Intercountry Adoption

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Country Information

Vietnam

Vietnam
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Exercise normal precautions in Vietnam.

Reissued after periodic review without changes.

Exercise normal precautions in Vietnam.

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

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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 from the United States to Vietnam are not currently possible.

Hague Convention Information

Vietnam 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); the IAA’s implementing regulations and U.S. adoption-related immigration policies; as well as the implementing legislation and regulations of Vietnam.  Please see below in the Who Can Adopt, Who can be Adopted, and How to Adopt sections for more detail on the intercountry adoption steps involving Vietnam.

Intercountry adoptions from Vietnam can be processed for all eligible children under the Hague Adoption Convention and laws of both countries. U.S. prospective adoptive parents (PAPs) interested in adopting a child from Vietnam should contact one of the U.S. accredited adoption service providers (ASPs) authorized to operate in Vietnam by the Government of Vietnam for assistance.  

We are aware there are also PAPs who reside abroad who wish to adopt a child from the United States. Please see our section on Adoptions from the United States for more information on the process for adopting a child from the United States.  

U.S. Immigration Requirements

To bring an adopted child to the United States from Vietnam, 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.  For more information, please see USCIS webpages on suitability determinations and USCIS policy guidance on adoptive parent suitability determinations.

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.

Caution: Although U.S. citizens generally must follow the Hague Convention process to adopt a child from a Hague Convention country, the Family-Based Petition Process (Form I-130) may be an option for U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to petition for their adopted child.  However, U.S. citizens may file a Form I-130 for a child from a Hague Convention country only if they can establish the Convention does not apply to the adoption.  There are significant differences between the Hague and the Family-Based Petition Process. 

For more information about specific Form I-130 requirements for adopted children, see the USCIS website and the USCIS Policy Manual, Vol. 5

Who Can Adopt

In addition to being found suitable and eligible to adopt by USCIS, PAPs seeking to adopt a child from Vietnam must meet the following requirements imposed by Vietnam:

  • Minimum Residency: Vietnam does not require that PAPs reside in Vietnam for a specific period prior to starting or completing an intercountry adoption. However, they must travel to Vietnam to receive the adopted child in person at the “Giving and Receiving“ ceremony at the provincial Department of Justice.  When only one married PAP can travel to Vietnam for the adoption, Vietnam requires that the traveling spouse have a Power of Attorney from the other spouse, notarized and authenticated by the Vietnamese Embassy in Washington, D.C., or one of the Vietnamese Consulates General elsewhere in the United States (please see the contact information below for the location nearest you).
  • Age of Adopting Parents: Under Vietnamese law, PAPs must be at least 20 years older than the prospective adoptive child unless the PAP is a stepparent or maternal/paternal aunt or uncle of the prospective adoptive child.
  • Marriage: Vietnamese law permits intercountry adoption by both single persons and heterosexual married couples. Vietnamese law does not recognize LGB marriages, and applications submitted by LGB couples, whether married or unmarried, are not accepted.
  • Minimum Income: Vietnam has no minimum income requirements. The Vietnamese Central Authority, the Ministry of Justice, Department of Adoptions (MOJ/DA), will assess the economic, housing, and health conditions of PAPs, who must demonstrate that they can ensure the care and education of the adopted child.
  • Other requirements: Vietnamese authorities impose other eligibility requirements for PAPs such as: 
    • Being of good moral character;
    • Having "full civil act capacity” which means PAP have not had their parental rights restricted if they have biological children;
    • Not being imprisoned and;
    • Not being subject to administrative sanctions imposed by an educational or medical institution.  

Specific offenses that will disqualify PAPs include:   

  • Deliberately violating the life, health, dignity, and honor of others; 
  • Mistreating grandparents, parents, spouses, children, or caregivers; and
  • Enticing, coercing, or hiding juvenile offenders; and the trafficking, exchanging, or kidnapping of children. 

