Trinidad and Tobago Adoption

CHILDREN AVAILABLE

• Children of either gender from toddler (rare) to teen are eligible for intercountry adoption.  
• Sibling groups are cleared for intercountry adoption.
• Children can be relatively healthy or have a variety of medical and/or developmental diagnoses.  
• Openness to older children, sibling groups, and any medical or developmental diagnoses may positively impact a family’s referral wait time although Nightlight cannot predict how long the wait will take for any individual case.

ELIGIBILITY TO ADOPT 

Single men and women as well as heterosexual married couples may apply for an adoption from Trinidad and Tobago. The country does not have age or income requirements at this time, but applicants must still meet the requirements of their state of residence and the US federal government as well as satisfy the Authority and the Court in Trinidad and Tobago as to their suitability. Applicants will be assessed case by case and must undergo a psychological evaluation as well as a clinical interview through an approved provider. 

PROCESS 

1. For a proposed kinship adoption of a relative child, collect all required documents and provide to Nightlight’s Coordinator (proof of orphan status, such as death certificates, relinquishment of rights, school and medical records, etc.).
2. Families must open their own case with the Children’s Authority in Port of Spain.  The Children’s Authority will contact Nightlight when a caseworker has been assigned and the case is ready to proceed.
3. Make application to Nightlight Christian Adoptions.
4. Complete your adoption home study and submit form I-600A to USCIS.
5. Begin to assemble your dossier. We will give you detailed instructions.
6. Once USCIS has approved your application, you will receive your I-600A approval notice.
7. When your dossier is complete, it is shipped to Trinidad and Tobago and you will be registered to adopt.  
8. The referral wait time is unpredictable and varies depending on a family’s specific child request. In kinship adoptions, families can expect more expeditious processing times.
9. Issuance of a referral by Trinidad and Tobago’s Children’s Authority.
10. Complete the official referral review with Nightlight’s Social Services Department.
11. Upon referral acceptance, Nightlight will begin processing the family’s I-600 for kinship cases and non-kinship families will get ready to travel.
12. Once the I-600 is approved, kinship adoptions will move directly into the court and US visa process.  Families adopting a child not related to them, must stay in Trinidad and Tobago for roughly 12 consecutive months.  Following the visitation and bonding periods, the court and US visa processes will take place before a family may return to the US with the child.

TRAVEL

A referral from Trinidad and Tobago will include a comprehensive social and medical history of the child, if known, and the current health and development of the child. We highly recommend that you have this information reviewed by a doctor who specializes in international adoption before you make a decision to proceed.  Adoptions from Trinidad and Tobago require 1-2 trips for kinship families to attend court and undergo the US visa process. Non-kinship families must be prepared to stay in Trinidad and Tobago for about 12 months, comprised of 10 weekly supervised interaction sessions, a 6-month probationary custody period, followed by the court process (granting either a Guardianship or a full and final adoption), and the US visa process. 

POST ADOPTION 

Within 30 days of your arrival home, you must have a home visit by your home study provider. The legislation of Trinidad and Tobago does not require post-adoption reporting unless the court specifically requests it in individual cases. However, Nightlight requires a minimum of 3 post placement/post adoption reports to be completed by your home study provider at 6 months, 12 months, and 2 years post arrival home. Adoptive families must still comply with any post-adoption reporting required by their US state of residence and Nightlight, in the best interest of the child.  In addition, post placement/adoption reports are required for the finalization of any guardianship cases in the family’s state of residence, prior to issuance of the Certificate of US Citizenship. 

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 monique@nightlight.org or call (336) 899-0068

Trinidad and Tobago Booklet and Fee Schedule 

Compare International Programs

Agreement for International Services