Adopting in Armenia

FAQs | Step-by-Step | Stories from Adoptive Parents

FAQs

What is the difference between "natural" and "social" orphans?

In Armenia, there are both "natural" and "social" orphans. Natural orphans are children who have no mother or father and who are thus eligible for adoption without the additional step of obtaining parental relinquishment. Social orphans are those children who have at least one living parent, but whose parent(s) is/are unable or unwilling to care for them. Social orphans are in the custody of the orphanage, but cannot be adopted without relinquishment from the parent(s).

Are there any orphanages located in southern Armenia?

No. There are no orphanages south of Yerevan.

If I want to visit all 16 orphanages, how easy would that be?

The 16 orphanages are located in central and northern Armenia (see Locations for a map). The 6 orphanages located in Gyumri, Spitak, and Vanadzor are approximately 1 hour from each other. It is approximately a 2-hour drive between the orphanages located in northern Armenia and those in or near the capital city of Yerevan.

If I am a United States citizen, how long does an adoption in Armenia take?

The entire process, from start to finish, can take between 24 and 36 months to adopt a healthy child and between 18 and 24 to adopt a special needs child. Please note, however, that delays are always possible.

Is there a lot of paperwork during the adoption process?

Absolutely! That said, you will discover that a lot of what is needed is the same paperwork. Keep multiple copies of every document you create and procure. Inevitably, you will need it again.

I want to adopt a healthy infant. How many orphanages house healthy children under the age of 2?

There are 5 orphanages that house healthy infants - Hadug Tibi, Nork, SOS Children's Village, and Vanadzor. Please go to Photos and Descriptions for specific information about these orphanages.

I want to adopt a special needs child. How many orphanages house special needs child under the age of 2?

There are 4 orphanages that house special needs infants - Children's Home of Gyumri, Hadug Tibi, Sisters of Charity-Spitak, and Sisters of Charity-Bethlehem. Please go to Locations for specific information about these orphanages.

When sort of disabilities do the "special needs" children in Armenia have?

"Special needs" includes both mental and physical disabilities. Certain physical problems (e.g., cleft lips) are NOT classified as physical special needs because they are correctable (easily or otherwise). The special needs children in Armenia suffer from serious and irreversible mental (e.g., Down's syndrome) and physical (e.g., paralysis) disabilities.

What is involved in the court appearances?

There are two court appearances. The first, and lengthier of the two, involves a judge (in the city where the orphanage housing your child is located) asking you questions about your paperwork. The questions are designed to confirm the answers you provided in your paperwork. The first court appearance takes between 60 and 90 minutes. The second court appearance, when the judge signs the final decree, takes approximately 15 minutes.

What is involved in the final interview at the U.S. Embassy?

The final interview at the U.S. Embassy takes approximately 90 minutes. The interviewers review all of your final paperwork, ask questions about your adoption process, confirm that there are no lingering immigration issues, and inform you of when you will be permitted to leave Armenia.

I do not speak Armenian. Is there anyone who can serve as a translator while I am in Armenia?

Yes, translators are available. Please contact George S. Yacoubian, Jr. for additional information.

Does a child adopted from Armenia (by American citizens) automatically become a citizen of the United States upon completion of the adoption?

Yes. On February 27, 2001, the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 became effective. The aim of this law is to facilitate the automatic acquisition of U.S. citizenship for both biological and adopted children of U.S. citizens. The following are the Act's requirements: 1) at least one parent of the child must be a U.S. citizen, either by birth or naturalization; 2) the child must be under the age of 18; and 3) the adoption must be final. As soon as the law's requirements are met, the child acquires U.S. citizenship automatically without the need to apply for either a passport or a Certificate of Citizenship. Please consult an attorney or adoption specialist for clarification as specific immigration requirements are constantly changing.

I am thinking about adopting from Armenia, but am overwhelmed by what I think will be a lengthy and tedious process. Who can I talk to if I have additional questions?

