Situation in Nepal

Adoption ARK would like to make you aware of a very serious situation facing adoptive parents. 

On August 6, 2010, The Department of State and The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) branches suspended adoptions of abandoned children in Nepal. At that time, many families were in the final stages of the Nepal Adoption Program, some were even in Nepal.

Prior to August 6th, the issuing of a visa for a Nepali orphan took approximately 1-2 weeks. Now, since August 6th, not a single visa has been issued even though more than 20 families have filed their I-600 form.  During this time, some parents have been living in Nepal, waiting for the Visa’s to be issued for their children; Children that have been in their custody all this time and are legally adopted according to the government of Nepal.  Other children are still in the care of an orphanage, waiting for their families to be united.  Understandably, the delay of these visas has left the parents, as well as their newly adopted children, in emotional distress.  The children are unable to leave Nepal without the necessary visas.  Parents who are in Nepal are faced with the decision to either stay in Nepal for an indefinite period or leave the children that they have been parenting and bonding with in Nepal; which would be devastating to the emotional well being of the child.

In addition, the USCIS in New Delhi is suggesting that these Nepali adoptions will require the assistance of a US Immigration Lawyer and this additional cost places considerable financial burdens on parents in this process. This burden was not shared by those processed prior to 6th August even though the paperwork associated with the adoptions was essentially the same.

Adoption ARK understands that each adoption case requires an I-604 investigation before the visa can be issued.  We support this process, undertaken in a timely manner, to ensure that adoption takes place in the best interest of the child.  However, the Department of States decision not to accept visa applications for abandoned children is very concerning and has the potential to affect adoptions in all countries, not just Nepal.

Please take a moment and help these children & parents by signing the petition at http://www.petition2congress.com/2/3608/go/  and asking for the United States Government to take action and bring these families home. 

Sincerely,

The Team at Adoption ARK

www.adoptionark.org