Democratic Republic of the Congo Adoption Program

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is quickly becoming recognized as a wonderful option for families looking to grow their families through adoption.  The DRC has about 4.2 million orphan children due to significant poverty, death of one or more parents by HIV/AIDS, war and famine. There are many benefits to this program including fast processing times and very quick referrals.

 

Requirements for Adopting in the Congo

• Adopting parents may be married, single, widowed or divorced.  Single men may adopt as well.
• Single persons may adopt a child of the opposite sex only if it is a very young baby. Otherwise individual applicants should request to adopt a child of the same gender.  
• Homosexual couples or individuals are excluded to be adoptive parent.
• Couples should have been married for at least 5 years and be at least 15 years older than the intended adoptee. 
• Any person who has a prior history of child abuse is not permitted to adopt. 
• There is no upper age limit for adopting parents but minimum age is 25 (to meet USCIS requirements)
• No couple may adopt more than 3 children unless a subsequent prospective adoptee is the biological child of one of the parents. 
• No adoptive parent may marry the adopted child. 
• Prospective adoptive parents do not need be permanent or long-term residents of the DRC.
• There is medical ineligibility for adoptive parents. An adoptive parent should not be mental disabled.

Adoption Process for the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The process for adoption in DRC is relatively quick compared to many international programs. As with international programs, please note that timelines and processes are subject to change in the foreign country, and are out of the control of A Love Beyond Borders. Adoptive parents will weather their adoption better and with greater happiness if they are flexible, patient and understanding of the conditions in the Congo and the lack of resources/information available.

Once your program application and contract for adoption services has been received and approved, you will begin working on the various stages of the adoption. The average adoption in DRC takes 8-12 months depending on several factors including: when you join the program, is home study complete or just starting, age and gender of child you hope to adopt, etc.

The following list outlines the process for adopting from the Democratic Rebublic of Congo:

• Program Application and Contract for Adoption Services received and approved.
• Home study. Select a licensed international adoption agency to provide home study and post placement services.
• Dossier preparation begins and is completed. The dossier for DRC is relatively simple compared to many countries and we will provide guidance on each step.
• I600-A petition filing with USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services).
• The big exciting day: Receive referral of a child available for adoption!  You will be provided with 1-2 photos of the child, medical information (lab results for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, Malaria, Syphilis, parasites), social history on the child and reason for his/her placement for adoption, and copies of any documents the agency has received on the child. Typically most children will have malaria and parasites, all are treated in DRC and once you have them home. Please speak to an international adoption medical clinic/professional when you receive your referral so you are fully informed of the child’s health condition and risks.
• Once you’ve accepted your referral, your dossier is sent to our attorney in Congo where the court date is requested and set, usually within one month after dossier is received. Adoptive parents are not present at the court hearing, and the adoption occurs on your behalf through the power of attorney you will grant to our representative in DRC.
• After the appropriate time has passed and all legal items completed, the adoption approved and Decree issued!
• File I-600 at USCIS in the US (or at Embassy in Kinshasa).
• Begin vaccination program for pending travel to Congo. Please review recommended vaccinations at the CDC’s website specific to DRC.
• We will notify you that you are approved to travel to Kinshasa to receive your child.
• A Love Beyond Borders will guide you with travel preparations, including securing a visa for entry into DRC, and ensure that the staff in Kinshasa meets you and your final part of the process goes smoothly.
• Travel to Kinshasa for approximately 10-14 days to receive child, complete US immigration process and receive your child’s US immigrant visa. Then our staff in country will help you apply for/receive child’s exit permit from DRC government.
• Approval to go home!

Travel to the Republic of the Congo

After the adoption is approved in Congo, and when it is time to pick up the child, one or both adoptive parents will make one trip of 7 days to Kinshasa, DRC. At this time you will meet your child and complete his/her US immigration and Congolese exit requirements. If only one parent travels the second parent will provide a power of attorney for the traveling spouse to complete the process on his or her own.

Families will be met by our staff at the airport upon arrival in DRC and escorted to an American-style hotel frequented by governmental and NGO staff from the US Embassy and other nations. Parents are also escorted to the US Embassy and Congolese Migration Office by the attorney and translator.