House of Mercy is a Lagos based orphanage home providing child protection policies and procedures are in place to ensure children are respected, protected, empowered & active in their own protection.Staff members are skilled, confident and competent. Once you have accepted a match of a child, your dossier will be delivered to the Morgan Hill in Nigeria who will add the child’s paperwork to your dossier and file with theMinistry for approval. House of Mercy is a Lagos based orphanage home providing child protection policies and procedures are in place to ensure children are respected, protected, empowered & active in their own protection.Staff members are skilled, confident and competent. If married, both members of a married couple must be Nigerian citizens, except in Lagos and Ogun states. The Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act of 2012 requires that an accredited or approved adoption service provider act as the primary provider in every Convention or non-Convention intercountry adoption case, and that adoption service providers providing any adoption services, as defined at 22 CFR Part 96.2, on behalf of prospective adoptive parents be accredited or approved, or be a supervised or exempted provider. These stipulations may prevent the consular officer from issuing an immigrant visa or cause a delay in the processing of the immigrant visa. Financial documentation. Please note that the Lagos adoption office that partners with LMI continues to be open for work activities and all other ongoing paperwork for LMI families and our families will continue to receive attention. Please Note: The information on this webpage is a summary of the country specific information for Nigeria provided on the Department of State’s Travel.State.Gov website. 3. An adoption order is an order that names individuals who adopt a child, as the child’s legal parents. Accredited or Approved Adoption Service Provider To Act as Your Primary Provider. Prospective adoptive parents must also have the child they want to adopt in their home (in Nigeria) for a period of several months to several years before they will be able to obtain an adoption in Nigeria. A married couple, where both have attained the age of 25 years and there is an order authorizing them to adopt a child… Adopt (or gain custody of) the child in Nigeria. The children come from licensed children’s homes. Due to adoption fraud and child buying concerns, the U.S. Consulate completes the Form I-604, Determination on Child for Adoption, commonly referred to as the orphan determination, to verify the authenticity of the information provided in the adoption decree and with the Form I-600 petition. It must come from a desire to love a child. Phone: (234)-9-461-4000 Adoption in Nigeria To adopt a child from another country and bring that child to live in the United States, you must first be found eligible to adopt under U.S. law. Story continues below advertisement. For security reasons U.S. government personnel are frequently restricted from traveling to certain parts of the country. The length of the bonding period is determined by the court at the time the child is placed with the prospective adoptive parents but is usually at least three months. The first legal step in adoption is the termination of the parental rights of a child's birthparents. Learn more about quality higher-education opportunities in the U.S. that you will not find anywhere else in the world. 4. Please review each step carefully before proceeding with an adoption to ensure that the adoption is conducted in conformity with both U.S. and Nigerian law. (b) You will be invited for an interview and asked the reason why you want to adopt a child. the lagos state house of assembly enacts as follows: As expected trying to adopt a child in Nigeria can be an expensive and rigorous task,but if your determined to adopt a child in Nigeria,whether your a Nigerian citizen or Nigerian American citizen,the information provided in the article will go a long way to help you understand what your getting yourself into. The second trip would be after permission is given by the US government for an exit interview and visa issuance. If the complaint is not resolved through the provider’s complaint process, you may file the complaint through the Complaint Registry. Bring your child home. The Magistrate Court (from the state where the child resides). Be matched with a child. E. Single (unmarried) persons below the age of thirty-five (35) years are not eligible to adopt. Marriage certificates. The Child's Right Act, 2003 provides for adoption of a child in Nigeria. Adoption decrees must state that they are final in order for an immigrant visa to be issued to the adopted child. A complaint may be filed at any time, including after your child has received an immigrant visa and travelled to the United States. Failure to obtain approval for the child in contemplation is an offense punishable by law. Nigeria is not a party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention or Convention). Children adopted abroad will enter as full citizens of the US. Accredited or Approved Adoption Service Provider To Act as Your Primary Provider, Apply to USCIS to be Found Suitable and Eligible to Adopt (Form I-600A), Apply to Nigeria’s Authorities to Adopt, and to be Matched with a Child, Adopt the Child in Nigeria (or Obtain Legal Custody of the Child for Purposes of Emigration and Adoption), Apply for Your Child to be Found Eligible to Immigrate to the United States as an Orphan (Form I-600), Apply for a U.S. The Lagos State program is open for non-Nigerian applicants. Adoption is an enviable act of love. Last week there was