Adoption Decree

[kellym 0]

I am the USC, and my British husband and I are living and working in Ho Chi Minh City. We are hoping to have his CR-1 in time to move to the states this summer. We thought we had all our paperwork together, but today I saw something on the 'checklist' that worried me. It said that if the applicant is adopted, they need to provide the 'certified copy of the final adoption decree.' My husband is adopted, but it was 32 years ago, in England, nothing to do with me! Is this adoption decree requirement only for people who were adopted by american parents and are applying for a visa because of that? Or does EVERYONE who has been adopted need to show this decree? We had never seen this requirement anywhere else, and it could set us back several months!

Thank you for your help.

[aussiewench 9]

I have not noted an adoption decree being needed but then I havent seen everything The only time I have seen it mentioned in immigrant visa cases is when a birth certificate is unobtainable and a adoption decree is one of the things that can be used.

[Kaitie64 0]

I was adopted by my step-father so I know who my parents are but yes I did provide an adoption decree with the forms from package 3 we just sent in. I was born and adopted in Canada. Here I contacted vital statistics and they sent me a form to fill out and submit to obtain my records. I didn't want to take any chances that not submitting it would hold things up even longer so I sent it to be on the safe side. You could call NVC and check to see if it is absolutely necessary or not. Hope this helps, good luck.

Edited March 29, 2006 by Kaitie64

[aussiewench 9]

I gotta ask If that is the case that it is needed.....what happens if you never knew you were adopted...you wouldnt know to supply one. Just seems silly to me if you supply all the other documents...why would it be needed. Can you tell me the actual wording on this checklist where it is mentioned.

[kellym 0]

Thank you so much for these replies so far!

I wondered, too, what you were supposed to do if you didn't know you were adopted! And it says on his birth certificate that he's adopted, not sure why we need this other document. Anyway, the wording on the checklist is: (and it's within the birth certificate section)

'If you or any children were adopted, you must submit a certified copy of the final adoption decree. Photocopies are acceptable provided the original is offered to the consular officer for inspection. The original will be returned to you.'

I've just now finally gotten thru to the info dept at the consulate here, and the woman said the THINKS that the fact that his birth certificate says he was adopted should be enough, but of course, she's NOT SURE. We're going to contact his parents and see what they have!