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U.S. DEPARTMENT of STATE — BUREAU of CONSULAR AFFAIRS

Intercountry Adoption

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Country Information

Burundi

Burundi
Republic of Burundi
Reconsider travel to Burundi due to crime, health, and political violence. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.

Reconsider travel to Burundi due to crime, health, and political violence. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. 

Do Not Travel to:

  • The former Central Market located on Chaussee Prince Louis Rwagasore in Bujumbura due to the risk of violent crime.  
  • Cibitoke and Bubanza provinces and Kibira National Park due to potential armed violence.

Country Summary:  Violent crimes, such as assault, carjacking, home invasion, grenade attacks, and armed robbery, have been reported in Burundi. Criminals at times target foreigners and residents suspected of having large sums of cash. Local police lack the resources and training to respond effectively to crimes.

Medical services in Burundi fall well below U.S. standards, and there are no adequate trauma services in the country. Emergency medical and fire services are limited or non-existent in some areas of the country.  Even relatively minor health problems may necessitate a medical evacuation at the traveler’s expense. Medical evacuation insurance valid for travel to Burundi is strongly recommended.

Although political unrest and instability in Burundi have diminished in recent years, the risk of potential violence remains. Police and military checkpoints are common and can restrict freedom of movement. Police have conducted weapon searches in the homes of private citizens. The borders may close without notice.

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens throughout Burundi.  U.S. Embassy personnel are subject to restrictions when traveling in certain areas of Burundi and may be subject to other constraints as security conditions warrant.  These restrictions include limitations on all travel outside Bujumbura Mairie during hours of darkness (typically 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.).  The U.S. government may not be able to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in the following areas:  the provinces of Bubanza and Cibitoke and Kibira National Park (including the park’s southernmost part in Muramvya province)

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Burundi.

If you decide to travel to Burundi:

  • Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
  • Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.
  • Review the Country Security Report for Burundi.
  • Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
  • Bring a sufficient supply of over-the-counter and prescription medicines.
  • Obtain comprehensive medical insurance that includes medical evacuation.
  • Avoid areas where there are large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations, and exercise caution in the vicinity of any such gatherings.
  • Remain aware of your surroundings and be vigilant when traveling in unfamiliar areas or outside of cities and along border areas; take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security.
  • Consider traveling in pairs and using convoys of multiple vehicles to mitigate the risks related to traveling outside of Bujumbura. Carry additional fuel, spare tires, and provisions. Include a map, navigation equipment, and first aid kit.  Service stations are scarce in rural areas. Professional roadside assistance service is not available outside the capital.
  • Prepare contingency plans for emergency situations.  Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
  • Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.  

The former Central Market located on Chaussee Prince Louis Rwagasore – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Violent crimes, such as grenade attacks and armed robbery, can occur.

The former Central Market located on Chaussee Prince Louis Rwagasore is off-limits to U.S. Embassy personnel at all times

Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.

Cibitoke and Bubanza provinces and Kibira National Park – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Armed actors exploit porous borders and forested areas between Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo for movement and activities.  U.S. Embassy personnel are restricted from travel to the following areas without special permission: the provinces of Bubanza and Cibitoke and Kibira National Park (including the park’s southernmost part in Muramvya province).

Due to travel restrictions on U.S. Embassy personnel, the U.S. government may be unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in these areas.

Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.

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Hague Convention Participation

Hague Adoption Convention Country?
Yes
Are Intercountry Adoptions between this country and the United States possible?
Intercountry adoptions to the United States from Burundi and from the United States to Burundi are possible.

Hague Convention Information

Please see our section on Adoptions from the United States for more information on the process for adopting a child from the United States. We urge prospective adoptive parents residing abroad who are considering adoption of a child from the United States to consult with Burundi’s Central Authority for its determination as to whether it considers your adoption to be subject to the Convention.

Burundi is a party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention or Convention). Intercountry adoption processing in Convention countries must be done in accordance with the requirements of the Hague Adoption Convention; the U.S. implementing legislation, the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (“IAA”); and the IAA’s implementing regulations; as well as the implementing legislation and regulations of Burundi.

