INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION


BARBADOS

March 2006

DISCLAIMER: The following is intended as a very general guide to assist U.S. citizens who plan to adopt a child from a foreign country and apply for an immigrant visa for the child to come to the United States. Two sets of laws are particularly relevant: 1) the laws of the child’s country of birth govern all activity in that country including the adoptability of individual children as well as the adoption of children in country in general; and 2) U.S. Federal immigration law governs the immigration of the child to the United States.

The information in this flyer relating to the legal requirements of specific foreign countries is based on public sources and our current understanding. It does not necessarily reflect the actual state of the laws of a child’s country of birth and is provided for general information only. Moreover, U.S. immigration law, including regulations and interpretation, changes from time to time. This flyer reflects our current understanding of the law as of this date and is not legally authoritative. Questions involving foreign and U.S. immigration laws and legal interpretation should be addressed respectively to qualified foreign or U.S. legal counsel.

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/or the licensing office of the appropriate state government agency in the U.S. state where the agency is located or licensed. 

PLEASE NOTE: Only citizens of countries with which Barbados has diplomatic or consular relations may adopt Barbadian children. The United States has diplomatic relations with Barbados. 

PATTERNS OF IMMIGRATION OF ADOPTED ORPHANS TO THE U.S.: Recent U.S. immigrant visa statistics reflect the following pattern for visa issuance to Barbadian orphans:

 Fiscal Year  Number of Immigrant Visas Issued  
 FY 2005  0
 FY 2004  1
 FY 2003  1
 FY 2002  1
 FY 2001  1

ADOPTION AUTHORITY IN BARBADOS:  The adoption agency for all of Barbados is the Child Care Board, located at: The Fred Edghill Building, Cheapside, Fontabelle, Barbados. The phone number is 1 (246) 426-2577.   There are no private adoption agencies operating in Barbados.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ADOPTIVE PARENTS:  Both married and single people may adopt.  Prospective adoptive parents who are already related to the child they plan to adopt must be at least 18 years old.  Otherwise, at least one prospective adoptive parent must be 25 years old and at least 18 years older than the child.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS:  The adoption of a Barbadian child can take place in Barbados or in the applicants’ country of residence.  Applicants wishing to adopt a child in Barbados will be required to reside in the island for a period of at least 18 months.  If applicants wish the adoption to take place in their country of residence, the applicants are required to come to Barbados for at least a few weeks in order to receive the child into their care and must attend the High Court hearing for the license to take the child out of Barbados for the purpose of adoption.   

TIME FRAME:  It will typically take non-Barbadians, including U.S. citizens, between six months and a year to adopt a Barbadian child, but it can take longer due to sometimes-lengthy Barbadian court procedures. 

ADOPTION AGENCIES AND ATTORNEYS:  Private agencies are not allowed to provide adoption services.   All adoptions must go through the Child Care Board.

Please see Important Notice Regarding Adoption Agents and Facilitators at our Web site travel.state.gov.

ADOPTION FEES IN COUNTRY:  Average adoption attorney fees in Barbados are approximately U.S. $3000, which includes court fees.  However, fees may vary depending on the attorney.  It is necessary for the applicants to use an attorney in Barbados who will apply for the license on their behalf.  There are no fees for filing adoption paperwork with the Child Care Board

ADOPTION PROCEDURES: The laws that govern adoptions in Barbados are the Child Care Act and the Adoption Act.  The Child Care Board administers these laws. Upon being notified of a prospective parent’s intent to adopt, the Child Care Board will contract a social welfare agency abroad to do a home study.  The home study conducted for U.S. immigration procedures (form I-600A) is acceptable.  Upon completion of the home study, the adoptive parents should submit it to the Child Care Board for review.  After the Child Care Board approves the home study, the Child Care Board will identify a child based on the adoptive parents’ requests.  The adoptive parents (using an attorney) will then need to obtain an order from a Barbadian court authorizing the care and custody of the minor.  The adoptive parents are required to come to Barbados to attend the High Court hearing for the license and to receive the child into their care.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR ADOPTION IN COUNTRY:  A completed home study and supporting documents:

  • Birth certificate of each prospective adoptive parent;
  • Marriage certificate and divorce documents (if applicable);
  • Medical report of each prospective adoptive parent, to be conducted in the parent’s country of residence;
  • Police reference;
  • Three (3) personal references known for a period of at least five (5) years and not family members;
  • Statement of applicant(s) income.

If the adoption is completed in Barbados, the adoptive parents should apply to the Office of the Registrar for a new birth certificate.  If the adoption is to take place in the adoptive parents’ country of residence, the child must have a passport issued by Barbados Immigration in order to apply for a an immigrant visa.