Who Can Be Adopted

Because Vietnam is party to the Hague Adoption Convention, children from Vietnam 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 Vietnam have determined that placement of the child within Vietnam 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 Vietnam:

Eligibility for adoption: 

  • Relinquishment:  For a child to be eligible for adoption, the birth parent(s) or guardian(s) must give their voluntary written consent to the emigration and adoption of the child to the provincial Department of Justice that has jurisdiction.  They must consent no earlier than 15 days after the child’s birth.  Birth parent(s) or guardians have 30 days from the date of their consent to retract it before the child can be determined eligible for intercountry adoption.
  • Abandonment:  The head of a childcare institution gives consent to the adoption of abandoned children whose birth parents are unknown to the provincial Department of Justice where the child lives.  In addition, the provincial police must provide the provincial Department of Justice with a police report verifying the search for birth parents.
  • Age of Adoptive Child: The child must be under 16 years old to be eligible for intercountry adoption.  Children who are between 16 and 18 may be adopted by a stepparent or maternal/paternal uncle or aunt.  Children who are nine or older must give their voluntary consent to the 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 and Form I-800 instructions for special rules on filing dates for children aged 15-16 or siblings under 18.
  • Sibling Adoptions:  In most circumstances, Vietnam prioritizes keeping siblings together in adoption.  PAPs who apply to adopt siblings pay only 50 percent of Vietnam’s adoption application fee for each additional child.
  • Special Needs or Medical Conditions:  The Government of Vietnam has a different procedure to match children who are living in orphanages, have disabilities, or have serious medical conditions defined in Vietnamese law for intercountry adoption.  Vietnamese competent authorities determine whether a child’s medical condition qualifies under Vietnam’s definition for special needs.

Caution: PAPs 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 hardship, 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 Vietnam 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 Vietnam has determined the child is eligible 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.

Vietnam’s Central Adoption Authority
Ministry of Justice, Department of Adoptions (MOJ/DA) 

The Process
Because Vietnam is party to the Hague Adoption Convention, adoptions from Vietnam must follow a specific process designed to meet the Convention’s requirements.  A brief summary of the U.S. Convention adoption process is provided below.  You must complete these steps in the following order to meet all necessary U.S. legal requirements.  Completing certain steps 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 ASP to Act as Your Primary Provider That Has Been Authorized by Vietnam’s Central Authority to Operate in Vietnam
  2. Apply to USCIS to be Found Suitable and Eligible to Adopt (Form I-800A)
  3. Apply to Vietnam’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)
  5. Apply for U.S. Visa and Receive U.S. Agreement to Proceed with the Adoption (Article 5/17 letter)
  6. Adopt the Child in Vietnam 
  7. Secure a U.S. Immigrant Visa if You Intend to Reside with Your Child in the United States
  8. Obtain U.S. Citizenship for Your Child 

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

The accredited agency or approved person you identify as the 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.

Only accredited agencies, approved persons, supervised providers, exempted providers, public domestic authorities, and public foreign authorities that have been authorized by the Government of Vietnam may provide adoption services in intercountry adoption cases.

Learn more about Agency Accreditation.  

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

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

After you choose an accredited or approved ASP, 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.  Please see USCIS webpages on suitability determinations and USCIS policy guidance on adoptive parent suitability determinations.  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 who holds any license or other authorization required by the law of the jurisdiction where the home study is conducted (unless a public domestic or public foreign authority).  The home study must comply with the requirements in 8 CFR 204.311 and USCIS policy.

3. Apply to Vietnam’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 ASP will provide your approval notice, home study, and any other required information to the adoption authority in Vietnam as part of your adoption application.  Vietnam’s adoption authority will review your application to determine whether you are also suitable and eligible to adopt under Vietnam’s law.  See the documents required in Step Six of this page

Receive a Referral for a Child from the Central Authority  
If both the United States and Vietnam determine that you are suitable and eligible to adopt, and Vietnam’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 Vietnam 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 Vietnam 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 ASP 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 USCIS suitability determination 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 ASP communicates that to the Central Authority in Vietnam.  Learn more about this critical decision.  

PAPs have 30 days to accept or refuse the referral in writing to MOJ/DA.  Formal acceptance is defined by the MOJ/DA as notification by the ASP to the MOJ/DA of referral acceptance and receipt by the MOJ/DA of a letter issued by U.S. Embassy Hanoi indicating that the PAPs are eligible and suitable to adopt, that the adopted child is or will be authorized to enter and reside permanently in the United States, and that the adoption may proceed.  See more about this letter below in Step Five.

MOJ/DA can extend the 30-day response timeframe for an additional 30 days once. PAPs or their ASP may request this extension in writing to MOJ/DA. After the response time expires (30 days, or 60 days if extended), MOJ/DA may refer the child to another prospective adoptive family. 

If PAPs refuse the referral without a reasonable justification, they may not be eligible to receive another referral.

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 Form I-800 Petition to Obtain Provisional Determination on the Child’s Immigration Eligibility  
After you accept a match 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.

USCIS must notify U.S. Embassy Hanoi of the provisional approval.  If the MOJ/DA has clearly identified urgent medical needs for a child in the child’s background report and these medical needs meet USCIS expedite criteria, PAPs may wish to request an expedite of their Form I-800 petition from USCIS.

Note: To ensure that the referral does not expire while awaiting USCIS and Department of State processing, PAPs should be prepared to file the Form I-800 petition with USCIS as soon as possible after deciding to accept a referral, ensure that the Form I-800 petition information is as complete and accurate as possible at the time of submission in order to avoid requests for additional information from USCIS, notify MOJ/DA of acceptance of the referral within 30 days, and simultaneously request from MOJ/DA the one-time, 30 day extension.

5. Apply for a U.S. Visa and Receive U.S. Agreement to Proceed with the Adoption (Article 5/17 letter)
After provisional approval of the Form I-800 petition, you or your ASP will submit a visa application to the consular section of U.S. Embassy Hanoi responsible for issuing immigrant visas to children from Vietnam.  Your child will need an immigrant visa if you intend to reside in the United States with your child.  If instead you intend to continue residing overseas with your child but still seek naturalization of your child by application (Form N-600K), you will not need an immigrant visa, but you may need a different type of visa to complete that process.  Please discuss this with the consular officer handling your case and consult the USCIS website for more information.

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 if you have questions about completing the online DS-260 form. 

Upon receipt of the case, U.S. Embassy Hanoi generally notifies the petitioner through the ASP. 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 Vietnam’s Central Authority in any intercountry adoption involving U.S. citizen parents and a child from Vietnam, if all Convention requirements are met and the child appears eligible to immigrate to the United States. This letter will inform Vietnam’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 of a child in Vietnam 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.

6. Adopt the Child in Vietnam

Remember: Before you adopt a child in Vietnam, you must have completed the above five steps. Only after completing these steps, can you proceed to finalize the adoption.

The process for finalizing the in Vietnam generally includes the following:

  • Role of Adoption Authorities:  
    • Several governmental bodies at the national and provincial levels have roles in the intercountry adoption process in Vietnam.
    • The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) is the Central Authority for intercountry adoption in Vietnam.  The Department of Adoptions under the Ministry of Justice (MOJ/DA), as the Vietnamese competent authority for intercountry adoptions, is responsible for the overall supervision of the adoption process. The MOJ carries out the following functions:
      • authorizes foreign adoption agencies to operate in Vietnam, 
      • accepts and reviews dossiers of PAPs, 
      • matches PAPs with children with special needs, reviews matches made by provincial authorities for children eligible for intercountry adoption,
      • issues official referral letters, and 
      • verifies that the adoption was in accordance with Vietnam’s adoption law and the Hague Adoption Convention.
    • The provincial Department of Justice
      • determines the eligibility of the child for intercountry adoption, 
      • matches PAPs without children special needs, 
      • organizes the “Giving and Receiving” ceremony, and 
      • maintains the adoption registry, which is a record of all adoption cases processed in the province that contains information on the adopted child, adoptive parents, and the date the provincial People’s Committee issued the Adoption Decree.

The provincial People’s Committee reviews and approves matches by the provincial Department of Justice and issues the Intercountry Adoption Decree.

  • Role of the Court:  Vietnam’s courts do not issue Adoption Decrees in Vietnamese Convention adoptions. The Vietnamese courts have no role in intercountry adoptions. 
  • Role of Accredited or Approved ASPs: The accredited and authorized U.S. ASP facilitates the adoption on behalf of the PAPs parents. This includes: 
    • assembling the application dossier for submission to MOJ/DA, 
    • providing logistical support for PAPs and their adopted child(ren), and 
    • providing post-adoption reports to MOJ/DA.  

After MOJ/DA issues an official referral letter ASPs, if permitted, may perform an assessment on the child, including their medical condition, so that PAPs can make an informed decision about the adoption.  

As noted above, any agency or person providing an adoption service on behalf of PAPs in any 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, under 22 CFR 96.2 Definitions: 

  • 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. 

  • Adoption Application: PAPs file their application dossier with MOJ/DA through an accredited U.S. ASP that has been authorized by the Government of Vietnam.
  • Time Frame: It is difficult to predict with certainty how much time is required to complete an adoption in Vietnam, but the adoption process can be lengthy. Adoption processing depends on many variables, including how quickly prospective adoptive families prepare their dossier, the wait time to be matched with an eligible child, the workload of U.S. and Vietnamese adoption authorities, and the specific circumstances of each case.  Parents adopting children with special needs can expect potentially faster processing by the Vietnamese government compared to other children. 

It normally takes approximately 2-3 years to receive a referral of a child without special needs from Vietnam.  The Vietnamese requirement to conduct a search for eligible domestic PAPs is waived for children with disabilities and serious medical conditions as defined in Vietnamese adoption law.  Before a child without special needs can be considered for intercountry adoption, the Vietnamese government conducts a search for a prospective adoptive family in Vietnam.

Adoption Fees: 
We encourage PAPs to obtain detailed receipts for all fees and donations paid, either by them directly or through your U.S. ASP, and to raise any concerns regarding any payment that you believe may be contrary to the Convention, U.S. law, or the law of Vietnam, with your ASP, 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 Vietnam 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 ASP will itemize the fees and estimated expenses related to your adoption process.  

Some of the fees specifically associated with adopting from Vietnam include:  

  • Application fee: 9,000,000 VND (approximately $360) to be paid to MOJ/DA when PAPs submit their application dossier. PAPs who are stepparents, uncles, or aunts of the adopted child pay 50 percent of Vietnam’s application fee.  PAPs who apply to adopt multiple children who are siblings pay 50 percent of the application fee for each additional child.
  • Adoption processing fee: 50,000,000 VND (approximately $2,000) to be paid to MOJ/DA when PAPs accept the child referred to them by MOJ/DA. This fee is waived in cases of adoptions of children with special needs.

Other fees associated with adopting from Vietnam may include:

  • Legalization of documents by the Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate in the United States costs $10 per document. The fee is for authentication of the seal.
  • Passport application fee is 200,000 VND per passport (approximately $8). 
  • Translations of documents can be done in the United States and costs may vary.
  • Fees for notarizing documents for the Vietnamese passport application should be nominal and posted by the provincial Department of Justice (DOJ).
  • In some cases, ASPs may be asked to reimburse certain medical expenses for the child, including psychological counseling and preparation for children to be adopted.

On average, the estimated cost to complete one adoption case approximately ranges from $35,000 to $45,000, not including passport or visa fees.

Documents Required: PAPs are required to submit to the MOJ/DA the following documents in the application dossier:

  • Adoption application form (as regulated by MOJ)
  • Copy of U.S. passport or other equivalent identification document
  • Certificate of child adoption approval issued by a competent U.S. authority (also known as Form I-800A application approved by the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services)
  • Home study (issued within past 12 months)
  • Medical report (issued within past 12 months)
  • Confirmation of income (issued within past 12 months)
  • Criminal records (issued within past 12 months)
  • Marital status certificate (i.e. marriage certificate or single status statement)

  • 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.

7.  Secure a U.S. Immigrant Visa for Your Child If You Intend to Reside with Your Child in the United States

Once your adoption is complete, there are a few more steps to take before your child can enter the United States.  Specifically, the consular officer will need to issue a Hague Adoption Certificate and grant final approval of the Form I-800 petition.  Then you will need to obtain three documents before you secure a visa so your child can travel to the United States:

Birth Certificate
You will receive the child’s original Vietnamese birth certificate after the “Giving and Receiving” ceremony so that you can use it to apply for a Vietnamese passport for your child.  Vietnam does not issue a new or amended birth certificate to the child post-adoption naming the adoptive parents as the child’s parent(s) and/or any change to the child’s name made during the adoption proceeding.

Vietnamese Passport
Your child is not yet a U.S. citizen, so he/she will need a travel document or passport from Vietnam. Your ASP should assist you with obtaining a Vietnamese passport from a competent Vietnam Immigration Authority for your adopted child. They submit applications to the Immigration Department, Ministry of Public Security in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.  The passport application fee is VND 200,000 per passport (approximately $8 as of September 2024). The regular processing timeframe is five working days.  For more information on Vietnamese passports, please visit the Vietnam’s Immigration Department website at https://xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/.

U.S. Immigrant Visa
After you obtain the new birth certificate and passport for your child, you will then need to complete the U.S. immigrant visa process for your child from U.S. Embassy Hanoi if you intend to bring your child to reside in the United States with you. After the adoption is granted, visit the U.S. Embassy Hanoi for a final review of the case the issuance of a U.S. Hague Adoption Certificate or Hague Custody Certificate, the final approval of the Form I-800 petition, and, if applicable, 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 U.S. by email at  HanoiAdoptions@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. For more information on scheduling the immigrant visa appointment and medical examination, please visit the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi website.

You will have already completed an Electronic Immigrant Visa Application (DS-260) online at the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) after receiving 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.  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 if you have questions about completing the online DS-260 form.

Upon receipt of the case, U.S. Embassy Hanoi generally notifies the petitioner. visa issuance after the final interview generally takes 24 hours.  It is 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 U.S. Embassy Hanoi before making final travel arrangements.  Additional information on immigrant visa processing can be found on our website.

If you will reside outside the United States with your child, you should contact the Central or competent authority where you reside for additional information about how to bring your child to that country. 

8. Obtain U.S. Citizenship for Your Child

If you obtain an immigrant visa for your child, USCIS will mail your child either a permanent resident card (green card), or a Certificate of Citizenship, after your child enters the United States. If you plan to reside outside the United States with your child (and, therefore, may not benefit from an immigrant visa for your child), please see the relevant section below. 

For adoptions finalized abroad before the child’s admission into the United States:  A child who was adopted abroad and has satisfied Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) 101(b)(1)(E), INA 101(b)(1)(F), or INA 101(b)(1)(G) requirements, who is 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 after admission if the child is under the age of 18 when these conditions are met. 

Depending on the visa your child receives, their age, and the other INA 320 requirements, you may not need to take any additional action for your child to acquire U.S. citizenship.  However, if your child does not meet the requirements of INA 320 at the time of admission into the United States, you may file a Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship, once the requirements are met.  More information is available on the USCIS website.

For adoptions not finalized until after the child’s admission to the United States:  

If the adoption is not finalized before the child is admitted to the United States, the child’s adoptive parent(s) must complete the adoption (or re-adoption or obtain judicial recognition of the foreign adoption) in the United States before the child turns 18 for the child to automatically acquire U.S. citizenship (if the child otherwise meets the requirements of INA 320).  You may file a Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship, once the requirements are met.  More information is available on the USCIS Fact Sheet:  Securing U.S. Citizenship for Your Child.

