Español
Few decisions are as meaningful as opening your home to a child who needs one. When that child lives in another country, the joy is the same, but the path is longer, because you are navigating two legal systems at once: the adoption itself and the U.S. immigration process that brings your child home and secures their future here.
That immigration layer is where families most often get stuck. The rules are exacting, the forms depend on which country your child is from, and a misstep can add months or even derail an adoption. At Weldon Law Group, PLLC, we guide families across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida through that process with care and precision, so you can focus on welcoming your child rather than fighting through red tape.
A domestic adoption of a stepchild, a foster child, or a relative already in the United States is handled primarily under Florida family law. An immigration adoption involves a child born abroad, which adds a second and often more complicated question: how that child qualifies to immigrate and live permanently in the U.S.
If your adoption is entirely domestic, that is covered on our family law adoption page. This page is about the international side, where U.S. immigration law, the child’s home country rules, and international treaties all come into play at once.
There is no single process for adopting internationally. Which one applies depends mostly on the child’s country and your circumstances, and choosing the correct path from the start is essential, because they are not interchangeable.
If the child’s country is a member of the Hague Adoption Convention, your case follows the Hague process, designed to protect against abuses in intercountry adoption. You begin by filing Form I-800A to establish your suitability as adoptive parents, then Form I-800 to classify the specific child.
Once the adoption is complete, the child is typically issued an IH-3 visa if the adoption is finalized abroad, or an IH-4 visa if it is finalized in the United States.
If the child’s country is not a Hague member, the case proceeds under the orphan process. Here you file Form I-600A for advance processing and Form I-600 to classify the child, who must meet the specific legal definition of an orphan under U.S. immigration law. These cases are issued an IR-3 visa when the adoption is finalized abroad, or an IR-4 visa when it will be completed in the U.S.
Some adoptions fall outside both the Hague and orphan processes, particularly when a family adopts a relative’s child. In these cases, a green card may be pursued through a family petition, but only if strict conditions are met: the adoption must be finalized before the child turns 16, and the adoptive parent must have had two years of legal custody and joint residence with the child. This is also the path most often available to lawful permanent residents, since the Hague and orphan processes are generally reserved for U.S. citizens
Contact us for more information about our services.
For most parents, this is the question that matters most, and the good news is that U.S. law is designed to secure citizenship for internationally adopted children. Under the Child Citizenship Act, a child generally becomes a U.S. citizen automatically once they enter the country as a lawful permanent resident while under 18 and in the custody of their U.S. citizen parent.
How that plays out depends on the visa:
In either case, you will typically want to obtain a Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-600) as official proof of your child’s status, useful for a passport, school, and every future step. We help families secure that documentation so nothing about your child’s citizenship is ever left in doubt.
International adoption is one of the most rewarding things a family can do, and one of the most legally intricate. The issues that most often complicate these cases include:
None of these should stop a family that is determined to move forward, but each one is a reason to have knowledgeable guidance before you begin, rather than after a problem appears.
Immigration adoption asks a lot of families, emotionally, financially, and legally. Our role is to carry the legal weight and keep the process on track. When you work with Weldon Law Group, PLLC, we:
We handle each case in English and Spanish, with the care a matter this personal deserves.
Building a family through international adoption is deeply personal, and it deserves a firm that treats it that way. Attorney Ian Weldon understands the immigration journey from the inside, having navigated it with his own family, and that perspective shapes how we handle every adoption:
We help families grow throughout Jacksonville, Duval County, and the surrounding communities of Northeast Florida.
If you are hoping to adopt a child from abroad, the sooner your case is set up correctly, the smoother the road home will be. We would be honored to help you bring your child home and secure their future here. Contact Weldon Law Group, PLLC today for a free consultation. Se habla Español.
Question | Answer |
What’s the difference between an immigration adoption and a domestic adoption? | A domestic adoption involves a child already in the United States and is handled under Florida family law. An immigration adoption involves a child born abroad, adding a U.S. immigration process to bring the child home and secure their status. The two follow very different rules, and some families need both. |
We already finalized an adoption abroad. Can we still bring our child home? | Often, yes. A completed foreign adoption does not end the process; your child still needs the right visa and immigration classification to enter and live in the U.S. permanently. Which path applies depends on the child’s country and how the adoption was finalized, which we can assess quickly. |
Can permanent residents, not just U.S. citizens, adopt a child from abroad? | Generally, the Hague and orphan processes are reserved for U.S. citizens. Lawful permanent residents usually pursue an adopted child through a family petition, which requires that the adoption be finalized before the child turns 16 and that the parent had two years of legal custody and joint residence. |
What if the child we want to adopt is 16 or older? | Age matters a great deal in these cases. Several paths require key steps to be completed before a child turns 16, and eligibility can be lost as a child approaches that age or 18. If the child is older, options may still exist, but timing becomes critical and should be reviewed right away. |
How long does the immigration adoption process take? | It varies widely by country, process, and how quickly each stage is completed, and international adoption timelines are often measured in months to a few years. We give you a realistic picture once we know the child’s country and your situation. |
Do I need a lawyer for an immigration adoption case? | These cases combine adoption law, U.S. immigration law, and another country’s rules, where a single misstep can delay reunification. A lawyer helps you choose the correct path, file accurately, and secure your child’s status and citizenship, so your focus can stay on your family. |
"*" indicates required fields