AUTHENTICATING U.S. DOCUMENTS TO BE USED ABROAD:  The language describing the process of authenticating U.S. documents to be used abroad is currently under review. Please click on the following link for more information until the new language is finalized: http://www.state.gov/m/a/auth/.

BARBADIAN EMBASSY AND CONSULATES IN THE UNITED STATES:

Embassy of Barbados
2144 Wyoming Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: (202) 939-9200
Fax: (202) 332-7467

There are also consulates of Barbados in Los Angeles, Miami, and New York.

US IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS:  Prospective adopting parents are strongly encouraged to consult USCIS publication M-249, The Immigration of Adopted and Prospective Adopting Children, as well as the Department of State publication, International Adoptions. The USCIS publication is available at the USCIS Web site. The Department of State publication International Adoption can be found on the Bureau of Consular Affairs Web site, travel.state.gov, under “International Adoption.”

Before completing an adoption abroad, prospective adoptive parents are strongly encouraged to read the requirements for filing Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative.  Please see the flyer “How Can Adopted Children Come to the United States” at the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs web site travel.state.gov.

U.S. CONSULATE IN COUNTRY:  Americans living or traveling abroad are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov/, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within the country of travel.  Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.  The Consular Section is located at:

U.S. Embassy Bridgetown
Consular Section
The ALICO Building
Cheapside
Bridgetown, Barbados
Telephone: (246) 431-0225
Fax: (246) 431-0179 
Email:  consularbridge2@state.gov
http://bridgetown.usembassy.gov/

APPLYING FOR A VISA AT THE U.S. EMBASSY IN BARBADOS:  Prospective adoptive parents should contact the U.S. Embassy in Barbados as soon as they receive their approved I-600A or I-600 from the Department of Homeland Security’s division of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Upon receipt of the approved I-600A or I-600 cable or fax approval from the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Embassy will send the petitioner instructions on how to apply for the immigrant visa.  After the petitioner returns the completed forms, DS-230 Part 1 and DS-2001, the U.S. Embassy will schedule the visa appointment and mail the appointment letter to the petitioner.  The petitioner can also call the Embassy at: 246-431-0225 and request an appointment to coincide with their visit to the island when they complete the adoption.  The petitioner must present the following documents at the visa interview:

  1. 1. Certified adoption certificate; 
  2. Court documents;
  3. Release documents from the birth parent(s)
  4. Child’s valid passport; 
  5. full face color photographs of the child (2 x 2 on white background);
  6. Copy of the child’s medical examination (instructions will be given to the adoptive parents); and 
  7. The immigrant visa fee.  

If the U.S. Embassy is does not have the approved I-600, the petitioner must present a copy of their home study and evidence of support.   If the petitioner has all the required documents and the applicant does not have any ineligibilities, the visa can be issued the same day as the application.

ACQUIRING U.S. CITIZENSHIP: The language describing the acquisition of U.S. citizenship for adopted children is currently under review. Until the new language is finalized, please click on the following link for further information: http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/info/info_457.html.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Specific questions about adoption in Barbados may be addressed to the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown. General questions regarding intercountry adoption may be addressed to the Office of Children’s Issues, U.S. Department of State, CA/OCS/CI, SA-29, 4th Floor, 2201 C Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20520-4818, toll-free Tel: 1-888-407-4747.

Useful information is also available from several other sources:

Telephone:

  • Toll Free - For information on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction, call Overseas Citizens Services at 1-888-407-4747. This number is available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Callers who are unable to use toll-free numbers, such as those calling from overseas, may obtain information and assistance during these hours by calling 1-202-501-4444. 
  • U.S. Department of State Visa Office - recorded information concerning immigrant visas for adopting children, (202) 663-1225. 
  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services - recorded information for requesting immigrant visa application forms, 1-800-870-FORM (3676).
    Internet : 
  • Adoption Information Flyers: The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs web site at: http://travel.state.gov/ contains international country adoption information flyers like this one and the International Adoptions brochure. 
  • Country Specific Information: The State Department has general information about hiring a foreign attorney and authenticating documents that may supplement the country-specific information provided in this flyer. In addition, the State Department publishes Country Specific Information for every country in the world, providing information such as location of the U.S. Embassy, health conditions, political situations, and crime reports. If the situation in a country poses a specific threat to the safety and security of American citizens that is not addressed in the CSI for that country, the State Department may issue a Travel Alert alerting U.S. citizens to local security situations. If conditions in a country are sufficiently serious, the State Department may issue a Travel Warning recommending that U.S. citizens avoid traveling to that country. These documents are available on the Internet at: http://travel.state.gov/ or by calling the State Department's Office of Overseas Citizen Services Toll Free at 1-888-407-4747. This number is available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Callers who are unable to use toll-free numbers, such as those calling from overseas, may obtain information and assistance during these hours by calling 1-202-501-4444.
    · USCIS web site - http://uscis.gov/.