While SOAR is strictly a charitable organization, George S. Yacoubian, Jr., the National SOAR President, can answer your international adoption questions. Please contact George at (610) 213-3452 or by email at george@yacoubian-law.com. Additional information about international adoption can also be found at www.yacoubian-law.com.

Step-by-Step

There are three major steps to adopting from Armenia: 1) domestic home study; 2) United States (US) government approval; 3) approval by the Armenian Government. Please note that the description below is NOT an advertisement for adopting in Armenia, nor is SOAR an adoption facilitating entity. SOAR, as a charity organization, is neither in favor of nor opposed to adopting in Armenia. That said, adopting from Armenia and providing humanitarian assistance to orphaned Armenian children in Armenia are so inextricably linked that to omit details of the adoption process (information that is publicly available) would do a disservice to our supporters. If you have any questions not answered below, please contact George S. Yacoubian, Jr., National SOAR President, at (610) 213-3452 or by email at gyacoubian@soar-us.org.

Step 1: Domestic Home Study

A home study is required for all prospective adoptive parents, both domestically and internationally. Home studies usually consist of multiple interviews involving the adoptive parents and a local adoption counselor, lasting approximately 1-2 hours each and addressing the following topics: motivation for adoption, the home study process, social history of adoptive parents, marriage and family lifestyle, child care philosophy, employment, financial and health situations, and clearances. The adoption counselor makes an assessment that results in a recommendation regarding the adoptive parents’ ability to care for an adopted child or children. It takes approximately eight to twelve weeks to complete the home study process.

Step 2: Department of Homeland Security

After receiving home study approval, the next step in the international adoption process is approval from the Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) (http://uscis.gov). You cannot apply for DHS approval until after home study approval has been secured. The purpose of this step is for DHS to assess the qualifications of prospective parents and to inform the federal government of the country from which you plan to adopt. On this form you can also indicate the maximum number of children you would like to adopt. Subsequent to submitting the form, applicants are required to be fingerprinted at their local CIS office. This step is referred to as “biometric services.”

Step 3: Translation of Documents into Eastern Armenian

A dossier of documents must be completed and translated into Eastern Armenian before submission to the Armenian government. This translation can be done by the Armenian Embassy. Please see www.armeniaemb.org/ConsularAffairs/Adoption/revisedadoption.htm for a list of required documents. Before the documents can be translated and verified by the Embassy, however, they must first be notarized and legalized (apostilled). An apostille is used by foreign governments to assess the authenticity of an official signature.

Step 4: Submission to the Armenian Government

Because Armenia and the United States are signatories to the Hague Convention governing international adoptions, prospective adoptive couples must use an accredited adoption service provider (ASP) to facilitate their adoption. Upon collection of the required documents, a complete dossier is delivered by the ASP to the Prime Minister’s (PM) office in Armenia. This layer of approval, which evaluates the applicant’s suitability to adopt generally from Armenia, takes at least three (3) months.

After preliminary approval is received, the applicant is eligible for a referral. The wait for a referral varies depending on the criteria of children you feel best prepared to parent. Once this initial referral is made, prospective parents can personally visit their unofficial referral, in addition to receiving photographs and medical and social histories. Once in Armenia, prospective parents will meet with the Ministry of Justice and receive permission to personally meet the child. Independent medical evaluations are permitted. Upon acceptance of the referral, the acceptance is re-recorded with the Ministry of Justice. The referral is now considered official.

Next, the child’s documents and applicant’s dossier begin the final approval process. This process will take at least four (4) months, during which time the dossier is reviewed for final suitability to adopt the specific referral. Finally, the case file is returned to the PM office for a final approval, which can take up to two (2) months. Once final PM approval has been obtained, the US government reviews the approval, which may take two (2) months. Once the US Embassy in Yerevan is informed that the adoption has been cleared, the US Embassy reviews the file and communicates with Armenia’s Ministry of Justice. The US Embassy then gives notice and permission for a court date to be assigned. There is a 30-day waiting period following this hearing. After obtaining judiciary approval, the finalization process will begin and conclude in approximately three (3) weeks, at which time the child is awarded a US passport and allowed to return to the US with his/her adoptive parents.