Factsheet

DISCLAIMER: The information in this circular relating to the legal requirements of specific foreign countries is provided for general information only. Questions involving interpretation of specific foreign laws should be addressed to foreign legal counsel.

inCalifornia Want to adopt? Pregnant? click here

PLEASE NOTE:

Prospective adoptive parents are advised to fully research any adoption agency or facilitator they plan to use for adoption services. For U.S. based agencies, it is suggested that prospective adoptive parents contact the Better Business Bureau and licensing office of the Department of Health and Family Services in the state where the agency is located.

GENERAL: The following is a guide for U.S. citizens who are interested in adopting a child in Hong Kong and applying for an immigrant visa for the child to come to the United States. This process involves complex Hong Kong and U.S. legal requirements. U.S. consular officers give each petition careful consideration on a case-by-case basis to ensure that the legal requirements of both countries have been met, for the protection of the prospective adoptive parent(s), the biological parents(s) and the child. Interested U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to contact U.S. consular officials in Hong Kong before formalizing an adoption agreement to ensure that appropriate procedures have been followed which will make it possible for the Consulate to issue a U.S. immigrant visa for the child.

AVAILABILITY OF CHILDREN FOR ADOPTION: Recent U.S. immigrant visa statistics reflect the following pattern for visa issuance to orphans:

FY-1996: IR-3 immigrant visas issued to Hong Kong orphans adopted abroad - 15
IR-4 immigrant visas issued to Hong Kong orphans adopted in the U.S. - 23
FY-1997: IR-3 Visas - 17, IR-4 Visas - 11
FY-1998: IR-3 Visas - 12, IR-4 Visas - 29
FY-1999: IR-3 Visas - 4, IR-4 Visas - 10
FY-2000: IR-3 Visas - 5, IR-4 Visas - 9

Under Hong Kong law, children between six months and 18 years of age can be adopted. Hong Kong Social Welfare Department (SWD) statistics on adoptions indicate that the Social Welfare Department handled foreign 246 adoption applications in 2000/2001. Same statistics also reflect that most children available for adoption are five years old and below, and some of them have health problems or are disabled.

HONG KONG ADOPTION AUTHORITY: The government office responsible for adoptions in Hong Kong is the Adoption Unit, Social Welfare Department, 38 Pier Road, Harbor Building 4/F., Central, Hong Kong (tel: (852) 2852-3107, fax: (852) 2851-9189, email: grau@swd.gov.hk, web site: http://www.info.gov.hk/swd

Credits: U.S. Department of State