U.S. Immigration Requirements

To bring an adopted child to the United States from Burundi, you must meet certain suitability and eligibility requirements. USCIS determines who is suitable and eligible to adopt a child from another country and bring that child to live in the United States under U.S. immigration law.

Additionally, a child must meet the definition of a Convention adoptee under U.S. immigration law in order to be eligible to immigrate to the United States with an IH-3 or IH-4 immigrant visa.

Who Can Adopt

In addition to being found suitable and eligible to adopt by USCIS, prospective adoptive parents seeking to adopt a child from Burundi must meet the following requirements imposed by Burundi:

  • Minimum Residency: None

  • Age of Adopting Parents: Prospective adoptive parents must be at least age 30. The minimum age requirement does not apply when adopting the child of a spouse. Prospective adoptive parents must be at least 15 years older than the prospective adoptee(s). Age requirements may be waived by the local High County Court (Tribunal de Grand Instance) with jurisdiction over the adoption.

  • Marriage: Only married couples may adopt. Married couples may apply for adoption after being married for a minimum of five years. Spouses should not be separated, and both must give consent unless one is incapable of giving consent.

  • Minimum Income: Prospective adoptive parents must demonstrate sufficient financial resources for adoption and support of the child or children.

  • Other requirements: Adoption by same-sex couples is not permitted.

Who Can Be Adopted

Because Burundi is party to The Hague Adoption Convention, children from Burundi must meet the requirements of the Convention in order to be eligible for intercountry adoption. For example, the adoption may take place only if the competent authorities of Burundi have determined that placement of the child within Burundi has been given due consideration and that an intercountry adoption is in the child’s best interests.

In addition to qualifying as a Convention adoptee under U.S. immigration law, the child must also meet the following requirements imposed by Burundi:

  • Eligibility for adoption: Consent to adoption must be given by the child’s birth parents or the legal guardian(s). The consent of only one parent, or legal guardian, is accepted when the other parent is deceased or incapable of giving consent. Birth parents, or legal guardians can withdraw consent for a period of three months or until the child is placed with the prospective adoptive parents. The local High County Court can deem a child “abandoned” if the child was obviously neglected by the biological parent(s) for a period of more than one year.

  • Age of Adoptive Child: Children under age 15 are eligible for adoption. A child 15 years old or older may be applied for if the conditions for eligibility for adoption are met by age16. Children aged 13 or older must consent to the proposed adoption. Please note that for a child to meet the definition of Convention adoptee under U.S. immigration law, a Form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative, must be filed on the child’s behalf while the child is under the age of 16 (or under the age of 18 if the child is the birth sibling of another adopted child who meets the age and other requirements to immigrate based on adoption by the same adoptive parent(s)). Please see the USCIS website for special rules on filing dates for children aged 15-16 or siblings aged 17-18.
  • Caution: Prospective adoptive parents should be aware that not all children in orphanages or children’s homes are eligible for adoption. In many countries, birth parents place their child(ren) temporarily in an orphanage or children’s home due to financial or other hardships, intending that the child return home when possible. In such cases, the birth parent(s) have not relinquished their parental rights or consented to the adoption of their child(ren).

How to Adopt

Warning: Do not adopt or obtain legal custody of a child in Burundi before: 1) USCIS has approved your Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country, 2) the Central Authority of Burundi has determined the child is available for intercountry adoption, 3) USCIS has provisionally approved your Form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative, and 4) a U.S. consular officer has issued an “Article 5/17 Letter” in the case. Read on for more information.

Burundi’s Central Adoption Authority

Ministry of Human Rights, Social Affairs and Gender

The Process

Because Burundi is party to The Hague Adoption Convention, adoptions from Burundi must follow a specific process designed to meet the Convention’s requirements. A brief summary of the Convention adoption process is provided below. You must complete these steps in the following order to meet all necessary legal requirements. Adoptions completed out of order may cause significant delays or result in the child not being eligible for an immigrant visa to the United States.

