San Francisco Adoption Attorneys

Assisting Clients with Adoption & Orphan Process

The adoption process, especially when tied to immigration is often very complicated. While it is not required, having an experienced adoption attorney on your side can greatly simplify and streamline the process. At the Law Offices of Shamieh, Shamieh & Ternieden, our team helps clients throughout the United States with an array of adoption-related matters.

We can assist you with orphan applications, immigrating an adopted child through the orphan process, and general overseas adoptions. Our San Francisco adoption attorneys have more than three decades of legal experience and have represented clients from around the globe.

How the Orphan Adoption Program Works

The United States has an orphan adoption program that allows U.S. citizens to adopt orphaned children from other countries and immigrate them to the U.S. In order to do so, you must meet certain eligibility requirements.

To be eligible, you must:

• Be a lawful citizen of the United States
• Be at least 25 years of age (if unmarried) at the time you file the Form I-600
• Show that your spouse (if married) intends to also adopt the child you adopt
• Demonstrate that you will provide the proper parental care for the child
• Prove that the child you intend to adopt is an “orphan” (according to U.S. immigration law)
• Establish that you (and, if married, your spouse) saw the child in person before or during the adoption process abroad or that you intend to adopt the child in the U.S. after he or she legally enters the country

In order to apply to adopt an orphan before you have a particular child in mind, you must file a Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition. If you have already identified a child you wish to adopt, you can file a Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative. Our firm can help you with this and any other aspect of the orphan adoption process.

Schedule a Consultation with Our Team

U.S. immigration law outlines who is considered an orphan, as well as who may adopt an orphan and immigrate them to the United States. Additionally, with any adoption, there can be a number of processes involved, including home studies, advance processing, and special cases.

Our San Francisco immigration lawyers can help you navigate these complex processes and ensure that you meet all of the eligibility requirements for adoption. We offer personalized legal representation and consistent communication every step of the way.