Hague Evaluation

OUR CONSULTANTS HAVE EXPERTISE IN MILITARY & FOREIGN SERVICE FAMILIES

Families living overseas have unique intercountry adoption issues. Determining domicile residence is an issue for such families under the Hague Convention.

IMPORTANT INFO:

If you are living on a military installation or within an Embassy compound overseas, your residence will be treated as if it is in the US by Department of State and Homeland Security standards. However, if you live "on the economy" and the country is a Hague-signatory nation (i.e. Germany and England), you should get guidance from that nation's Central Authority. If the nation has not signed the Convention, it is still prudent to inform the relevant social services authority of your pending adoption.

While military families may be encouraged to refer to the SOFA or other agreements as to domocile residence, it is our opinion that you should also clear everything with the Central Authority of that nation if the country has in fact implemented the Convention. In this way, you can avoid any immigration/residence problems that may become barriers in the future or put your adoption at risk. Again, if the nation is not a Hague-signatory country it is still good practice to inform the relevant social services authority of your pending adoption.

NOTE:

The nation's Central Authority should be informed of exactly which adoption providers you are working with and any other relevant information about the pending adoption. Even if you are working with a seasoned professional who provides services in regions like Europe (i.e. American trained providers living in Germany or England), don't assume that the Central Authority of the foreign nation where you reside recognizes the individual's credentials for providing the service. Each nation has its own approvide agency/provider standards (called accreditation in the US). Discuss this issue both with the adoption provider/consultant with whom you are working as well as the Central Authority. 

FINALLY:

Because your family circumstances are unique, we encourage you to use adoption agencies that have a history of serving families living and working overseas for the US government. Don't just assume that they have that experience because they recently completed such an adoption, ask them how many they have completed and how recently.  Are they specialists in particular countries and do they have relationships with specific agencies that they make the vast majority of referrals to? If yes, check out that agency!

Our consultants have extensive experience providing home study services to families living overseas. Because our consultants are either members of military families and/or have themselves lived overseas, the expertise is tailored to families with this unique life experience.

OUR CONSULTANTS HAVE INTIMATE EXPERIENCE LIVING AND WORKING OVERSEAS, INCLUDING KNOWLEDGE OF BOTH FOREIGN SERVICE AND MILITARY FAMILIES

NEED A HOME STUDY?

OUR CONSULTANTS HAVE A LONG-TERM HISTORY PROVIDING HOME STUDY SERVICES FOR FAMILIES LIVING OVERSEAS

Photo credit: US DOD & found at www.dod.mil