1. Choose a U.S. Accredited or Approved Adoption Service Provider to Act as Your Primary Provider that has been authorized by Burundi’s Central Authority to Operate in Burundi

2. Apply to USCIS to be Found Suitable and Eligible to Adopt (Form I-800A)

3. Apply to Burundi’s Authorities to Adopt and Be Matched with a Child

4. Apply to USCIS for the Child to be Found Provisionally Eligible for Immigration to the United States as a Convention Adoptee (Form I-800) and Receive U.S. Agreement to Proceed with the Adoption (Art. 5/17 letter)

5. Adopt the Child in Burundi

6. Apply for a U.S. Immigrant Visa for Your Child and Bring Your Child Home

 

1. Choose a U.S. Accredited or Approved Adoption Service Provider to Act as Your Primary Provider That Has Been Authorized by Burundi’s Central Authority to Operate in Burundi

The first step in adopting a child from Burundi is to select an adoption service provider in the United States that has been accredited or approved to provide intercountry adoption services to U.S. citizen and that has been authorized by the Government of Burundi. A primary provider must be identified in each Convention case, and only accredited or approved adoption service providers may act as the primary provider in your case. Unless a public domestic authority is providing all adoption services in your case, a primary provider is required in every intercountry adoption case. Your primary provider is responsible for:

  • Ensuring that all six Adoption Services defined at 22 CFR 96.2 are provided consistent with applicable laws and regulations;
  • Supervising and being responsible for any supervised providers, and otherwise complying with the requirements regarding the provision of adoption services using other providers (see 22 CFR 96.14); and
  • Developing and implementing a service plan in accordance with 22 CFR 96.44.

Learn more about Agency Accreditation.
 

2. Apply to USCIS to be Found Suitable and Eligible to Adopt

In order to adopt a child from Burundi, you will need to meet the requirements of the Government of Burundi and U.S. immigration law.

After you choose an accredited or approved adoption service provider, you must be found suitable and eligible to adopt by USCIS by submitting Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country. You will need to submit a home study, provide biometrics, and cooperate in a background check as part of this application. Read more about Suitability and Eligibility Requirements. Unless an exception applies, the home study must be prepared by a person who is authorized under 22 CFR 96 to prepare home studies and must comply with the requirements in 8 CFR 204.311.
 

3. Apply to Burundi’s Authorities to Adopt and be matched with a Child  

Submit Your Dossier to the Central Authority

After USCIS determines that you are suitable and eligible to adopt and approves the Form I-800A application, your adoption service provider will provide your approval notice, home study, and any other required information to the adoption authority in Burundi as part of your adoption application. Burundi’s adoption authority will review your application to determine whether you are also suitable and eligible to adopt under Burundi’s law.

Receive a Referral for a Child from the Central Authority

If both the United States and Burundi determine that you are suitable and eligible to adopt, and Burundi’s Central Authority for Convention adoptions has determined that a child is eligible for adoption and that intercountry adoption is in that child’s best interests, the Central Authority for Convention adoptions in Burundi may provide you with a referral. The referral is a proposed match between you and a specific child based on a review of your dossier and the needs of the child. The adoption authority in Burundi will provide a background study and other information, if available, about the child to help you decide whether to accept the referral. We encourage families to consider consulting with a medical professional and their adoption service provider to understand the needs of the specific child, but you must decide for yourself whether you will be able to meet the needs of, and provide a permanent home for, a specific child. You must also adhere to the recommendations in the home study submitted to USCIS with respect to the number of children and capacity to deal with any special needs of an adoptive child. Learn more about Health Considerations. If you accept the referral, the adoption service provider communicates that to the Central Authority in Burundi. Learn more about this critical decision.

Burundian authorities encourage keeping siblings together when possible. However, no specific exceptions to adoption procedures apply to sibling groups.
 

4. Apply to USCIS for the Child to be Found Provisionally Eligible for Immigration to the United States as a Convention Adoptee and Receive U.S. Agreement to Proceed with the Adoption

Submit a Petition for a Determination on the Child’s Immigration Eligibility

After you accept being matched with a particular child, you will apply to USCIS for provisional approval for the child to immigrate to the United States by filing the Form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative. USCIS will make a provisional determination as to whether the child appears to meet the definition of a Convention adoptee and will likely be eligible to be admitted to the United States.

Submit an Immigrant Visa Application

After provisional approval of Form I-800 petition, you or your adoption service provider will submit a visa application to the consular section of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, not Bujumbura. Please note the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi is responsible for issuing immigrant visas to children from Burundi.

