INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION


SURINAME

 

April 2007

DISCLAIMER: The following is intended as a very general guide to assist U.S. citizens who plan to adopt a child from a foreign country and apply for an immigrant visa for the child to come to the United States. Two sets of laws are particularly relevant: 1) the laws of the child’s country of birth govern all activity in that country including the adoptability of individual children as well as the adoption of children in country in general; and 2) U.S. immigration law governs the immigration of the child to the United States.

The information in this flyer relating to the legal requirements of specific foreign countries is based on public sources and our current understanding. It does not necessarily reflect the actual state of the laws of a child’s country of birth and is provided for general information only. Moreover, U.S. immigration law, including regulations and interpretation, changes from time to time. This flyer reflects our current understanding of the law as of this date and is not legally authoritative. Questions involving foreign and U.S. immigration laws and legal interpretation should be addressed respectively to qualified foreign or U.S. legal counsel.


PATTERNS OF IMMIGRATION OF ADOPTED ORPHANS TO THE U.S.: Recent U.S. immigrant visa statistics reflect the following pattern for visa issuance to Suriname’s orphans:

Fiscal Year        Number of Immigrant Visas Issued

FY 2006                                         2
FY 2005                                         1
FY 2004                                         0
FY 2003                                         0
FY 2002                                         2



ADOPTION AUTHORITY IN SURINAME:  The government office responsible for adoptions in Suriname is the Bureau of Family Rights and Affairs (Bureau Voor Familierechtelijke Zaken).

Address:
Bureau Voor Familerechtelijke Zaken
Grote Combeweg no. 7
Paramaribo, Suriname

Telephone Numbers:
+597 478759
+597 475763
+597 476485
Fax: +597 478759

Mailing Address:
Bureau Voor Familierechtelijke Zaken
Aan Postbus 67
Paramaribo, Suriname

Email Address:
bufazsur@hotmail.com
bufazsur@yahoo.com



ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ADOPTIVE PARENTS:  Prospective adoptive parents who are married must be at least 18 years older than the child.  Married prospective adoptive parents must be married for at least three years to adopt.  Single prospective adoptive parents must be at least 25 years of age.  The age difference between the parents and the child may not be more than 50 years for the father and 40 years for the mother.



RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS:  The Surinamese government has no residency requirements for prospective adoptive parents.



TIME FRAME:  The time frame for adoption processing varies.  The local adoption authority states that processing is handled on a case-by-case basis and ranges from months to years for foreign-based adoptions. 



ADOPTION AGENCIES AND ATTORNEYS:  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/or the licensing office of the appropriate state government agency in the U.S. state where the agency is located or licensed.

Please seeImportant Notice Regarding Adoption Agents and Facilitators at the Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs web site travel.state.gov.



ADOPTION FEES IN SURINAME:  The Surinamese government has no fees for adoption services, but prospective adoptive parents may be responsible for some associated costs such as hospital and orphanage fees.



ADOPTION PROCEDURES:  Prospective adoptive parents interested in adopting from Suriname should first contact the Bureau of Family Rights and Affairs, which assists in identifying a child to be placed with the prospective adoptive parents.

Once a specific child is identified, the adoption request is filed in quintuple with the Cantonal Judge in Suriname, together with the birth certificates of the adoptive child and the adoptive parent(s).

The Bureau of Family Rights and Affairs conducts an investigation to determine whether the request of the prospective adoptive parents is in the best interest of the adoptive child.   The investigation typically lasts three months, but can sometimes take much longer.

Court proceedings are held following the investigation.  The biological parents of the child may participate in the proceedings.  The proceedings are closed to the general public.  The personal appearance of the prospective adoptive parents is not required.

The custody decree is registered with the civil registry of births where the adopted child registered.



DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR ADOPTION IN SURINAME:

  • A home study.  A copy of the home study sent to USCIS will suffice;
  • Proof that the prospective adoptive parent(s) is living abroad.  The prospective parent(s) may submit an apartment lease, home ownership or tax documents.  If the prospective parent(s) resides in Suriname, passport with legal status including the stamp from the Surinamese government must be provided;
  • Marriage certificate of prospective adoptive parent(s), if applicable;
  • Birth certificates of the prospective adoptive parent(s);
  • Medical clearance for the prospective parent(s);
  • Job letter from the prospective parent(s)’ employer;
  • Statement from the judicial authorities that the couple has permission to bring the child into the U.S. or into a third country;
  • Statement from the judicial authorities that the couple, according to U.S. law, can adopt the child.


