[apkelly]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum and to the adoption network. Has anyone ever adopted from Uruguay?

Thanks,

ap

[maavjiam]

My husband is Uruguayan and he says that a lot of people within Uruguay adopt a Uruguayan child. I have also read that if you are a foreigner then it is harder for you to adopt. Hopefully either you or your spouse is Uruguayan so it may make it easier. I believe that you should contact a consulate or social services to find better information because it is very rare to adopt from Uruguay.

http://travel.state.gov/family/adopt...untry_346.html

http://library.adoption.com/Internat...le/1433/1.html

Hope this happens for you.

Cheers

MAAV

[wannabeamommy]

I don't know if this will help or not, but I lived in Uruguay during High school (long time ago ). I volunteered at an orphanage and I remember that a couple of the babies and toddlers had people very interested in adopting them. They were not able to due to the fact that they weren't Uruguayan citizens. I remember that one little girl who missing part of her nose, was wanted by a European family (Swiss or Sweden not too sure). They were trying to get the legal work done for her to be considered "special needs" because of her nose. It didn't happen though and when I moved the little girl was still at the orphanage. At the time 10+ years ago it seems that in order for a foreigner to adopt in Uruguay the child had to be handicapped in some way. Again this was years ago and many things have changed since then, maybe adoption law as well. I would also recommend contacting the consulate.

Good luck!
-Rachel-

[maavjiam]

Just curious to know if anyone found out anything here.

[sak9645]

There is a discussion of Uruguayan adoption requirements on the website of the U.S. State Department. Go to http://travel.state.gov. Click on "Children and Family" at the top of the page. Then click on "Country Specific Information" at the left side of the page. Then either scroll down to "Uruguay" or click on the letter "U" to get there. Click on "Uruguay".

Uruguay is not in the top 20 list of countries from which Americans adopt. In fact, over a five year period, no IR-3 or IR-4 visas (adoption visas) were given to any Uruguayan children, according to the State Department site. This is probably due to the fact that most prospective parents would have to live in Uruguay with the child for at least one year. However, the website indicates that Uruguay has been considering some amendments to its adoption law that might make it more flexible.

Sharon

[maavjiam]

Hi there,

I'm Canadian - I've looked up the info that you have shown me - however my adoption would be done while living in the country. I also wen to the only website that had research and foun it helpful but I still can't find any information regarding procedure. I've tried contacting the Uruguayan child services (forget the name) but no response yet.

HOpefully something will come up.

Thanks everyone

maav

[maavjiam]

Well I received a great deal of information today - beyond May Lee @ Adoption Canada and the Canadian Immigration Officer I spoke to...I was able to speak with the Consulate General of UY and I will be mailed lawyer names and number for assistance in adopting internationally while living in their country. He said that children are subject under the same laws as there which I'm not sure what that means...As well he informed me that UY does not look highly upon adoption and that it is very very diffcult to adopt, especially if you want to adopt a UY child...but not that you can't but it's not a happy thing...to put it nicely. So I questioned "what about all those children"...and he said I understand.

So I'm going to speak to my sister in law who is a lawyer and see what she finds out for me once I get the names. This way she is there and can ask specific questions. Then I will contact Immigration Canada again with the proper information and see how I can bring my child home with me. heave forbid Uruguay doesn't let her leave with me.

The Consulate General told me that if it was possible for me to adopt prior to leaving then tha would be a better recommendation as it is "hell" to adopt in UY...wow eh!

Let's see what I find out. So as I mentioned in the other post. It would be MY SUGGESTION that if you are considering to adopt while living in another country and then returning to canada would be to contact that country's embassy or conslate and get all the information in "writing" and them move from there. he told me that my planning ahead is a VERY smart move because great dissappointments can happy and now I will be prepared...

So that you know I want to adopt from China but this information also applies to if you want to adopt a child from Uruguay. After reading what I did about adoption of UY it is heartbreaking and I don't know what I would do if the state took my child back if someone reclaimed him or her....please check the US government website for further details in a post above.

Have a great day everyone.

MAAV

[Bassette]

Maav, I would really like to know what happens to the children in Uruguay if they are not adopted. As you have family connections and an interest perhaps sometime in the future you would discover this info. Keep us in mind. I for one would love to hear an update.

[maavjiam]

As soon as I get my package from the UY consulate I will call my sister-in-law and I will be asking her "what happens to the kids there".. It really kills me that this is the attitude. My husband's family friend adopted a child but it was esier because they are uruguan BUT the child wanted to change his last name to his family name and stuff and the gov't wouldn't let him...and my hubby said it can be complicated. I will find out more and surely let you know.

There is so little information out there which speaks volume...look at Japan...extremely hard there too and rare.

maav

[maavjiam]

Hello there to those of you who were interested. I have a 12 page document that I cannot post here, but if you would like it I can give it to you. Email me at la_petisa2103@hotmail.com

Also, I have a long message to follow but I did not translate every work, just the summary of what it is saying.

Basically as long as a country is part of the Hauge convention you can adopt internationally while living in Uruguay and if you want to adopt internationally from US or Canada a child from Uruguay you can, but you will have to go there. You will have to present a number of documents, intentions and have a "homestudy" completed and everything will be reviewed by a judge in Uruguay. I do have a few lawyers names if you are interested and you would have to contact them....