You should receive a letter from the National Visa Center (“NVC”) confirming receipt of the provisionally approved Form I-800 petition and assigning a case number and an invoice ID number. Use this information to log into the Consular Electronic Application Center (“CEAC”) to file the Electronic Immigrant Visa Application (DS-260) for your child. An adoptive parent should fill out these forms in your child's name. Answer every item on the form. If information is not applicable, please write “N/A” in the block. Please review the DS-260 FAQs, our Online Immigrant Visa Forms page, or contact the NVC at NVCAdoptions@state.gov or +1-603-334-0700 if you have questions about completing the online DS-260 form. A consular officer will review the provisionally approved Form I-800 petition and the visa application and, if applicable, advise you of options for the waiver of any ineligibilities related to the visa application.

The consular officer will send a letter (referred to as an “Article 5/17 Letter”) to Burundi’s Central Authority in any intercountry adoption involving U.S. citizen parents and a child from Burundi if all Convention requirements are met and the child appears eligible to immigrate to the United States. This letter will inform Burundi’s Central Authority that the parents are suitable and eligible to adopt, that the child appears eligible to enter and reside permanently in the United States and that the U.S. Central Authority agrees that the adoption may proceed.

Warning: Do not attempt to adopt or obtain legal custody of a child in Burundi before you receive provisional approval of your Form I-800 petition AND a U.S. consular officer issues the “Article 5/17 Letter” for your adoption case.

Remember: The consular officer will make a final decision about a child’s eligibility for an immigrant visa later in the adoption process.
 

5. Adopt the Child in Burundi or Obtain Legal Custody

Remember: Before you adopt or obtain legal custody of a child in Burundi, you must have completed the above four steps. Only after completing these steps can you proceed to finalize the adoption.

The process for finalizing the adoption or obtaining legal custody in Burundi generally includes the following:

  • Role of Ministry of Human Rights, Social Affairs and Gender: All adoption cases are submitted to the Central Authority in the Ministry of Human Rights, Social Affairs and Gender. The Central Authority is responsible for finding children eligible for intercountry adoption after reviewing documentation on each child’s identity, status as an orphan or ward, socio-economic background, medical history, education, and existing family situation/family consent. The Central Authority also is responsible for proposing matches of children in need of placement with prospective adoptive parents, and for providing the Article 16 report on a proposed child along with the proposed match to the U.S. adoption service provider. The Central Authority is also responsible for authorizing accredited U.S. adoption agencies to provide services in adoptions from Burundi.

  • Role of the Court: Once a match is proposed and accepted at the Ministry level and the Central Authority has confirmed receipt of the Article 5/17 Letter from U.S. Embassy Nairobi, it must then be approved by the local High County Court with jurisdiction. The High County Court is also responsible for determining that a child was abandoned by his/her parent(s), if he/she was neglected for a period of more than one year.

  • Role of Accredited or Approved Adoption Service Providers: The adoption service provider facilitates the pre-adoption counseling, submission of application for adoption, home study, child assignment, and application for child's overseas adoption to the Burundian Government. The adoption service provider also transmits the Central Authority’s report on the child and proposed match to the prospective adoptive parents, and if they accept the match, transmits the prospective adoptive parents’ consent to the Burundian Central Authority. 

Unless a public domestic authority is providing all adoption services in your case, there must be a U.S. accredited or approved adoption service provider acting as the primary provider in every case. Also, any agency or person providing an adoption service on behalf of prospective adoptive parents in any Convention or non-Convention intercountry adoption case must be accredited or approved, or be a supervised or exempted provider. Adoption service means any one of the following six services:

  • Identifying a child for adoption and arranging an adoption;
  • Securing the necessary consent to termination of parental rights and to adoption;
  • Performing a background study on a child or a home study on a prospective adoptive parent(s), and reporting on such a study;
  • Making non-judicial determinations of the best interests of a child and the appropriateness of an adoptive placement for the child;
  • Monitoring a case after a child has been placed with prospective adoptive parent(s) until final adoption; or
  • When necessary because of a disruption before final adoption, assuming custody and providing (including facilitating the provision of) child care or any other social service pending an alternative placement. 22 CFR 96.2.

