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DISCLAIMER: The information in this circular relating to the legal requirements of specific foreign countries is provided for general information only. Questions involving interpretation of specific foreign laws should be addressed to foreign legal counsel.
Prospective adoptive parents are advised to fully research any adoption agency or facilitator they plan to use for adoption services. For U.S. based agencies, it is suggested that prospective adoptive parents contact the Better Business Bureau and licensing office of the Department of Health and Family Services in the state where the agency is located.
GENERAL: The following is a guide for U.S. citizens who are interested in adopting a child in Honduras and applying for an immigrant visa for the child to come to the United States. This process involves complex Honduran and U.S. legal requirements. U.S. consular officers give each petition careful consideration on a case-by-case basis to ensure that the legal requirements of both countries have been met, for the protection of the prospective adoptive parent(s), the biological parents(s) and the child. Interested U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to contact U.S. consular officials in Honduras before formalizing an adoption agreement to ensure that appropriate procedures have been followed which will make it possible for the Embassy (Consulate) to issue a U.S. immigrant visa for the child.
The Government of Honduras is strict in its application of adoption law. There are no private adoptions in Honduras. Adoptions in Honduras usually take from 6 months up to one year. Please be cautious in dealing with individuals who offer to facilitate or shortcut the adoption procedure; they cannot legally short-circuit the process. Adoption agencies are required to register with IHNFA. If they are not registered, IHNFA cannot assist the agencies in the adoption process.
HONDURAN ADOPTION AUTHORITY: All adoptions must go through the Instituto Hondureño del Niño y la Familia, also known as "IHNFA", which is a social welfare agency charged by the Honduran government with overseeing local and international adoptions.
HONDURAN ADOPTION PROCEDURES:
- Advance Processing- A US citizen(s) who plans to adopt a foreign orphan but does not yet have a specific child in mind, must file an Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition (Form I-600A) with the stateside US Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security (USCIS) office having jurisdiction over their place of residence as soon as a decision to adopt is made.
- Eligibility for Advance Processing- An application for advance processing may be filed by a married, United States citizen of any age or his or her spouse of any age, or an unmarried United States citizen who is at least 24 years old at the time he or she files the advanced processing application, and at least 25 years old at the time he or she files the orphan petition. The spouse of the United States citizen may be a citizen or an alien. An alien spouse must be in lawful immigration status if residing in the United States.
- Form Used for Advance Processing- Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition: This form is salmon or peach-colored. The instructions to this form contain important information and should be read carefully. All necessary documents that must accompany the form are listed. Current filing fee is $525.00.
- Decision - I-600A approved petitions are valid for eighteen (18) months from the date of approval. A Notice of Favorable Determination Concerning Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition (Form I-171H), is sent to the prospective adoptive parent(s). This decision, however, does not guarantee that the orphan petition(s) to be filed will be approved. An orphan petition may still be denied because the child does not qualify as an orphan or for other proper cause.
Credits: U.S. Department of State