You do need a lawyer within the family court. My sister in law found a lot of information for me by speaking to some lawyer colleagues of hers.

I also asked her "what happens to the children there", basically children can be and are adopted and that precedence is given to those living in uruguay with uruguayan residence/citizenship....however it is a lenghty and paper filled process doing it internationally - much easier ifyou are there....not to scare anyone off but you would have to be in uruguay for 6 months unless you are able to work out an arrangement and get special permission from a judge....but being there is a much better idea then doing it from here.

I found by calling agencies that work with South American countries that they can help you adopt from Uruguay and that they know the proceures etc...so it IS possible.

In my next post I will post the information I was forwarded except for the 12 document.

CHEERS

MAAV

[maavjiam]

CODIGO D ELA NIÑEZ Y DE LA ADOLESCENCIA
ADOPCIÓN INTERNACIONAL
Artículo 150. (Principio general).- En defecto de convenios internacionales ratificados por la República, las adopciones internacionales se regularán por las disposiciones de este Capítulo.

Se considera adopción internacional a la que se lleva a cabo por matrimonios con domicilio o residencia habitual en el extranjero, con relación a niños o adolescentes con domicilio o residencia habitual en la República.

Artículo 151. (Preferencia).- El Instituto Nacional del Menor y las demás autoridades con competencia en materia de adopción, deberán dar preferencia a la ubicación de los niños o adolescentes adoptables en familias u hogares que los requieran y vivan dentro del territorio nacional.

Preference is given to those living in the territory of Uruguay first to adopt the child, then international adoptees.

Artículo 152. (Requisitos).- Las adopciones internacionales se constituirán con la intervención preceptiva del Instituto Nacional del Menor, quien una vez obtenidos todos los antecedentes presentará en el plazo de sesenta días un informe pormenorizado, teniendo asimismo los demás requisitos previstos en los artículos 133, 145 y 154 de este Código.

The institute of adoption will conduct a background check (home study) of the couple/family and they will complete this within a time frame of 60 days.

El no pronunciamiento en plazo se tendrá por aceptación.
Artículo 153. (Residencia).- La adopción internacional tendrá el mismo efecto que la legitimación adoptiva, pudiendo acceder a ella cónyuges cuya unión matrimonial no sea inferior a cuatro años.

COuple (heterosexual) Must be married 4 years.

(Los efectos de la legitimación adoptiva son que el hijo pasa a ser como un hijo que hubiera nacido del matrimonio adoptante (hijo legítimo del matrimonio) y caducan los vínculos de filiación anterior del niño)

Child will lose his/her background (family history) and will be recognized as your child as if in birth.

Sólo se realizará con aquellos países cuyas normas en materia de adopción y protección de niños y adolescentes tengan una razonable equivalencia con las de nuestro país.

This is only done with countries who hold the same values as the adoption values in Uruguay. Added: For example child cannot be adopted for illegal purposes.

Los adoptantes deberán residir y convivir con el niño o adolescente en el territorio nacional, aun en forma alternada, por un plazo de seis meses. Por razones fundadas y teniendo en cuenta el interés superior del niño, el plazo podrá ser reducido por el Juez competente.

The couple/family must reside with the child in Uruguay for 6 months. However it does not have to be 6 months full term, you can ask for alternatives and exemptions as long as it is in the best intrest of the child (a judge will decide).

Artículo 154. (Documentos necesarios).- Con la solicitud de la adopción se deberá presentar la documentación justificativa de las condiciones físicas, morales, económicas y familiares de los solicitantes. Los informes y documentos al respecto deberán tramitarse por medio de las autoridades centrales del país de los adoptantes y de la República.

This is a list of mandatory documentations.

Below is a explanation of the “legal” process...this is where a lawyer of family court comes in handy.
Artículo 155. (Competencia).- Serán competentes para el otorgamiento de la adopción internacional los Jueces de Familia del domicilio del adoptado, quienes procederán de acuerdo a los trámites del juicio extraordinario del Código General del Proceso (artículo 346). La apelación se regirá por la misma normativa (artículo 347).

Los solicitantes deberán comparecer a la audiencia preliminar en forma personal, preceptivamente. También deberán hacerlo cuando el Tribunal, en forma fundada, lo considere conveniente.

El impedimento fundado de los solicitantes a concurrir personalmente a la audiencia hará que el Juzgado fije otra, pero en ningún caso se permitirá la representación por apoderado.

Hasta tanto no haya recaído sentencia firme, para que el niño o adolescente pueda salir del país deberá hacerlo en compañía de uno de los solicitantes, contando con autorización judicial, la que no podrá concederse sin intervención preceptiva del Ministerio Público, si fundadamente se probare la integración del niño.

Artículo 156. (Juicios de anulación).- Corresponde a los Jueces de Familia que autorizaron la adopción, la tramitación de los juicios de anulación, los que serán resueltos teniendo en cuenta el interés superior del niño o adolescente. El trámite se regirá por el procedimiento extraordinario del Código General del Proceso (artículos 346 y 347).

Artículo 157. (Nacionalidad).- Los niños y adolescentes de nacionalidad oriental adoptados por extranjeros domiciliados en el exterior mantienen su nacionalidad, sin perjuicio de adquirir, además, la de los adoptantes.

Children will not lose their nationality when being adopted by non-uruguayans, Uruguay allows for dual citizenship.