  • Adoption Application: To start the Burundian adoption process, prospective adoptive parents or their adoption agency must contact the Burundian Central Authority.

    1. Application: The prospective adoptive parents file an application with the Burundian Central Authority through an accredited U.S. adoption service provider that is also authorized by the Burundian Central Authority. This application will include a home study on the prospective adopting parents and documentation of their eligibility to adopt (Form I-800A and approval notice).

    2. Acceptance of Match: To indicate they accept the proposed child, the prospective adoptive parents must file a Deed of Acceptance and an Act of Consent to Adoption with the Burundian Central Authority.
  • Time Frame: Intercountry adoptions in Burundi may take approximately six months to two years to be finalized in the High County Court with jurisdiction. There is also a 30-day waiting period between the High County Court’s ruling and issuance of the Certificate of Non-Appeal. The certificate must be presented when adoptive parents apply for the child’s new birth certificate and Burundian passport.

  • Adoption Fees: The Ministry of Human Rights, Social Affairs and Gender charges €3,000 (Euro), payable once adoption procedures are finalized. This may be subject to change.

We encourage prospective adoptive parents to obtain detailed receipts for all fees and donations paid, either by them directly or through your U.S. adoption service provider, and to raise any concerns regarding any payment that you believe may be contrary to the Convention, U.S. law, or the law of Burundi, with your adoption service provider, and, when appropriate, through the Complaint Registry. Improper payments violate applicable law or create the appearance of buying a child, and could put all future adoptions in Burundi at risk. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, for instance, makes it unlawful to make payments to foreign government officials to assist in obtaining or retaining business. Further, the IAA makes certain actions relating to intercountry adoptions unlawful and subject to civil and criminal penalties. These include offering, giving, soliciting, or accepting inducement by way of compensation intended to influence or affect the relinquishment of parental rights, parental consent relating to adoption of a child, or a decision by an entity performing functions as a competent central authority, or to engage another person as an agent to take any such action.

In the adoption services contract that you sign at the beginning of the adoption process, your adoption service provider will itemize the fees and estimated expenses related to your adoption process.

  • Documents Required:
  1. Letter of adoption request addressed to Burundian Central Authority,
  2. A deed of support from the prospective adoptive parents,
  3. Consent to the adoption by the prospective adoptive parents,
  4. Birth certificates of prospective adoptive parents,
  5. Law enforcement background checks of prospective adoptive parents,
  6. Copies of passports or travel documents of prospective adoptive parents,
  7. Medical reports of prospective adoptive parents,
  8. Certificates of good conduct of prospective adoptive parents,
  9. Psychological reports on prospective adoptive parents,
  10. Certificate of family composition of the prospective adoptive parents,
  11. Marriage certificate of the prospective adoptive parents,
  12. Certificates of annual income of the prospective adoptive parents,
  13. A favorable notice on adoption by the Burundian Central Authority,
  14. The medical records of the child,
  15. Written consent from the child, if the child is older than 13 years
  16. Written consent of the family members of the child, if applicable
  17. A legal notification of abandonment of the child, if applicable,
  18. A birth certificate for the child, and
  19. A social report of the child by the Burundian Central Authority.

Note: Additional documents may be requested.

  • Authentication of Documents: You may be asked to provide proof that a document from the United States is authentic. The U.S Department of State’s Authentications Office has information on the subject.
     

6. Apply for a U.S. Immigrant Visa for Your Child and Bring Your Child Home

Once your adoption is complete, there are a few more steps to take before your child can head home. Specifically, you need to apply for three documents before your child can travel to the United States:

Birth Certificate

You will need to obtain a birth certificate for your child.

If you have finalized the adoption in Burundi, you will first need to apply for a new birth certificate for your child from the Ministry of the Interior. The application for the certificate will be made by the Burundi Central Authority. Your name will be added to the new birth certificate.

If you have been granted legal custody for the purposes of emigration and adoption of the child in the United States, the birth certificate you obtain will, in most cases, not yet include your name.

Burundi Passport

Your child is not yet a U.S. citizen, so he/she will need a travel document or passport from Burundi.

