Jamaica Adoption Program

Children between the ages of 6 weeks and 18 years are eligible for adoption through the Jamaican Adoption Authority. However, according to US regulations, USCIS will not process the adoption of a child if the I-600A has not been submitted prior to the child’s 16th birthday. We can only assist families who are planning to adopt children under age 16 and they are able to complete their home study and submit USCIS I-600A prior to the child’s 16th birthday.

• Applicants must be at least 25 years of age.
• At least 18 years age difference between prospective adoptive parents and the adoptive child.
• Both single and married individuals can adopt.
• Income: Must meet US standards of 125% over poverty

1. 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. 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 IAAME, 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 through Jamaica. 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. Complete your pre-adoption application form to the CDA Child Development Agency, the Adoption Authority for Jamaica.
7. Once your Home Study has been completed, Nightlight will review the Home Study and assist you with preparing your I-600A Advance Processing of Orphan Petition for US Immigration  https://www.uscis.gov/i-600a
8. Jamaica Dossier: Nightlight will assist you in putting together the packet of documents required by the Jamaican Adoption Authority.
9. With a relative adoption, the process in Jamaica can move quickly and you may not be required to complete the in-country residence of 3 months for bonding.
10. Receive approval of the I-600A (average length of time for processing is 9 weeks).
11. Receive a Guardianship License from Jamaica and a social worker's report from the CPFSA.
12. Nightlight Clinical staff will review specific child referral – medical, social, psychological reports with the family, recognizing the child is often well known to the family and the family likely provided the staff member with the referral information.
13. Complete I-600 application and submit to USCIS – NBC for review. Nightlight will assist with this process. 
14. After the approval of the I-600, the parents will travel to Jamaica for the Visa interview with the US Embassy in Kingston.  This trip usually takes around 2 weeks.  Before traveling, confirm, with the CDA that they have approved your process.
15. You will receive a Guardianship License from the Jamaican court. You will be required to complete a US final adoption once you return home with your child.
16. Complete US VISA process at the US Embassy (Guidance is provided by Nightlight staff).
17. Complete a minimum of 3 post placement reports with your Home Study provider once you return home.

• Families are required to make 2 trips for their adoption.  The first trip is for the court hearing.  Your caseworker in Jamaica will communicate the details with you.  This trip should take less than a week.  The final trip includes the Visa Interview at the US Embassy in Kingston.  This trip takes about 2 weeks. Upon completion, your child will be able to travel home with you to the US on a Guardianship license.

Your child will arrive home on a Guardianship License issued by the Jamaican Court.  You must complete the finalization of the adoption in the US state where you reside.  Jamaica’s Adoption Authority (CPFSA) requires post placement reporting every six weeks for the first three months and then every three months until the adoption is finalized.  There is a minimum of 3 required, even if the adoption is finalized in less than 18 weeks.  Jamaica requires that we send hard copies of these reports to their agency in Kingston.  

Once the adoption is finalized, you will also need to file form N600 with USCIS to apply for your child’s citizenship.  https://www.uscis.gov/n-600

Please call (502) 423-5780 or e-mail Kaitlyn, Kaitlyn.howard@nightlight.org with any questions.