an announcement of the closure of the US Embassy in Lagos. The children live in government operated orphanages. Apply for the child to be found eligible for orphan status. Email: support-nigeria@ustraveldocs.com The federal agency that makes this determination is U.S. If they have been with you three years, adoption process should be easier, in Lagos, you have to have had the child for at least three months This information is … It maintains that the children are not for sale and that the fee is purely administrative. This is for non-Nigerian Americans and Nigerians alike, including kinship adoptions. A Family in Bloom Adoption is privileged to be one of a select few agencies approved and permitted by contractual agreement to work with American families for international adoption from Lagos State. Adoption is governed in Nigeria by two laws, The Child Rights Act 2003 and the Adoption law of the State. The process will take approximately one year from the time of the official registration with the Lagos Ministry of Social Welfare. It must be motivated by our love for God. Morgan Hill Children Foundation (MOHIC), an established Nigerian non-profit dedicated to humanitarian and child advocacy work, has been designated by the Lagos Ministry of Social Welfare to process and administer all international adoptions. The capital of Nigeria is Abuja and the largest city is Lagos. Courts in Nigeria do not allow proxy adoptions (whereby prospective adoptive parents appear in court via an intermediary) to minimize document and identity fraud concerns related to adoptions. A married couple, where both have attained the age of 25 years and there is an order authorizing them to adopt a child… Legal work, in country support, and translation services if needed will be provided to families during their stay abroad directly by MOHIC’s qualified staff members. Please note that the only legal way to adopt in Nigeria is to work with the respective state social welfare office (usually named the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development). Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) adopt a female child. Copyright © 2019 A Family in Bloom Adoption, LLC. The following persons can apply to the Family Court for an adoption order in Lagos State: 1. In this post we will quickly take a look at how to adopt a child in Nigeria. An application for adoption is made to the High (Family) Court accompanied with the following documents; (a) Where the applicant is a married couple, their marriage certificate or a sworn declaration of marriage; The Adoption Law of Lagos State applies only to the adoption of a person unuder the age of seventeen years who is abandoned,or whose parents and other relatives are unknown or cannot be traced after due enquiry certified by a juvenile court. But here are what it takes to adopt a child in Nigeria. Through adoption & fostering, you can help a child develop and grow up to be an accepted member of the society. Every child is a gift from God. Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive If you think your provider’s conduct may not have been in compliance with accreditation standards, first submit your complaint in writing directly to your provider. A Family in Bloom Adoption will offer a full-service program in close partnership with MOHIC, who will match families with children or alternately have children available for qualified families registered with our agency. Lagos, Akwa Ibom, and Cross Rivers have different regulations for their adoption process than the other Nigerian States. Parents should confirm any post-adoption requirements with their legal representatives. The involvement of MOHIC should result in a more secure, legitimate and well- documented adoption process in a non-Hague Convention adoption country. This step is required by U.S. law for all international adoptions to the U.S. from countries not party to the Hague Convention. The Nigeria program is open. U.S. Citizens with emergencies, please call 09461 4000, prompt 0, Outside of Office Hours, contact: 09 461 4000. But here are what it takes to adopt a child in Nigeria. Every child is a gift from God. Your first place to visit in the process of adopting a child in Nigeria or (narrowing it down) in Lagos is the Adoption section of the Ministry of Youth Sports and Social development. The following persons can apply to the Family Court for an adoption order in Lagos State: 1. It must be motivated by our love. Prospective adoptive parents must appear in court to answer questions regarding the adoption. Adopt the Child in Nigeria (or Obtain Legal Custody of the Child for Purposes of Emigration and Adoption) 5. An application for adoption is made to the High (Family) Court accompanied with the following documents; (a) Where the applicant is a married couple, their marriage certificate or a sworn declaration of marriage; Immigrant Visa for Your Child and Bring Your Child Home. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). To adopt a child from another country and bring that child to live in the United States, you must first be found eligible to adopt under U.S. law. The Lagos State, Nigeria Program is a wonderful opportunity for families in a country where there are many children in need of loving, permanent homes. ADOPTION PROCESS IN LAGOS Overview According to Wikipedia, Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting of another, usually a child, from that person’s biological or legal parent or parents, and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities, along with filiation, from the biological parent or parents. Prospective adoptive parents should not attempt to process their adoption through local officials who may attempt to circumvent the legal process. The specific law governing the adoption will depend on the jurisdiction in which the adoption takes place. Our Adoption Comment Page provides several points of contact for adoptive families to comment on their adoption service provider, their experience applying for their child’s visa, or about the Form I-600/A process. Choose an Adoption Service Provider The Adoption Law of Lagos State is contained in Chapter A5, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003 and was signed into Law by Governor Bola Tinubu. In many cases, further investigation may be required. The final step is the finalization of adoption in court, making you your child's permanent, legal parents. For Nigerian States that do not have a legal authority to complete an adoption, the U.S. Consulate in Lagos may issue an IR4 classification immigrant visa if all U.S. immigration requirements are met. proof of U.S citizenship. Business Hours: Working hours are from 0800 to 1230 hrs; 1330 to 1600 hrs. After 3 months, the child would be presented for legalization in the court and final approval granted for the adopting family Note: For international Adoption This is the official website of the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria. Please contact us to learn more about our international adoption services. It is a book that cuts across borders, a handy tool for lawyers, parents and people wishing to adopt a child. The Complaint Registry is an internet based registry for filing complaints about U.S. accredited or approved adoption service providers. Birth certificates. Minimum Residency: There is no specific minimum residence requirement to be eligible to adopt in Nigeria, however, prospective adoptive parents maybe required to stay in Nigeria for a minimum of a few months to two years to bond with the child before petitioning a court to adopt. It must be because we want to raise a child for God as a demonstration of our love for God. Apply for Your Child to be Found Eligible to Immigrate to the United States as an Orphan . So we recommend pure, unconditional love to adopters who wish to adopt a child from TAF. It actually takes some patience to achieve this, and often it can be a bit tough. : +234 1 227 8955 The Child's Right Act, 2003 provides for adoption of a child in Nigeria. As a result, investigations and the in-country visa application and approval process can cause adoption processing in Lagos to take up to six months to complete, after the initial approval of the Form I-600 by U.S. The federal agency that makes this determination is U.S. Find the closest American Space in Nigeria where you can connect with the U.S. Call Center no. Adoption is an enviable act of love. This time frame may be shortened in the future. Your first place to visit in the process of adopting a child in Nigeria or (narrowing it down) in Lagos is the Adoption section of the Ministry of … Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), part of the Department of Homeland Security. 6. ADOPTION PROCESS IN LAGOS Overview According to Wikipedia, Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting of another, usually a child, from that person’s biological or legal parent or parents, and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities, along with filiation, from the biological parent or parents. Families usually will have two trips to Nigeria: the first and longer visit would involve at least six weeks for bonding with a child culminating with the finalization of the adoption. Previously only Nigerians that had dual citizenship living in the US could adopt internationally from Lagos State, which remains the case for all of the other Nigerian States. Depending on where the adoption takes place in Nigeria, the specific law and regulations governing the adoption may differ. Prospective adoptive parents are advised to obtain information on adopting in individual states through the state social welfare office. The Department of State takes all allegations of fraud or misconduct seriously. Children in the Program: Children range in age from about 2 to 8 years old at the time of adoption. A Family in Bloom Adoption can represent adoptive families living anywhere in the United States and indeed about 90 percent of our international adoptive families are currently outside of our home base of Colorado. In general, prospective adoptive parents must first obtain temporary custody of the child and must have physical and temporary legal custody of the child for a bonding period immediately prior to petitioning the court for an adoption decree. There are also numerous adoptive family support groups and adoptee organizations active in the United States that provide a network of options for adoptees who seek out other adoptees from the same country of origin. For travel to the United States on a temporary basis, including tourism, temporary employment, study and exchange. Courts may also waive or amend any or all of these provisions on a case by case basis if it is deemed in the best interest of the child. Monday To Friday except declared Nigerian and U.S. A Family in Bloom Adoption is privileged to be one of a select few agencies approved and permitted by contractual agreement to work with American families for international adoption from Lagos State. Divorce decrees (if applicable) Proof of Nigerian citizenship. The U.S. Mission in Nigeria encourages anyone considering adopting in Nigeria to thoroughly review the Nigeria Intercountry Adoption Information page for the most up-to-date information available. 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