[SABTeacher]

Najia--Just wanted to say that she is gorgeous! Congratulations to you!

Shari

[Hollyrcpm]

Tanzania has a residency requirement (no length mentioned, so more than just an extended visit would be my guess). Kenya also allows international adoption but has a 3-month residency requirement that they don't waive. Looks like Rwanda is a possibility if you're up for uncertainty (plus the others already mentioned, of course).

Holly

[sak9645]

In general, it is very difficult to adopt from countries that are governed by Shaaria, the code of Islamic law, or that have a majority Muslim population.

As someone pointed out, Shaaria does not permit adoption as it exists in American law. Muslim adoption is more like foster care or guardianship.

Under Shaaria, a child who is adopted by a family retains the surname of the biological parents. He/she must continue to be treated as a member of the biological family with regard to matters such as inheritance rights.

The biological family, if at all possible, is expected to provide guidance to the adoptive family with regard to the child's religious education and other matters. The child may return to the biological family if circumstances change and the biological parents can resume parental duties, or if the child is unhappy in his/her adoptive placement.

This perspective creates legal problems when it comes to adoption by Americans. Under U.S. immigration law, adoption is defined as involving the total relinquishment of the child by the biological family. It is also defined as requiring the child to be given the same status in the adoptive family as a biological child.

So, technically, a child who has been placed with an American family by a court that follows Shaaria would not qualify for an adoption visa, since there was no relinquishment and no adoption, or promise of adoption, meeting U.S. legal requirements.

That being said, some more liberal countries with a majority Muslim population HAVE worked with the U.S. to get some adoptions, especially relative adoptions, to happen. Basically, the child is sent to the U.S. under a decree of guardianship (as in Korean adoptions), for adoption in the U.S. But the wording of the paperwork does not define adoption in a way that would be a deal-killer for either country. However, countries that are strict in their interpretation of Shaaria do not participate in this sort of wordsmithing.

Some Muslim countries will not allow international adoption, or will allow it only by citizens of their country living abroad.

Virtually all Muslim countries will not allow the placement of children born to Muslim birthparents with non-Muslim families. If there are non-Muslim children in need of homes in such countries, they MAY be able to be adopted by non-Muslims.

Very strict Muslim countries will NOT place a child with a family that self-defines as Muslim, unless they feel assured that the family is truly observant. This usually means that the prospective adoptive family must provide documentation from a religious leader who is acceptable to the sending country's religious authorities.

While some countries will place a child with an American Muslim family, if there are appropriate references from the family's Muslim spiritual advisor, there are a few that will not. A few countries feel that it is too difficult for anyone to practice Islam correctly, and to raise a child in the correct religious manner, in the United States. They also are unlikely to consider any American religious advisor acceptable.

The bottom line is that non-Muslim Americans will find it difficult, if not impossible, to adopt from a Muslim country, unless they adopt non-Muslim children. Muslim Americans may be able to adopt Muslim children from certain countries, especially if they are relatives. However, paperwork complexities may occur. There will also be countries where international adoption of Muslim children is impossible.

I hope this helps.

Sharon

[Colorbind love]

Namibia is not open to international adoption. Egypt is only open to Muslims, and I'm not sure how open it is to international adoptions since the person I knew adopting there was Egyptian.

I know that a lot of ex-pats living in the continent successfully adopt from Zambia. But, I haven't seen nor heard of success in doing so from the US. From what I've read it is a very drawn out and complicated process to succeed and basically needs your precense locally to get things moving.

Nigeria is not supposed to be open to international adoptions. But, according to Immigration, over 70 kids a year are entering the US on the orphan visas. Not sure how that is possible. I heard of an agency claiming to do Nigerian adoptions. But, the laws seem pretty clear that its not possible unless you are doing a relative adoption.

I know of one agency claiming to do Ghana adoptions. The laws seem to read that it would be impossible or virtually so. But, there are about 30 children a year coming from Ghana on orphan visas. So, someone is bringing children into the US there.

[sak9645]

The orphan visas do not distinguish between relative and non-relative adoptions. When you see a few dozen adoptions a year coming from certain countries, particularly in Africa, you can be pretty sure that most of them are relative adoptions. A lot of these are done through immigration attorneys or independently, rather than through agencies.

[mcconnee]

Your baby is gorgeous! I am interested in Liberian adoption- is it still going on safely now?

[mommymade]

We are also looking into Liberian adoption. Have you started the process? Also, does anyone have a resource for African childrens books?? Or books for middle elementary that may describe the crisis going on in many nations there?

[Lisa85]

From what I have heard, adoptions in Liberia will stop in a few months although I cannot attest to the accuracy of it.

Here is the linkhttp://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=279900

[giftofgrace]

Thanks for this discussion...very interesting