Adopting in Jamaica

[happy789]

Hello
Has anyone known of a couple who successfully adopted from Jamaica and would like to share their story with me as I need help with adopting my relative. She is 18 months old and her father is not in her life and her mother can't care for her. We have already submited our I600A and done the home study. The parents have already met with CDA in Jamaica and signed over their rights to the child. I have been told however that the fact her father's name is on the birth certificate and she is not in an orphanage, that she will not be approved. She is living with her auntie as neither of us would want to put her in a children's home in Jamaica. I am Jamaican and my husband is american. If anyone has advise, that would be so much appreciated. We are taking care of her financially and just couldn't bear to know that they might tell us no. Please contact me if you know what I can do.

Thanks

[Nylah]

Re: Adopting in Jamaica



have you contacted a lawyer for some adivce yet?

I looked at a few web sites on the matter and I dont see them saying the above issue that you have outlined? Who told you about the child not being in an orphange being a problem? Was it an agency or just a person you know?

[happy789]

Re: Adopting in Jamaica

Oh I keep get conflicting information and wanted to see if there was anyone who went through a similar process. Immigration tells me one thing, the CDA in Jamaica tells me another, I see stories of people who have adopted children with both parents living and not being in an orphange and just cant figure out how they did it. I just get a little heartbroken becuase we are almost at the end of the process and just can't bear to get denied. The mother can't cope, father doesn't care, we care for her and eventhough Jamaica might grant us the license, immigration might not allow her to leave. sigh.

[seemiyah]

Re: Adopting in Jamaica

The Child Development Agency in Jamaica handles adoption, they would probably be your best bet to get accurate information.

http://www.cda.gov.jm/adoption_contd.php

this is from their site:

OUTLINE FOR THE ADOPTION PROCEDURE IN JAMAICA.


STEP 1. The Adoption Board issues a Pre-Adoption Form which should be completed by all applicants and returned to the Adoption Board by post or in person.

STEP 2. The completed Pre- Adoption Form when returned is reviewed by the Boards Office. An applicant who is considered suitable in the initial review is provided with an application form, a medical form and a listing of documents required. There is usually a period of four weeks for a response to be given from the time the Pre- Adoption Form is received I n the Office.

STEP3. On completion and return of all forms and documents requested, they are reviewed and satisfactory cases are assigned to our Assisstant Adoption Officers for further processing.

STEP4. Parents of children to be adopted and their consent to the adoption is requested.

STEP 5. An Home Study/ assessment is done of the applicant in the form of home visits, interviews, counseling etc. A written Home Study is completed at the end of the process. The applicant who lives abroad should submit a home study report.

The applicant is informed of his/her case status after the above is completed, this usually takes four weeks.

STEP 6. The Adoption Board assists applicants to identify children who are available for adoption. In general an overseas applicant requires a licence and he/she may come to Jamaica to decide on an available child.

STEP 7. Before an adoption is completed , locally placed children and their prospective adoptive parents are supervised by local Social Worker’s from the Adoption Board’s Office for a period between 3 and 4 months, e.g. Licence, Jamaicans abroad.

STEP 8. Cases that appear to be satisfactory are submitted to a review committee of the Adoption Board.

STEP 9. An applicant approved by the committee is required to make a formal application to the court. The applicant’s case worker will provide guidance on this process.

STEP 10. A court hearing is arranged for the
their parish of residence.

STEP 11. The applicant and the child to be adopted are required to meet with their caseworker for a briefing on a day prior to the court hearing.

STEP 12. The applicant and the child to be adopted locally are required to attend the Court hearing. The Licence applicant is not usually required to attend court, however the court can request his/her attendance. The child is always required to attend court and he/she can be accompanied by a guardian.

It is at the Court hearing that an application for a Licence/Adoption Order is heard and it ids here that it can be granted or denied.

NOTES

(i) if a child is identified for an applicant early in the adoption process, the entire process is usually takes between 4-7 months to be completed from the time all documents are received at the Adoption Board’s Office to the time of the Court hearing.

(ii) the adoption birth certificates are issued by the Registrar General’s Department and these can be applied for (4 ) four weeks after the court hearing.

(iii) The form licence, issued to a licence applicant is available at the Court Office where the matter was heard two (2) weeks after the Court hearing. This document is not to be taken to the Registrar General’s Department but should be held for immigration purposes.

(iv) A child who goes abroad in licence keeps his/her original identity until legally adopted by the applicant who is issued with the licence in the Jamaican court. The applicant should retain the services of an adoption lawyer in his/her country of citizenship and complete the adoption in the overseas country.

[Gen]

Re: Adopting in Jamaica

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: happy789</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Oh I keep get conflicting information and wanted to see if there was anyone who went through a similar process. Immigration tells me one thing, the CDA in Jamaica tells me another, I see stories of people who have adopted children with both parents living and not being in an orphange and just cant figure out how they did it. I just get a little heartbroken becuase we are almost at the end of the process and just can't bear to get denied. The mother can't cope, father doesn't care, we care for her and eventhough Jamaica might grant us the license, immigration might not allow her to leave. sigh. </div></div>

someone on here did and I am sure when they see this you will be answered.

[happy789]

Re: Adopting in Jamaica

Well I spoke with the Director of the CDA this morning and she is unsure how things will work with immigration. She has a similar case and is waiting to see how things will happen for them. I cant believe there has only been I other case other than mine. She is under the impression that we will not be approved but I get the opposite feedback elsewhere. I figure speaking with someone who actually did it would be helpful.

[mountaingal]

Re: Adopting in Jamaica

the one or two people i know who adopted kids from jamaica told me the system is set up purposely to be difficult, i think out of fear of the child being taken abroad and abused. don't know how true that is. but i know it took them a long time for the process to go through.


i also hear that the government prefers that children be taken care of extended family in jamaica as a first choice.