Adoption STAR: Child Placement

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NEPAL ADOPTION ALERT AS OF AUGUST 6, 2010, PLEASE GO TO: http://adoption.state.gov/news/NepalFAQ.html.

After an eighteen month suspension of intercountry adoptions, Nepal reopened its adoption program in January 2009 under the laws and guidelines of the New Terms & Conditions implemented by the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare. The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare is the government body in Nepal that oversees and processes adoptions. Under the New Terms & Conditions all international agencies had to go through an approval process for acceptance into the Nepal program for intercountry adoptions. Adoption S.T.A.R. is one of the select agencies in the United States to be approved by the Ministry and the Investigation, Recommendation and Monitoring Committee of Nepal to conduct such intercountry adoptions.

Adoption S.T.A.R. is approaching its Nepal program as a pilot program. Because of the new policies and procedures put in place as of January 2009, The Ministry continues to make changes to its adoption procedures and it is expected that such changes and revisions to the program may continue as the Ministry seeks to make its process as systematic and transparent as possible. All information provided by Adoption S.T.A.R. regarding its Nepal program is subject to change based on revisions received from the officials in Nepal and the US Department of State. Nepal, as any other international adoption, can be a long and complicated process. Families applying to our Nepal program must enter into the prospect of their adoption with openness and flexibility as unforeseen changes and delays may occur. It is our full intention to keep you updated as promptly as possible with any new information and changes as they become available. For updates you may also visit the Department of State Intercountry Nepal adoption page.

For information on Nepal’s geography, history, language, climate, cuisine, children available, adoptive parent eligibility and travel requirements.

How long does it take to adopt?

Currently it is estimated that an Adoption from Nepal can take approximately one year or less from the time the dossier is submitted to Adoption S.T.A.R. to the time you may travel to Nepal to finalize the adoption and bring your child home. The time frame depends upon the status of the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare at the time which the dossier is sent to Nepal and the current level of efficiency by USCIS (U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services). You can anticipate that your dossier will be ready to send to Nepal 2-5 months following your initial application. After your dossier is submitted to Nepal, a specific child's referral should be sent to the agency matching your particular requests and fitting your family's situation according to Nepalese restrictions. Referral time varies and may be 3-6 months based on the age and sex of the child requested. After referral of a child is received and if the referral is accepted, the estimated time for approval from the Ministry to travel to Nepal to finalize the adoption and bring your child home can be 3-6 months.

How is a child assigned to me?

Referrals will be made by the Nepal Family Matching Committee and approved by the Ministry. Once the agency receives the child's referral, picture and medical report, we notify you immediately. If you decide to pursue adoption of that particular child, we will send a letter to Nepal specifically allocating that child to your family. That simply means that the child is formally pulled out of the adoption pool for your family and will not have another family pursuing adoption of that particular child.

What are the advantages of adopting from Nepal?

Nepal adoption programs have been popular because the time frame to adopt is usually about 1 year. In addition with the decreasing adoptions in other Asian countries, Nepal may be a wonderful adoption option for many families.

What is the process?

Complete home study and CIS form I-600A
Gather documents for your dossier and submit them to Adoption S.T.A.R. for certification. (This step can be completed simultaneously with the home study.)
Dossier is sent to Nepal, translated, and submitted to the Ministry.
The Adoption Guarantee Letter from the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu will be procured. Once the letter is issued, it is submitted to the Ministry.
Referrals will be made by the Family Matching Committee and approved by the Ministry. Adoption S.T.A.R. will be sent the child's referral, picture and medical report. You will be given an opportunity to decide if the referral is acceptable to you.
Following approval and processing, you are invited to Nepal to finalize the adoption.
The stay in Nepal is usually about ten business days. During this time you will finalize the adoption in person at the Ministry. The Ministry will issue the final adoption decree and in addition, all travel documents for the child will be provided in preparation for the family interview with the US Embassy in Kathmandu.
The interview with the Consular at the US Embassy in Kathmandu is the final step of the adoption process. Upon approval, the Consular will issue your child either an IR-3 Visa or IR-4 Visa for entrance into the United States.
Depending on what type of Visa your child is issued, the adoption may or may not be finalized in Nepal by U.S. Immigration requirements and may need to be finalized in the United States.
Bring your child home.
Finalize your adoption in the U.S. if required.
In addition to the required post placement, Nepal requires annual letters until the child is 16 years of age.

Looking for more information?

For more details about adoptions from Nepal please contact Adoption S.T.A.R. You can also find updated information at the U.S. Embassy of Nepal website. Please also visit the U.S. Department of State Intercountry Nepal adoption page.

The Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) Travelers’ Health Website is another good website to check out as it contains a wealth of information on health issues pertaining to international travel, including information on destination countries, recommendations regarding immunizations, and travel notices.

Are the children pictured on this page available for adoption?

No children whose photos appear on this website or on any Adoption S.T.A.R. printed literature are available for adoption.