUIRED DOCUMENTS |
- Passport
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate or statement of being single
- Police Clearance
- Home study
- Immigration approval (I-171H)
- Doctor letter
- Income certificate
- Non-travelling spouse's Power of Attorney
- If the parent was divorced, one copy of the divorce decree notarized
with notice, "Certified as a true and correct copy of the
original."
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| REFERRAL PROCESS |
Parents will receive the child's photo and brief medical information.
Based on this information you will make a decision to travel to meet
the child.
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