Iran Adoption

CHILDREN AVAILABLE 

• Children of either gender from infancy to less than 12 years of age are eligible for Guardianship and subsequent adoption from Iran and referred to families through the local courts/Behzisti.  Most Iranian children eligible for intercountry adoption are relatively healthy or have mild/correctable medical diagnoses.  

ELIGIBILITY TO ADOPT 

Childless, heterosexual couples of Shia Muslim faith married for at least five years and with one spouse at least 30 years of age can adopt from Iran. The prospective adoptive father must have Iranian citizenship or Iranian/US dual citizenship. At least one spouse must have US citizenship. Single women of Shia faith with dual Iranian/US citizenship may adopt female children only, single men are not accepted. Single women can expect an especially strenuous process and must be prepared to face many hurdles. Muslim prospective adopters without a criminal record and in good health with sufficient financial capacity to support a child are eligible. If a couple can provide a medical record of documented infertility in at least one spouse, the court may exempt them from the five-year marriage and minimum age requirements. 

PROCESS 

1. For a proposed kinship adoption of a relative child, collect all required child documents and provide to Nightlight coordinator (proof of orphan status; parent death certificates or relinquishment of rights; medical evaluation; school and social report).
2. For all adoptions, complete our online application 
3. Complete our International Adoption Services Contract & pay the Monitoring and Oversight fee. The Monitoring and Oversight fee is paid to the accrediting entity designated by the US Department of State/Office of Children’s Issues, the US Central Authority.
4. Orientation meeting with Nightlight Staff, reviewing the intercountry adoption process from Iran. Review and return Service Plan. 
5. Begin your Home Study with Nightlight or an approved Hague Accredited agency that is identified and approved by Nightlight.
6. Once your Home Study has been completed, Nightlight will review the Home Study and assist you with preparing your I-600A (Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition): https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-600a.pdf.
7. Families may now file their application with Behzisti but cannot accept a referral until an approved I-600A has been received.
8. Iran Dossier: Nightlight will assist you in putting together the packet of documents required by the local courts and the US embassy.
9. Receive approval of the I-600A. 
10. Submit your complete dossier for review by Nightlight.  Dossiers can be hand-carried to Iran.
11. Families are now ready to travel and present themselves in person to request a referral (if not issued previously).
12. Upon receipt of a referral, Nightlight social services staff will review the specific child referral - medical, social, psychological reports with the family.
13. If the referral is accepted, the family will undergo the 6-month probationary custody period (requiring clinical supervision from both Iran as well as the family’s home study agency), followed by the Guardianship process with the court and then by the I-600 and US visa processes.
14. Complete a minimum of 3 post placement reports and finalize the adoption via the court in your state of residence.

TRAVEL

The Iran program requires a single stay that lasts approximately 12 consecutive months.  Families should enter this stay with the clear understanding that at no point in time do we expect that any Iranian requirement, including the probationary custody period, will be shortened or waived.  The trip begins with the wait for a referral (if not issued prior to travel).  Once a referral has been presented and accepted, the case moves through the probationary custody period, then on to the court Guardianship process, and finally into the I-600 and US visa processes.  Families can return home once a visa has been granted. Your child will arrive home under a Guardianship from a local Iranian court.  This means that you must finalize your adoption in your state of residence by petitioning the court.  Following finalization, you can obtain the child’s Certificate of US Citizenship and US passport. 

POST ADOPTION 

Within 30 days of your arrival home, you must have a home visit by your home study provider. Post-placement/adoption reports are required at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months from Guardianship.  In accordance with state law, at least three reports must be generated by a social worker.  Once the adoption has been finalized, reports can be family generated, if permissible by state law.  Notarized reports must be sent to Nightlight.  Iran may request family-generated reports until the child turns 18. 

As a Hague accredited agency, you can be confident that Nightlight programs are regularly evaluated and monitored for excellence in both process and service. Our home study services are recognized by our peers as educational and thoroughly completed for the benefit of our clients.

You can count on Nightlight to be there for you long after your adoption is complete too. Our team is available to help answer questions and provide guidance as you navigate parenting your adopted child. You are not alone!

Please open our International Quicklook spreadsheet to give you an overview of the wide variety of international programs available through Nightlight.

To get started email abigail@nightlight.org or call (336) 899-0068

Iran Booklet and Fee Schedule 

Compare International Programs

Agreement for International Services