NEED HELP!!! I have a presentation about citizenship through adoption and i need help?

Linny G

I have found a few links for you, the first specifically addresses issues in Guatemala:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27859660

http://www.immspec.com/green-card-adoption.htm

http://adoption.state.gov/

Theresa

Under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, an adoptee is made a citizen as long as the four following conditions are met:

* At least one adoptive parent is a U.S. citizen,
* The child is under 18 years of age,
* If the child is adopted, a full and final adoption of the child, and
* The child is admitted to the United States as an immigrant

An adoptive parent needs to file an affidavit N600 form at a citizenship and immigration office

There's more info here:
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=1fb596981298d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=b6f4194d3e88d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1____

http://www.equalityforadoptedchildren.org/legislation/constitutional_amendment/why_needed.html

Just as a safeguard for yourself, you should talk to your adoptive parents again, as your adoption was finalized prior to this act. Your adoptive parents need to prove to you that you are in fact a citizen. The process was much different back when you were adopted, and sometimes it wasn't done properly.

wynn

You've already been given a good link to the Child Citizenship Act Information.

As far as your case goes, you are like my eldest son, your adoption was completed before the act was signed into law. The law does grandfather anyone in who was under eighteen at the time it took effect in 2001, so you should be fine. Do you have your passport yet?
If not, then you might want to go get one now or apply for a certificate of citizenship.

To do either of these you'll have to prove that you meet those four conditions. The one that's been a problem for some people is the part about the adoption being full and final. You would have to start by looking at your immigration paperwork to see if you came in on IR3 or IR4 visa. If it's an IR4 your adoption was not final when you entered the US and you either have to have your state validate your adoption or your parents should have readopted you. If you need any more information, feel free to email me.

Other links:
http://www.uscitizenship.info/citizenship-library-children.htm

http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

edited to add: You should also check on your social security status. Once we got my son's adoption validated and got proof of citizenship we then had to go back to social security and change his records from saying he was a permanent resident to that he's a citizen. It's not something on the ss card, but it's in their computer system. Depending on changes in the law it may or may not make a difference in the benefits you receive. In any case, it's best to make sure that all your records are complete and accurate.

Kim

I agree... For children adopted after February 27, 2001, foreign-born children adopted by United States citizens are granted citizenship on the date they immigrate to the United States. The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 made this into law.

Children who were adopted by US citizens that *don't* qualify under the Child Citizenship act, including those adopted prior to the Act becoming law, were granted permanent resident status (green card.)

The U.S. Citizen parents can apply for citizenship on behalf of the child at any time before the child's 18th birthday using immigration form N-643 (Certificate of Citizenship on Behalf of an Adopted Child). However, if the process is not complete by the time the adopted child reaches his 18th birthday, he will need to apply for citizenship himself, following the same eligibility requirements that currently exist for non-adopted adult lawful permanent residents.

I hope that your parents applied for yours! If so, you should have received a certificate of citizenship, or a US Passport. If not, I urge you to get started on the process a.s.a.p. If you are not a citizen, the law considers you a legal resident alien. Your permanent resident status can be revoked in certain situations (there is the potential for deportation).

Sophie

Your account does not allow private emails... so I will write a little in here:

At the time of my son's adoption, I had to file a 171h with the then called INS to get pre-approval for me to bring a child into the country. This involved getting fingerprints done. They would then send out a pre-approval notice.

Then, when all the paperwork was done in Guatemala, the INS checked on everything, like the DNA test and all paperwork and court documents. They'd approve a visa for me to bring my son home to the US.

The child's visa could come home on IR3 or an IR4 visa. The IR3 meant that you didn't have to do a state readoption to become a citizen. The IR4 meant that you need to do a state readoption for the child to become a legal citizen.

In my case, the readoption was required before I filed the N-643 (Certificate of Citizenship on Behalf of an Adopted Child).

FYI: The IR3 meant that a parent saw their child before bring him home. The IR4 meant that the parent did not see their child before bringing him home. (Mine was an IR4 and I had to do a readoption in my state for him to becaome a legal citizen.)

I have no idea about what the process was 18 years ago. Do you know where in Guatemala you were born? (Just wondering.)

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: