Update
January 10, 2024

Information for U.S. Citizens in the Middle East

Intercountry Adoption

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Country Information

Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda
Exercise normal precautions in Antigua and Barbuda.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.

Exercise normal precautions in Antigua and Barbuda.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Antigua and Barbuda.

If you decide to travel to Antigua and Barbuda:

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Hague Convention Participation

Hague Adoption Convention Country?
No
Are Intercountry Adoptions between this country and the United States possible?
Both adoptions to the United States from Antigua and Barbuda and from the United States to Antigua and Barbuda are possible.

Hague Convention Information

Antigua and Barbuda is not a party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention or Convention). Under the Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act of 2012 (UAA), which became effective on July 14, 2014, the accreditation requirement and standards, which previously only applied in Convention cases, now also apply in non-Convention (“orphan”) cases under section 101(b)(1)(F) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The UAA requires that an accredited or approved adoption service provider acts as a primary provider in every case, and that adoption service providers providing adoption services on behalf of prospective adoptive parents be accredited or approved, or be a supervised or exempted provider. Adoption service providers and prospective adoptive parents should review the State Department’s Universal Accreditation Act of 2012 webpage for further information. Intercountry adoptions of children from non-Convention countries continue to be processed under the Orphan Process with the filing of the Forms I-600A and I-600. However, adoption service providers should be aware of the information on the USCIS website on the impact on Form I-600A and Form I-600 adjudications under the UAA, including the requirement that all home studies, including home study updates and amendments, comply with the Convention home study requirements, which differ from the orphan home study requirements that were in effect before July 14, 2014.

Antigua and Barbuda has no designated adoption authority. U.S. citizens considering adoption from Antigua and Barbuda should contact the Embassy of Antigua and Barbuda in the United States for information about how to contact the appropriate government entity in Antigua and Barbuda.

Antigua and Barbuda is not generally a country of origin for intercountry adoption. While intercountry adoption is legally possible, children from Antigua and Barbuda are not generally placed for intercountry adoption. No child from Antigua and Barbuda has received a U.S. adoption immigrant visa relating to an intercountry adoption in the past five fiscal years. The information provided may be of assistance in extremely rare intercountry adoption cases from Antigua and Barbuda, which might include adoptions of children from Antigua and Barbuda by relatives in the United States, or adoptions of children from third countries by U.S. citizens living in Antigua and Barbuda.

Antigua and Barbuda does not have a central adoption authority. Intercountry adoption is handled by the judiciary, which generally does not consider issues related to intercountry adoption. The laws of Antigua and Barbuda require that prospective adoptive parents must be legally resident in, and physically domiciled in, Antigua and Barbuda.

U.S. citizens interested in adopting children from Antigua and Barbuda should contact the Embassy of Antigua and Barbuda in the United States to inquire about applicable laws and procedures. U.S. citizens living in Antigua and Barbuda who would like to adopt a child from the United States or from a third country should also contact the Embassy of Antigua and Barbuda.  See contact information below.

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 hardship, intending that the child return home when this becomes possible. In such cases, the birth parent(s) have rarely relinquished their parental rights or consented to the adoption of their child(ren).

Please visit the Department of State’s Country Specific Information for more information on travelling to Antigua and Barbuda and the U.S. Embassy Bridgetown’s website for information on consular services.

U.S. Immigration Requirements

To bring an adopted child to the United States from Antigua and Barbuda, 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 an orphan under U.S. immigration law in order to be eligible to immigrate to the United States with an IR-3 or IR-4 immigrant visa.

Contact Information

Antigua and Barbuda has no central adoption authority identified by law.

U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados 
Wildey Business Park
Wildey
St. Michael, BB 14006
Barbados, W.I.
Tel: (246) 227-4000
Fax: (246) 431-0179
Email: BridgetownACS@state.gov
Internet: https://bb.usembassy.gov/

Antigua Barbuda Embassy in the United States
OECS Building
3216 New Mexico Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20008
Tel: 1-202-362-5122
Tel: 1-202-362-5166
Fax: 1- 202-362-5525
Email: embantbar@aol.com

Antigua and Barbuda also have Consulates in Miami and New York

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: August 25, 2016

Assistance for U.S. Citizens

U.S. Embassy Bridgetown
Wildey Business Park
Wildey
St. Michael BB 14006
Barbados, W.I.
Telephone
+(246) 227-4399
Emergency
+(246) 227-4000
Fax
+(246) 431-0179

Antigua and Barbuda Map