Passports can only be obtained at the government agency Police of Air, Frontiers, and Foreigners. The fee for a passport is 235,000 Burundian Francs (approximately $136 USD), and applications take approximately four days to process.

U.S. Immigrant Visa

After you obtain the new birth certificate and passport for your child you need to apply for a U.S. immigrant visa for your child from the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, where all immigrant visa processing for Burundi is done. The U.S. Embassy in Bujumbura will not be able to process your child’s U.S. immigrant visa. After the adoption is granted, visit the U.S Embassy for a final review of the case, and if applicable, the issuance of a U.S. Hague Adoption Certificate or Hague Custody Certificate, the final approval of the Form I-800 petition, and to obtain your child’s immigrant visa. This immigrant visa allows your child to travel home with you and be admitted to the United States as your child. Please contact the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi by email at ImmigrationVisaNairobi@state.gov to schedule your child’s immigrant visa appointment. As part of this process, you must provide the consular officer with the Panel Physician’s medical report on the child if you did not provide it during the Form I-800 provisional approval stage. Read more about the Medical Examination.

Before coming for your child’s immigrant visa interview, please complete an Electronic Immigrant Visa Application (“DS-260”) online at the Consular Electronic Application Center (“CEAC”), as instructed in Step 4. You should receive a letter from the National Visa Center (NVC) confirming receipt of the provisionally approved Form I-800 petition and assignment of a case number and an invoice ID number. You will need this information to log into CEAC to file the DS-260 for your child. You should fill out these forms in your child's name. Answer every item on the form. If information is not applicable, please write “N/A” in the block. Print and bring the DS-260 confirmation page to the visa interview. Review the DS-260 FAQs, our Online Immigrant Visa Forms page, or contact NVC at NVCAdoptions@state.gov or +1-603-334-0700 if you have questions about completing the online DS-260 form.

Please note that the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi processes immigrant visas for non-U.S. citizens located in Burundi. Additional information concerning immigrant visa processing at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi can be found on the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi’s website.

Upon receipt of the case at the Embassy, the Consular Section generally notifies the petitioner. Visa issuance after the final interview generally takes 24 hours. It is not usually possible to provide the visa to adoptive parents on the same day as the immigrant visa interview. You should verify current processing times with the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi before making final travel arrangements. Additional information on immigrant visa processing can be found on our website.

  • Please note: The Government of Burundi requires U.S. adoptive parents to inform the Burundian Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya that the child received his/her immigrant visa before departing to the United States. The Burundian Embassy in Kenya can be contacted at:

    Embassy of the Republic of Burundi
    Muthaiga Road, No. 37
    Coop Trust Plaza, Upper hill (off Bunyala Road)
    P.O. Box 61165 – 00200, Nairobi
    Tel: (+254) 20 310 826 / 8
    Fax: (+254) 20 310 827
    E-mail:  info@burundiembassy-kenya.org

Child Citizenship Act

For adoptions finalized abroad prior to the child’s admission into the United States: An adopted child residing in the United States in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent pursuant to a lawful admission for permanent residence generally will acquire U.S. citizenship if the child otherwise meets the requirements of the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, including that the child is under the age of eighteen.

For adoptions finalized after the child’s admission into the United States: You will need to complete an adoption following your child’s admission into the United States and before the child turns eighteen for the child (if he or she otherwise meets the requirements of the Child Citizenship Act of 2000) to automatically acquire U.S. citizenship.

Read more about the Child Citizenship Act of 2000.

Traveling Abroad

Applying for Your U.S. Passport

U.S. citizens are required to enter and depart the United States on a valid U.S. passport. Once your child acquires U.S. citizenship, s/he will need a U.S. passport for international travel. Only the U.S. Department of State has the authority to grant, issue, or verify U.S. passports.

Getting or renewing a passport is easy. The Department of State’s Passport Application Wizard will help you determine which passport form you need, help you complete the form online, estimate your payment, and generate the form for you to print—all in one place.

Obtaining a Visa to Travel to Burundi

In addition to a U.S. passport, you may also need to obtain a visa. Where required, visas are affixed to your passport and allow you to enter a foreign nation. To find information about obtaining a visa for Burundi, see the Department of State’s Country Specific Information.

