Many phone calls are still coming into the church and one of the main questions I wanted to answer was the information about what “Humanitarian Parole” is for the Orphans of Haiti.
Here is the criteria… Keeping in mind the dates are very important.
There are two categories of children who currently qualify for humanitarian parole:
Category 1:
Children who have been legally confirmed by the Government of Haiti as orphans eligible for intercountry adoption who were in the process of being adopted by Americans prior to January 12, 2010 and meet the below criteria.
Required Criteria for Category 1:
Evidence of availability for adoption, which MUST include at least one of the following:
- Full and final Haitian adoption decree;
- Government of Haiti Custody grant to prospective adoptive parents for emigration and adoption;
- Secondary evidence in lieu of the above.
Evidence of suitability for adoption, which MUST include at least one of the following:
- Notice of Approval of Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition;
- Current FBI fingerprints and background security check clearances;
- Physical custody in Haiti plus a security background check.
Category 2:
Children being adopted by U.S. citizens prior to January 12, 2010, with whom the adoptive parents have already established a genuine relationship, and for whom there is evidence that the children are available for adoption.
Required Criteria for Category 2:
Significant evidence of a relationship between the prospective adoptive parents and the child AND of the parents’ intention to complete the adoption, which could include the following:
- Proof of travel by the prospective adoptive parents to Haiti to visit the child;
- Photos of the child and prospective adoptive parents together;
- An Adoption Service Provider “Acceptance of Referral” letter signed by the prospective adoptive parents;
Documentary evidence that the prospective adoptive parents initiated the adoption process prior to January 12, 2010 with intent to adopt the child (filed Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition, and/or Form I-600, Petition to Classify an Orphan as an Immediate Relative, completed a home study, located an ASP to work with in Haiti, etc.).
Evidence of the child’s availability for adoption, which could the following:
- IBESR (Haitian Adoption Authority) approval;
- Documentation of legal relinquishment or award of custody to the Haitian orphanage;
- Secondary evidence in lieu of the above.
- Evidence of suitability for adoption, which MUST include at least one of the following:
- Notice of Approval of Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition; OR
- Current FBI Fingerprints and background security check clearances.
We understand that many Americans have been deeply touched by the plight of Haitian children, including many who may have been orphaned by the recent earthquake.
Before children can be taken to the United States, it first has to be certain that the child is indeed an orphan. Sometimes this is not as clear as it might first seem. Many children who have lost parents have other living family members in Haiti who can care for them. And some children who have been residing in orphanages were placed there temporarily by parents who could not care for them; in most of these cases the parents did not intend to permanently relinquish their parental rights. Family reunification efforts should be given top priority.