If you reside outside the United States with your child, you may file a Form N-600K, Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322 with USCIS to obtain a Certificate of Citizenship for your child if your child satisfies the requirements of INA 322.  

Note: If you are a military service member or U.S. government employee who chooses to seek an immigrant visa for your child versus completing the Form N-600K process, you may need to use Form N-600 to apply for a Certificate of Citizenship.  Please note, however, that USCIS cannot mail Certificates of Citizenship abroad for children who acquire citizenship under INA 320.  

Read more about INA 320 and 322 in the USCIS Policy Manual and USCIS website U.S. Citizenship for an Adopted Child.

Traveling Abroad

Applying for Your Child’s 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 to 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 Vietnam
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 Vietnam, see the Department of State’s country page.

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 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 U.S. Embassy about safety conditions in your destination country.  Enrollment makes it possible for U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Vietnam, 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 Vietnam, 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 Reporting Requirements
We urge you to comply with Vietnam’s post-adoption requirements in a timely manner. Your adoption service provider may be able to help you with this process. Your cooperation will contribute to Vietnam’s positive experiences with U.S. citizen adoptive parents.

Adoptive parents are responsible for providing post-adoption reports to both the MOJ/DA and a Vietnamese diplomatic mission in the country where the adopted child resides every six months for three consecutive years following the adoption. The report should provide information about the child’s health status, physical and psychological development, and how he or she is integrating with the adoptive family and new environment. We urge you to comply with Vietnam’s post-adoption requirements in a timely manner. Your adoption agency may be able to help you with this process.

In order to submit post-adoption reports, adoptive parents must fill out the “Child development report form,” which is available through your adoption service provider or from Vietnam’s Ministry of Justice. The form must then be certified by a competent home study preparer and authenticated by a Vietnamese diplomatic mission in the United States.

Under Vietnamese law, adoption service providers are responsible for reminding adoptive parents to submit post-adoption reports. Adoption service providers must also provide the MOJ/DA with a separate annual report summarizing the development of all Vietnamese children who have been adopted through their organization. In addition, adoption service providers must also provide a report on specific cases at the request of the MOJ/DA.

MOJ/DA also requires adoptive parents to disclose to their ASP any humanitarian donations to the orphanage in Vietnam. At least every six months, ASPs must report to MOJ/DA the humanitarian donations given by both the adoptive parents and their organizations.

Post-Adoption Resources
Many adoptive parents find it important to receive 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 U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, 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 Vietnam
Consular Section
Rose Garden Tower
170 Ngoc Khanh Street
Hanoi, Vietnam Tel:  84-24-3850 5000
Email:  HanoiAdoptions@state.gov
Internet:  https://vn.usembassy.gov/

Vietnam’s Central Authority on Adoptions
Ministry of Justice
Department of Adoptions
58-60 Tran Phu Street
Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel:  84-24-6273 9697
Fax:  84-24-6273 9359
Email:  cngt@moj.gov.vn
Internet:  http://ccn.moj.gov.vn/en/Pages/home.aspx

Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
1233 20th Street, N.W. Suite 400
Washington, D.C. 20036
Tel:  (202) 861-0737
Fax:  (202) 861-0917
Email:  vnconsular@vietnamembassy.us
Internet: vietnamembassy-usa.org

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 a pending 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 other USCIS-related questions:
USCIS Contact Center
Tel: 1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833)
Internet: uscis.gov

Last Updated: March 27, 2025

Assistance for U.S. Citizens

U.S. Embassy Hanoi - Consular Annex
170 Ngoc Khanh
Ba Dinh District
Hanoi, Vietnam
Telephone
+(84) (24) 3850-5000
Emergency
+(84) (24) 3850-5000
Fax
+(84) (24) 3850-5010

Vietnam Map