The Adoption process in Colombia This document summarizes the Colombian
Adoption Process as interpreted by Almeida & Associates (Dr. Josefina Amezquita de Almeida), a Colombian law firm specializing
in Family Law. This document also provides an estimate of the costs involved in adopting a Colombian minor.
The legal
services described herein concentrate on legal and regulatory aspects of the adoption process in Colombia, and deal with judicial
and administrative procedures on behalf of parents seeking adoption of Colombian minors.
I. The Adoption Process
1.The
process starts with a letter that the prospective parents send to the government agency responsible for adoptions ( Instituto
Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar - ICBF (Colombian Family Welfare Institute). In that letter, the parents express their interest
in adopting a child or children, identify the attorney who will represent them before Colombian courts and government agencies,
and provide the name of the adoption agency that will conduct adoption related research and procedures in the U.S. This agency
must be approved by the Colombian government.
Enclosed with this letter they must send:
a. Certificate showing
that the chosen U.S. Adoption Agency has been authorized by ICBF.
b. Power of attorney
2. ICBF responds by
sending forms and instructions. Prospective parents complete and return forms and documents, including the home study performed
by the chosen U.S. adoption agency.
3. ICBF reviews completed forms / documents and accepts or rejects the adoption
request. If accepted, the application will enter in a waiting list that is served following a strict chronological order,
until the minor of the desired characteristics is found.
Parents are notified that a child has been assigned to them
in a letter that includes his / her picture, along with his / her medical history and personal records.
4. Prospective
parents must then respond as to whether or not they accept the child who has been assigned to them. If they accept, the ICBF
sets a date by which the prospective parents must travel to Colombia to meet the child and appear before an ICBF appointed
panel for interviews. Both parents must be present for this interview. After this interview the child will be placed in their
care.
5. If these initial steps are success fully completed, the adoption process is brought before the courts. The
law requires that both adopting parents be physically present when the demand of adoption is presented to family judge ( court
). After this process one parent can return to the U.S.A. and the other parent must remain in the country until the judicial
process is completed, which takes approximately two to three weeks.
6. Concurrently, passport expedition, emigration
procedures, and U.S. immigrant visa for the child are processed.
7. TIME
The ICBF recently announced that starting
in June 2003 the whole administrative process of child adopting will take only 6 months. This is a very important change since
before the whole process used to last 18 to 24 months. We hope that this reduced time will motivate applicants to adopt
a Colombian children in the near future.
8. AGE
The Colombian adoption law requires that at least one of the
adopting parents be over 25 years all of age.
9.Couple marry four year and under 35 years old, may adopt children
six months to two years old.
10.Couples 36 to 45 years old may adopt a child 3 years to 7 years old.
11. Couples
46 to 50 years old may adopt a child age 8 and up.
12. Single woman may adopt special needs only.
13. One
divorce each is permitted.
DOCUMENTS
1. Finger cards of F.B.I.
2. Home study conducted by a licensed
agency in the United States authorized by I.C.B.F.
3. Medical certificated of each parent concern their physical,
mental and emotional health, clearly expressing that the prospective parents do not suffer of any physical or mental illness
and that therefore they are fit to adopt a child.
This certificate must be issued by a medical doctor legally authorized.
4. Financial statements, prove of employment, home ownership, car ownership, bank statements.
5. Parent's
birth certificate.
6. Marriage certificate.
7. Three references of people that know the future parents for
a long time as couple certifying their ability to adopt a child.
8.A letter from the Adoption Agency in the U. S.
A. in which certifies that will provide post - placement services on the family, once they return from Colombia with their
adopted child. The Agency assumes responsibility for sending periodic reports to I.C.B.F. regarding the progress of the child's
adaptation to his - her new home and social environment, until the time when the child is naturalized in the United States.
Once the certificate of naturalization of the child is obtained, the U.S.A. agency have to send to I.C.B.F. copy of This Document
of the naturalisation of the child as American Citizen.
NOTE: All documents must be submitted in Spanish, or translated
into Spanish by a translator authorized by the Colombian Foreign Relations Minister.
9. Permit granted by the country
of residence of the adopting parents to legalize the intended adoption.
II. Costs
The following are the estimated
costs of a typical adoption process:
1. Attorney's fees (Colombia) including:
a. Judicial and administrative representation
throughout the entire process, until the child is authorized to leave the country.
b. Personal assistance in finding suitable
accommodations, and support during visits, interviews, etc. U.S.$4,000.oo
2.Communications and Translations (Colombia)
including:
a.Fax transmissions and E-mail.
b.Translation with and without legal stamping .U.S.$600.oo
3.Other
expenses (Colombia) including:
a. Child's U.S. Visa (U.S. Embassy)
b. Air and Ground Transportation, it depends
of the circumstances, if in or out of town.
c. Medical examination of the child ....U.S.$46.00
The Doctor for
this examination is recommended by the US Embassy.
d. Photocopies - Dossier ................U.S.$100
e. Taxes
f. Pictures
g. Passport
4. Room and Board for parents and child.
5. Air Transportation (round trip)
to Colombia for Parents and for child returning back home to U.S.A.
6. Other expenses (U.S.A.) including:
a. Home
Study ( U.S. Agency)
b. Attorney's Fees ( U.S.)
c. Notary
d. Consulate
Nevertheless, we reassure you that
we will do whatever is in our hands to keep the expenses down to the minimum, and we will give you the copy of the receipt
and or invoice.
Whatever questions or doubts you might have please feel free to contact Josefina, my electronic address
is :
adoptions@samerica.comJOSEFINA AMEZQUITA DE ALMEIDA
Almeida & Associates
Calle 122 No. 11D-71 ofc.105
Tel. +(571)
620-3760
Bogota D.C.
Cundinamarca, Colombia
South America
