On April 1, 2008, the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (the Convention) went into force for the United States. It establishes important standards and safeguards to protect intercountry adoptions. In this country, the U.S. Department of State has overall responsibility for implementing the Hague Convention, although the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) within the Department of Homeland Security also plays a significant role. The Department of State website is the main source of information for intercountry adoption from Hague and non-Hague Convention countries.
This section contains resources for professionals working with children or families in intercountry adoption, including U.S. children being placed in other countries ("outgoing cases").
Adoption
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Provides information on intercountry adoption from both Hague and non-Hague countries.
Hague Transition Cases
U.S. Department of State - Bureau of Consular Affairs
Describes the process for handling cases in which prospective adoptive parents started adoptions from Convention countries before April 1, 2008, which have yet to be completed.
Home Study Requirements
U.S. Department of State - Bureau of Consular Affairs
Outlines the requirements for home studies for Hague Convention and non-Hague Convention countries.
Outgoing Hague Convention cases
Adoptions From the United States
U.S. Department of State - Bureau of Consular Affairs (2009)
Provides information for adoption professionals about the process for handling adoptions from the United States to other countries.
A Guide to Outgoing Cases from the United States (PDF - 399 KB)
U.S. Department of State - Bureau of Consular Affairs (2021)
Provides a general overview of requirements for outgoing adoption cases under the Hague Adoption Convention, the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA), and its implementing regulations.