Notice: Adoptions from Serbia to Begin Under the Hague Adoption Convention
Serbia
March 19, 2014
Notice: Adoptions from Serbia to Begin Under the Hague Adoption Convention
The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (the Convention) will enter into force for Serbia on April 1, 2014. The United States has determined that it should be able to process Convention intercountry adoptions from Serbia that are initiated on or after April 1, 2014.
The Government of Serbia also notified the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade that accredited adoption service provider, Hopscotch Adoptions, Inc., is now authorized to provide services in Convention adoptions from Serbia. This is the only U.S. adoption service provider currently authorized to operate in Serbia. U.S. adoption service providers interested in seeking authorization should contact Serbia’s Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Policy at: socijalna_zastita@minrzs.gov.rs or by calling +381 11 3631448.
U.S. prospective adoptive parents and adoption service providers are reminded that adoption services in Serbia can only be completed either through direct contact with the Ministry or with the assistance of a U.S. adoption service provider authorized to provide intercountry adoption services in Serbia.
Adoption cases can proceed under the non-Convention adoption process after April 1 if the prospective adoptive parents in the United States filed Form I-600A with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) designating Serbia before April 1, 2014, filed Form I-600 with USCIS or the Department of State before April 1, 2014, or completed the adoption before April 1, 2014. All other cases will be processed as Convention adoption cases and will require Form I-800 and I-800A.
The Department of State will provide updated information on adoption.state.gov as it becomes available. If you have any questions about this notice, please contact the Office of Children’s Issues at 1-888-407-4747 within the United States, or 202-501-4444 from outside the United States. Email inquiries may be directed to AdoptionUSCA@state.gov