Note: The I-600A approval from USCIS will satisfy the last two documentary requirements.



AUTHENTICATING U.S. DOCUMENTS TO BE USED ABROAD:  The language describing the process of authenticating U.S. documents to be used abroad is currently under review. Please click on the following link for more information until the new language is finalized: http://www.travel.state.gov/law/info/judicial/judicial_701.html.



EMBASSY AND CONSULATE OF SURINAME IN THE US:

EMBASSY OF SURINAME
Van Ness Centre EVE Suite 108
4301 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Tel: (202) 244 7590
Fax: (202) 244 5878

CONSULATE GENERAL IN MIAMI
6303 Blue Lagoon Drive, Suite 325
Miami, FL 33126
Tel: (305) 265 4655



U.S. IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS:  Prospective adoptive parents are strongly encouraged to consult USCIS publication M-249, The Immigration of Adopted and Prospective Adoptive Children, as well as the Department of State publication, International Adoptions.  The USCIS publication is available at the USCIS web site. The Department of State publication International Adoptions can be found on the Bureau of Consular Affairs web site, travel.state.gov, under “intercountry adoption.”

Before completing an adoption abroad, prospective adoptive parents are strongly encouraged to read the requirements for filing Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative.  Please see the flyer “How Can Adopted Children Come to the United States” at the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs web site travel.state.gov.



U.S. EMBASSY IN SURINAME: Americans living or traveling abroad are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov/, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within the country of travel.  Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.  The Consular Section is located at:

U.S. Embassy Paramaribo
Dr. Sophieredmondstraat 129
Paramaribo, Suriname
Tel: +597 472900
Fax: +597 425788



APPLYING FOR A VISA AT THE U.S. EMBASSY IN PARAMARIBO:  Interviews for adoption cases are by appointment only and the adoptive parent(s) should contact the U.S. Embassy directly to make arrangements. 

NOTE: The U.S. Embassy in Paramaribo is not able to issue visas the same day as the interview.  Prospective parent(s) should plan for at least 2 days of processing time after the final interview.



ACQUIRING U.S. CITIZENSHIP: The language describing the acquisition of U.S. citizenship for adopted children is currently under review. Until the new language is finalized, please click on the following link for further information: http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/info/info_457.html.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Specific questions about adoption in Suriname may be addressed to the U.S. Embassy in Paramaribo. General questions regarding intercountry adoption may be addressed to the Office of Children’s Issues, U.S. Department of State, CA/OCS/CI, SA-29, 4th Floor, 2201 C Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20520-4818, toll-free Tel: 1-888-407-4747.

Useful information is also available from several other sources:

Telephone:

  • Toll Free - For information on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction, call Overseas Citizens Services at 1-888-407-4747. This number is available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Callers who are unable to use toll-free numbers, such as those calling from overseas, may obtain information and assistance during these hours by calling 1-202-501-4444.
  •  U.S. Department of State Visa Office - recorded information concerning immigrant visas for adopting children, (202) 663-1225.
  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services - recorded information for requesting immigrant visa application forms, 1-800-870-FORM (3676).

Internet :

  • Adoption Information Flyers: The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs web site at: http://travel.state.gov/ contains intercountry adoption information flyers like this one and the International Adoptions brochure.
  • Country Specific Information: The State Department has general information about hiring a foreign attorney and authenticating documents that may supplement the country-specific information provided in this flyer. In addition, the State Department publishes Country Specific Information for every country in the world, providing information such as location of the U.S. Embassy, health conditions, political situations, and crime reports. If the situation in a country poses a specific threat to the safety and security of American citizens that is not addressed in the CSI for that country, the State Department may issue a Travel Alert alerting U.S. citizens to local security situations. If conditions in a country are sufficiently serious, the State Department may issue a Travel Warning recommending that U.S. citizens avoid traveling to that country. These documents are available on the Internet at: http://travel.state.gov/ or by calling the State Department's Office of Overseas Citizen Services Toll Free at 1-888-407-4747. This number is available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Callers who are unable to use toll-free numbers, such as those calling from overseas, may obtain information and assistance during these hours by calling 1-202-501-4444.
  • USCIS web site - http://uscis.gov/.