Adoptions from Oman are possible, but extremely rare. Omani laws, which are based on Islamic Shari’a law, do not allow for adoption. The Ministry of Social Affairs, Child Affairs Directorate, is responsible for children’s issues in Oman. Omani law does permit guardianship if the individual(s) seeking guardianship are Omani citizens of Muslim faith. Non-Omani citizens are precluded from obtaining legal guardianship of an Omani child. Guardianship by a Muslim married couple, where one spouse is an Omani citizen and the other spouse is a U.S. citizen, is possible. U.S. citizens who are married to Omani citizens and considering adoption of a Muslim Omani child must obtain guardianship for emigration and adoption in the United States from the Ministry of Social Welfare. Please consult a local attorney or adoption agency familiar with laws and regulations regarding intercountry adoption in Oman. Additionally, prospective adoptive parents should refer to our information sheet on Adoption of Children from Countries in which Islamic Shari’a Law is observed for more information.

Oman 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). However, under the Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act of 2012 (UAA), which became effective on July 14, 2014, the requirement that adoption service providers be accredited or approved, and therefore meet the accreditation standards, which previously only applied in Convention cases, now also applies in non-Convention (“orphan”) cases under section 101(b)(1)(F) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The UAA requires that an accredited or approved adoption service provider act as the primary provider in every Convention or non-Convention intercountry adoption case, and that adoption service providers providing any adoption services, as defined at 22 CFR Part 96.2, on behalf of prospective adoptive parents be accredited or approved, or be a supervised or exempted provider. See additional guidance for limited situations when a primary provider may not be required. 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 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website on the impact of the UAA on Form I-600A and Form I-600 adjudications, including the requirement that all home studies, including home study updates and amendments, comply with the home study requirements listed at 8 CFR 204.311, which differ from the orphan home study requirements that were in effect before July 14, 2014.

U.S. citizens interested in adopting children from Oman should contact the adoption authority of Oman to inquire about applicable laws and procedures. U.S. citizen prospective adoptive parents living in Oman who would like to adopt a child from the United States or from a third country should also contact Oman’s adoption authority. See contact information below.

Caution: Prospective adoptive parents should be aware 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 the child return home when 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 page for more information on travelling to Oman and the U.S. Embassy Muscat’s website for information on consular services.

To bring an adopted child to the United States from Oman, 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.

OMAN’S ADOPTION AUTHORITY:
Ministry of Social Affairs, Child Affairs Directorate
Point of Contact: Ms. Suad Al Yazidi|
Tel: +968 2496-2496

U.S. Embassy in Muscat, Oman
Jamiat A’Duwal Al Arabiya Street
Al Khuwair Area (Shatti Al-Qurum)
Muscat, Oman
Tel: +968 2464-3400
Fax: +968 2464-3535
Email:  ConsularMuscat@state.gov
Internet: om.usembassy.gov

Office of Children’s Issues
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
SA-17
Washington, DC 20520
Tel:  1-888-407-4747
E-mail:  Adoption@state.gov
http://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 National Customer Service Center (NCSC)
1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833)
Internet:  uscis.gov