adopting niece (split)

[Raqiwin 2]

Manilaraf/Hank, thank you for insights.  I am in the process right now of adopting our niece (my wife's brother's daughter). I read through all of USCIS's requirements for adopting a relative, along with Philippine ICAB procedures. USCIS mentions Hague/non-Hague Convention process (adoptee considered orphan and the required use of adoption services and a ____load of money), and then there's the immediate relative option where my niece falls under. Along with all that you have mentioned in your posts, my wife and I decided to enlist the services of a local lawyer in her hometown where she and our niece are now staying for the two year duration of the adoption requirement stated in I-130, among other sources.  We have our court proceedings coming up in a few months.  I will check back then to update our situation and given everything goes well, I will post our experiences and share with you all. For the others planning similar adoptions, research travel.state.gov, USCIS and the country's adoption laws. Know specifically your situation on the adoption as you research. For example, we are adopting our niece. Not a random child, but a child that is within 4 degrees of our family. We know this child, she knows us. We don't need an adoption agency to determine our fitness to raise our niece, nor have them pick a child for us. We know the birh parents and they gave their written consent.  With that, we consulted our lawyer, and initiated the "private adoption."  Once that is complete, approved and decree granted, we will initiate the I-130 which is where this website comes in.  

[Hank_ 9,174]

Sounds like a plan!   

[gypsyqueen 103]

Am i eligible to adopt my first cousin's child?

 

How we're related:

 

Me - My Aunt from my Mother's side of the Family - My cousin - Her child

Edited August 23, 2017 by gypsyqueen

[Ontarkie 14,190]

~~Post and related replies split from zombie thread.~~

[Boiler 45,292]

Obviously depends on local laws but the question seems related to the fact that she is a first cousin, I have never come across a situation where that would be a block.

[Hank_ 9,174]

2 hours ago, gypsyqueen said:

Am i eligible to adopt my first cousin's child?

 

How we're related:

 

Me - My Aunt from my Mother's side of the Family - My cousin - Her child

Here is a place to start reading, TYPE 2 :  http://www.dswd.gov.ph/programs/adoption-and-foster-care/

[gypsyqueen 103]

Just now, Hank_ said:

Here is a place to start reading, TYPE 2 :  http://www.dswd.gov.ph/programs/adoption-and-foster-care/

Thank you!

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

Has something changed with USCIS? I could swear that unless the child is an orphan then you will have a lot of issues adopting a related child and immigrating them to the US as they see that as adopting just for immigration purposes and the IR/CR Visas are for family reunification. Basically they view it as trying to do an end-run around the restriction on the Immediate Relative category.

[Boiler 45,292]

34 minutes ago, Deputy Purple said:

Has something changed with USCIS? I could swear that unless the child is an orphan then you will have a lot of issues adopting a related child and immigrating them to the US as they see that as adopting just for immigration purposes and the IR/CR Visas are for family reunification. Basically they view it as trying to do an end-run around the restriction on the Immediate Relative category.

Nothing has changed, not sure why you think it has, well nothing has changed for a very long time.

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

Just asking because I don't see that issue mentioned at all I this topic.

[Boiler 45,292]

OP did cover it.

[Hank_ 9,174]

8 hours ago, Deputy Purple said:

Has something changed with USCIS? I could swear that unless the child is an orphan then you will have a lot of issues adopting a related child and immigrating them to the US as they see that as adopting just for immigration purposes and the IR/CR Visas are for family reunification. Basically they view it as trying to do an end-run around the restriction on the Immediate Relative category.

Adoption and immigration are two different topics.   For the Philippines a Filipino can adopt an immediate relative, and it is a LEGAL adoption. 

 

The requirements to get a visa are a different story, but still can be done.