A statement by Alina, Adoptive mom from Romania:
Click pentru a citi în limba română
“You and I are Romanian citizens, and we have heard of the thousands of children living as orphans in our native country.
For the last decade, these children could only hope for adoption, because Romania prohibited adoption to foreign countries. But now, adoption has become a real possibility for families where at least one adoptive parent is a Romanian citizen.
Unfortunately, this rule does limit the number of prospective parents. But Romanians like us have close ties to our native country, a strong connection to these children, and a close-knit community here in the US. So we know that even if the number of parents allowed to adopt these children is small, it is enough.
Romanian adoptions were closed to people outside Romania for over 10 years due to imperfections in the adoption system. Let’s show Romania that we are still worthy of their trust and that their children could be ours as well. We are fortunate the Romanian Government has revisited this issue despite international and national controversy and it has (since April 2012) arrived to the understanding that the number of Romanian adopted children must increase for the benefit of the children, the shorter their stay in an institutionalized environment, the higher their chance of success. While adopting internationally one should always consider maintaining the child’s original culture, which is so easy for Romanians leaving outside Romania, we are still proud of our heritage and language and Romanian culture comes easy to us, we leave it daily anyway. Romanian children would not feel lost when they arrive in United States, we speak their language, we cherish their values and have embraced their culture when we were born, not only in a quick preparation for their arrival. Welcome Home our children!”
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Congratulations to the Kleinhenz Family who just completed their adoption from Romania. God Bless your new family!
To learn more about adopting from Romania, you may contact us, call our office at (502) 423-5780, or directly email Viktoriia Serediuk-Buz, at viktoriia@nightlight.org.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Romania is a small Southeastern European country that borders Black Sea, Hungary, Moldova, Ukraine and Bulgaria. Romania is known for its beautiful forests in Transylvania region and Carpathian Mountain. The capital is Bucharest. Romania is party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention). Therefore, all intercountry adoptions between Romania and the United States must meet the requirements of the Convention and U.S. law implementing the Convention.
Romanian adoptions are conducted through a collaborative effort of a Hague accredited adoption agency in the US and by the Romanian Central Adoption Authority (National Authority for the Protection of the Child’s Rights).
CHILDREN AVAILABLE
- Both boys and girls are available for adoption.
- Children as young as 3 years and as old as fifteen are available for adoption. (wait time for a referral of a child under 5 years old can be up to 2 years.)
- Sibling groups are available.
- Children with Special Needs are available for adoption.
ELIGIBILITY TO ADOPT
PROCESS
- Make application to Nightlight Christian Adoptions.
- Begin your adoption Home Study and submit form I-800A to USCIS.
- Begin to assemble your dossier. We will give you detailed instructions.
- Once USCIS has approved your adoption petition, you will receive your I-797C provisional approval notice.
- Once your USCIS approval has been received and your dossier is complete, you will be registered to adopt in Romania.
- The Romanian Central Authority will add you to a list of waiting families and it can take 12 to 24 months to receive a referral.
- Upon referral acceptance, Nightlight will begin processing the family’s I-800.
- Once I-800 provisional approval is received, Visa application form DS-260 is filed in order to obtain Article 5 Letter.
- Romanian Central Authority will then invite you to travel to Romania to meet and bond with your child (a minimum of 30 days for bonding).
- At the end of the bonding period, your adoption court hearing will be scheduled.
- You must wait 15 business days to receive the final court decree.
- Once you have received the court decree, the local authorities will help you obtain a new birth certificate and passport for your child.
- The final step is to obtain the US visa for your child and returning home.
- The children reside in orphanages or foster families while awaiting adoption.
- Romanian adoptions can take on average from 18 to 36 months to complete.
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Please contact Viktoriia Serediuk-Buz, at viktoriia@nightlight.org or (502) 423-5780 with any questions.
Romania Adoption Program Details:
- Children will be 3 years of age or older
- At least one adoptive parent should hold a Romanian passport
- No more than 45 years between the age of the parent and the child
More Information on Romanian Adoptions
Romania Adoption Overview and Fees
U.S. Relations with Romania
U.S Department of State Information on Romania