Lori Barkus, P.A. 2883 Executive Park Drive, Suite 103A, Weston, FL 33331

Tel: (954) 349-7988 Fax: (954) 349-8088

Readoption

Readoption/Domestication of a foreign adoption is the process of securing a foreign adoption in a United States Court. While the foreign adoption is normally valid in the United States there are important reasons to readopt upon returning to the United States with your child. One reason is that a readoption in a United States Court ensures your foreign adoption will be recognized under United States laws. Another reason is the U.S. adoption will generate a state birth certificate that is in English. This becomes important when your child is registering for school, sports activities and the like. Some schools will not accept birth certificates in other languages. It also makes it easier to obtain duplicates of the child’s birth certificate if this is ever necessary. Many other countries do not keep sufficient records or have tedious red tape if a copy of the birth certificate is ever needed.

When you adopt a child abroad, aside from finalizing the adoption, you have to obtain citizenship for your child. In 2004 The United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services updated the process for obtaining citizenship when a child is adopted abroad. If a child adopted abroad enters the United States with an IR-3 visa that child is automatically a citizen when he/she arrives in the United States. The child’s Certificate of Citizenship is usually received within 45 days of arrival in the United States. However, if the child enters the United States on an IR-4 visa, with guardians bringing the child to the U.S., the child is not a citizen until the adoption is finalized in a United States Court.

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