Adoption & Immigration

[SouthNorthumberland]

Hi,

Can anyone tell me if it is possible to adopt and then immigrate? We are in the process of adopting, however, it is a likely that we may have to immigrate with my work. Does anyone have the answer? We have searched and looked through the adoption information. At this stage we do not want to discuss with the adoption agency in case we are not matched.

Thanks

SN

Do you mean emigrate from the UK to somehwere else or immigrate from somehwere else into the UK?

Either way once the adoption is finalised your child is legally yours and you can do as you please.

I would imagine you would find it hard to get a visa/passport for a child that isn;t legally yours! BUt someone else might know.

I brought DS to the UK before he was legally adopted in the UK and had to get a special adoption visa approved by DCFS. But that was specifically for an intercountry adoption where that is envisaged.

I know you didn;t ask but how old a child do you anticipate adopting and how soon afetr placement do you anticipate going. It would worry me greatly coping with a newly adopted child in the midset of such huge upheaval with potentially a good deal less support on the ground.

Hi Kewcumber,

Thanks for the advice, it was most welcome as I could not find anything online, unless it was intercountry.

Age! We are looking for a baby or child up to a 4 year old, depending on the profile and if the match is right for us. The move would probably take place about 4-6 months after the finalisation and all the papers have been signed. The one good thing is we have a strong family and extended family unit in place for the move.

thanks

SN

Totally agree with the advice you've been given about there being absolutely no legal barriers to stop you emigrating, but I just wanted to emphasise what's been said about unsettling a child in the early days of adoption.

We adopted DD 2 years ago and I would still really worry that it would be hugely unsettling for her if we were to move house, never mind country.

I know all kids are different, but it's really worth thinking about how flexible you are able to keep your plans.

If I were you I would string out the move as long as you can. The first year really often isn't easy and I can't imagine the upheaval of a job and house and country move in the midst of it.

Of course its hard to say without knowing the child.

All good advice, thanks so much.

SN

Another thing to bear in mind is that it can take quite a while after the child is placed for an adoption order to be granted . Sometimes there are delays because of changes in the birth family circumstances .

It could easily take a year to be approved, a year to have a child placed and another year to get an adoption order . Placements seem to be slowing down, which means that approvals will be slowed down too, to balance supky and demand .

You'd also have to think about post adoption contact , and how this could be managed . Face to face contact , especially with siblings or grandparents , is not that unusual .

I agree with everyone who says that any kind of house move within the first few years of placement should be avoided . Wouldn't it be easier to move first and then adopt once you are settled in you new home / country?

Doesn't it also depend whether the adoption happens in a Hague Convention country? As I understand it, adoption in Hague convention countries are automatically recognised in the UK, but adoption in other countries may not be?

This site is about British citizenship, however, this bit may be relevant:

'Adoptions after 3 January 2014 in countries that are not recognised in UK law in accordance with the legislation listed above (a list of recognised countries), and which are not Hague Convention adoptions, are not recognised in UK law.'
www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-how-adopted-children-can-become-british/intercountry-adoption-and-british-citizenship

The list of recognised countries is here:
www.legislation.gov.uk/cy/uksi/2013/1801/made?view=plain

My uncle adopted and later left the country with the children. They had no problems but this was about 6 yrs later.