[JohnYukp]

My wife is a Japanese citizen and is applying for permanent residency in the US. I am a US citizen. We live in Los Angeles and would like to adopt in a few years. Do both adoptive parents need to be US citizens? Does it matter if she remains a Japanese citizen and legal US resident?

Thanks

[tweetybirdus]

I have been unable to find any information on this issue. I think you'll be better off if talk to a reputable adoption attorney about it.

[DPline]

Are you considering domestic or international?

[camerons]

I am a permanent resident alien and have been told by our lawyer and other agencies that it is not a problem. I am also a licenced foster-to-adopt parent. the challenge now is choosing an agency or lawyer.

[loveajax]

My friends are lawful permanent residents (from australia) and were able to adopt domestically. Not sure about int'l adoption...best of luck to you!

[Prettyboicris]

In my adoption class there was a guy who was a legal US permanent resident and Russian Citizen. They said it wasnt a problem as long as the person was here legally and could provide documents to prove such.

[WizardofOz]

Originally Posted by JohnYukp

My wife is a Japanese citizen and is applying for permanent residency in the US. I am a US citizen. We live in Los Angeles and would like to adopt in a few years. Do both adoptive parents need to be US citizens? Does it matter if she remains a Japanese citizen and legal US resident?

Thanks

You can adopt both domestically and internationally, whatever you want. Sinceyou (one spouse) is U.S. citizen, you have all the choices open to you.

[DenzilDragon]

We're both UK citizens, and were told that adopting here wouldn't be a problem. The only thing we can't do is an international adoption (even from the UK), but that's down to visa issues: you can't get a visa to bring an adopted child into the country unless it's already lived with you for two years (I guess this is an anti-child trafficing measure). This wouldn't be a problem for you, since your US citizenship would automatically give the child US citizenship.

[immigrationattorney]

If you are interested in adopting internationally through the I-600 orphan process, you will probably have to wait until your wife's application for permanent residency is granted. While only one spouse has to be a U.S. citizen, the other spouse must have valid "immigration" status, which is interpreted generally to mean in the U.S. as an immigrant rather than on a nonimmigrant visa.

C.J. Lyford, Esq.

[camerons]

You are fine. My husband and I are in the same boat. He is a citizen and I am a permanent resident. We can adopt in the US. We have worked with a lawyer. Good luck.