DOS Notice: New Kenyan Adoption Committee Formed

The U.S. Embassy in Nairobi received confirmation from the Government of Kenya that the new Adoption Committee members have been named and confirmed. The Adoption Committee held its first session on January 29 and is now processing adoptions again. 

If you have additional questions on the processing of adoptions in Kenya, please contact the Office of Children’s Issues at askCI@state.gov.

http://adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_alerts_notices.php?alert_notice_type=notices&alert_notice_file=kenya_3

---

Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/

DOS Notice: Kenya Adoption Committee disbanded

The U.S. Embassy in Nairobi learned that the Kenyan Central Authority, the Adoption Committee, was disbanded, thereby impacting Kenya's ability to process intercountry adoptions. Processing of adoptions is, and will continue to be, delayed until the publication of the nomination of the new committee members.

The Department of State understands that this event has triggered a number of inquiries from U.S. adoption service providers who want to learn how the disbandment will affect pending cases. The U.S. Embassy in Nairobi continues to press for clarification and will engage with the new committee once it resumes work.

The Department will post any updates regarding this situation on adoption.state.gov as we receive information from the Kenyan authorities.

http://adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_alerts_notices.php?alert_notice_type=notices&alert_notice_file=kenya_2

---

Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/

DOS Notice: Reminder of Kenyan prohibition against pre-selection of prospective adoptees

October 15, 2013:  The Kenyan Adoption Committee has requested that the United States government remind adoption service providers and prospective adoptive parents of Kenya’s strict prohibition against pre-selection of children by prospective adoptive parents.  The Kenyan National Adoption Committee, Kenya’s Central Authority under the Hague Adoption Convention, is likely to reject dossiers and/or referrals for families that have pre-selected a child or have had prior contact of any kind with a specific child, the child’s guardian, or individuals with power to determine a child’s eligibility or placement for adoption.  This could include, but would not be limited to, contact through mission trips, volunteering at orphanages, or other relationships with the prospective adoptee.  The sole exception to this prohibition is when a prospective adoptive parent can prove a blood relationship with a prospective adoptee. 

The U.S. Intercountry Adoption Act, which implements the Hague Adoption Convention in the United States, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Interim Hague regulations require disclosure in the home study of any information relevant to the prospective adoptive parents’ eligibility to adopt under the specific requirements of the child’s country of origin (See 8 CFR 204.311(q)).  Prior contact between prospective adoptive parents or any additional adult member of the household and a Kenyan child’s parents, custodian or other individuals or entity responsible for the child’s care may be grounds for denial of the Form I-800 (See 8 CFR 204.309(b)(2)).

Adoption service providers and prospective adoptive parents who wish to know more about intercountry adoptions from Kenya can visit the Department of State’s page on adopting from Kenya and the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi’s website for more information.

http://adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_alerts_notices.php?alert_notice_type=notices&alert_notice_file=kenya_1

---

Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/

DOS Adoption Alert: Kenya

Adoption Notice
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Office of Children’s Issues

---

Adoption Moratorium Lifted

February 10, 2011

Kenya and the United States are party to the

Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (“Hague”). As such, all adoptions between Kenya and the United States initiated after April 1, 2008, must meet the requirements of the Hague Convention and its U.S. and Kenya law counterparts. The Government of Kenya is still in the process of amending its laws to mirror the procedural requirements of the Convention. In late 2010, Kenya adopted a new constitution and the government is currently drafting hundreds of pieces of new legislation required to implement the provisions of the new constitution. Due to this legislative back-log, legislation that will bring Kenya into full compliance with the Hague Convention may not be enacted for quite some time.

Until it is, Kenya’s Department of Children’s Services is willing to make administrative adjustments that will allow it to follow the procedural framework required by the Hague Convention. International adoptions that meet Hague Convention requirements can now be processed in Kenya. However, until Kenya’s international adoption laws are finalized, serious delays, expense, uncertainly, and difficulties could still arise with the Hague adoption process. The Department of State therefore advises American citizens to proceed with caution when deciding whether or not to adopt from Kenya.

The U.S. Embassy in Nairobi continues to be in contact with the High Court of Kenya and their Department of Children’s Services concerning the processing requirements of Hague adoption cases. Please continue to monitor this website for the most updated information as it becomes available.

http://adoption.state.gov/news/kenya.html#

---

Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/

DOS Adoption Notice - Kenya

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Office of Children’s Issues

September 30, 2009

Kenya is party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention). As such, all adoptions between Kenya and the United States initiated after April 1, 2008, must meet the requirements of both the Convention and U.S. law implementing the Convention.

Although the Government of Kenya (GOK) acceded to the Hague Adoption Convention in 2007, it appears not yet to have established the regulations and procedural infrastructure necessary to meet its obligations under the Convention. In the absence of Hague-compliant adoption procedures, the Department of State cannot issue the documentation required for Convention cases to permit issuance of a U.S. immigrant visa for an adopted child. The Department of State therefore cautions American citizens not to initiate the adoption of a Kenyan child at this time.

The U.S. Embassy in Nairobi continues to be in contact with the High Court of Kenya and their Department of Children’s Services concerning the processing requirements of Convention adoption cases. Please continue to monitor adoption.state.gov for updated information as it becomes available.
http://pear-now.blogspot.com/search/label/Kenya
-------------------------------------------------------

Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/