The process

I promised my next post would be all the nitty gritty on the adoption process in Haiti. It's quite detailed but will hopefully give you all an idea of why things take as long as they do. I won't feel bad if you don't read all of this : )


• Once the documents are completed and compiled, the entire dossier, containing the adoptive parents' documents and the prospective child's documents are submitted to IBESR (Haitian Social Services) to be studied, and approved by four different officials at the IBESR. This approval comes in form of a Adoption Authorization document. Usually, it takes several months for the IBESR approval process to be completed.
• Once the Adoption Authorization is issued, the entire dossier is taken to the Tribunal where all the dossier documents are evaluated for authenticity and the authorization to type up the adoption decree and judgment decree is given.
• The dossier and unsigned adoption and judgment decree are taken to the Parquet where the dossier is examined one more time. If all is found in order, the judge at the Parquet issues a letter of approval and the adoption decree and judgment decree are signed and stamped. The Parquet also legalizes the Court Declaration (Tribunal document).
• The adoption documents are submitted to the Department of Justice for further authentication.
• All adoption documents are submitted to Ministry of Foreign Affairs for additional authentication.
• At this point all adoption documents are submitted to the Archive Office where the documents are registered. The Archive Office issues an authenticity certificate that certifies all the adoption related signatures of the officials from the Tribunal, Parquet, Department of Justice and Foreign Affairs.
• The notary looks over all the documents and the original power of attorney that the adoptive gave and determines that all the requirements have been met to present to dossier to the Immigration Office and Ministry of Interior to obtain an adoption passport approval. A fee has to be paid to the Department of Contributions (DGI). This receipt has to be submitted to the Immigration Office with the adoption related documents.
• The adoption dossier has to be submitted to the Immigration Office which in turn forwards the entire dossier to the Ministry of Interior (MOI.)
• Once the dossier is brought via courier to the Ministry of Interior from the Immigration Office, it is registered and all documents are examined by lawyers for mistakes or inconsistencies. An orphanage representative has to attend an appointment at MOI to verify all information on the documents.
• If there is a mistake or an inconsistency on any of the documents, the orphanage representative is given the document(s) for correction or re-issuance. Sometimes, the MOI lawyers may not "like" a certain stamp or simply may find a spelling error. The documents have to be corrected.
• For many adoptions the MOI step has taken 12 or more months because MOI is very thorough in its examination of the documents. A letter of authorization is issued by the Director of Political Affairs to the Immigration Office that permits the issuance of an adoption passport for the adopted child. The adoption dossier and letter is sent back to the Immigration Office via courier.
• Once the file has returned from MOI, the orphanage representative collects the adoption dossier, fills out a passport form and passport photos of the adopted child for passport issuance.
• Application for Adoption Passport to Haitian Immigration.
• Submission of Visa Application to the U.S. Embassy for approval.
• Bring your child home to the United States!