Staying Safe on Your Trip

Before you travel, it is always a good practice to investigate the local conditions, laws, political landscape, and culture of the country. The Department of State provides Country-Specific Information for every country in the world about various issues, including health conditions, crime, currency or entry requirements, and any areas of instability.

Staying in Touch on Your Trip

When traveling abroad during the adoption process, we encourage you to enroll with the Department of State through our Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (“STEP”) to receive important information from the Embassy about safety conditions in your destination country. Enrollment makes it possible for the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Burundi, to contact you in an emergency, whether natural disaster, civil unrest, or family emergency. Whether there is a family emergency in the United States or a crisis in Burundi, enrollment assists the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in reaching you.

Enrollment is free and can be done online via the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).

After Adoption

Post-Adoption/Post-Placement Reporting Requirements

Burundian post-adoption procedures require adoptive parents to notify the Burundian Embassy in the United States of an adopted child’s presence in the United States and submit annual reports on the child. Children from Burundi maintain Burundian citizenship after immigrating to the United States, and the Burundian Embassy may seek to conduct periodic welfare/whereabouts visits with Burundian adoptees and their adoptive families until the children reach age 18.

We urge you to comply with Burundi’s post-adoption/post-placement requirements in a timely manner. Your adoption service provider may be able to help you with this process. Your cooperation will contribute to Burundi’s positive experiences with U.S. citizen adoptive parents.

Post-Adoption Resources

Many adoptive parents find it important to find support after the adoption. There are many public and private nonprofit post-adoption services available for children and their families. 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. You may wish to take advantage of all the resources available to your family, whether it is another adoptive family, a support group, an advocacy organization, or your religious or community services. Your primary provider can provide or point you to post- placement/post-adoption services to help your adopted child and your family transition smoothly and deal effectively with the many adjustments required in an intercountry adoption.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services maintains a website, the Child Welfare Information Gateway, which can be a useful resource to get you started on your support group search.

COMPLAINTS

If you have concerns about your intercountry adoption process, we ask that you share this information with the Embassy in Burundi, particularly if it involves possible fraud or misconduct specific to your child’s case. The Department of State takes all allegations of fraud or misconduct seriously. 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-800/A petition process.

The Complaint Registry is an internet-based registry for filing complaints about the compliance of U.S. accredited or approved adoption service providers with U.S. accreditation standards. 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. If the complaint is not resolved through the provider's complaint process, you may file the complaint through the Complaint Registry.

Contact Information

U.S. Embassy in Burundi
Address: B.P. 1720
Avenue des Etats-Unis
Kigobe
Bujumbura
Tel: +257 22- 20-7000
Fax: +257 22-24-3467
Email: BujumburaC@state.gov
Internet: bi.usembassy.gov

Burundi’s Central Adoption Authority
Ministry of Human Rights, Social Affairs and Gender
Address: B.P. 6518
Building Ex-Finance
1er Etage N 3
Tel: +257 22-24-6924
Internet: droithumains.gov.bi

Embassy of Burundi
Address: 2233 Wisconsin Ave NW
Suite 408
Washington, DC 20007
Tel: +1 202 342 2574
Fax: + 1 202 342 2578
Email: burundiembusadc@gmail.com

Office of Children’s Issues
U.S. Department of State
CA/OCS/CI
SA-17, 9th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20522-1709
Tel: 1-888-407-4747
Email: Adoption@state.gov
Internet: adoption.state.gov


U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

For questions about filing a Form I-800A application or a Form I-800 petition:
USCIS National Benefits Center (NBC):
Tel: 1-877-424-8374 (toll free); 1-913-275-5480 (local); Fax: 1- 913-214-5808
Email: NBC.Adoptions@uscis.dhs.gov

For general questions about immigration procedures:

USCIS Contact Center
Tel: 1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833)
Internet: uscis.gov

Last Updated: October 5, 2023

Assistance for U.S. Citizens

U.S. Embassy Bujumbura
Avenue Des Etats-Unis
Bujumbura, Burundi
Telephone
+(257) 22-20-7000 (Monday - Thursday 2 p.m. – 5 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m. – 12:30p.m.)
Emergency
+(257) 22-20-7000
Fax
+(257) 22-24-3467

Burundi Map