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Adoption Info -> International Adoptions -> Vietnam -> What To Expect VietnamPlease Note: Currently PLAN is not taking new applications for our Vietnam program. Please check back for updates.
Adorable babies are being placed from Vietnam!
Vietnam is a small country with a rich history and culture. This ancient civilization is a combination of Vietnamese, Chinese, Khmer and more than 50 highland minority groups. The long struggle for independence has given the Vietnamese a deep sense of national pride; however, the years of war have taken their toll on the economy. The countryside, where a large part of the population lives, is locked in poverty, leaving many infants and children orphaned or abandoned. The Vietnamese people greatly value the lives of all their children and do the best they can with limited means to provide support and education for children, including those in orphanages.
PLAN’S HISTORY IN VIETNAM: When PLAN became licensed in 1975, its initial focus was on helping the Vietnamese orphans. PLAN’s long history of respect and commitment to the children of Vietnam provides valuable experience—a great asset to share with adoptive families.
WHY CONSIDER ADOPTION FROM VIETNAM?
- Only licensed agencies are allowed to place children from Vietnam. The licensing requirements are quite extensive. Agencies working in Vietnam to place children in families must also make strong humanitarian commitments to help orphans, seniors and those with physical and mental medical conditions.
- Assistance and support provided to families while in Vietnam
- Many infants; most are abandoned
- No known age requirements for adoptive parents
- Will work with single women on case-by-case basis
- Both boys and girls are available; childless couples need to be open to either gender
DOSSIER REQUIREMENTS: Your dossier (pronounced "doss-e-aye") is the collection of documents required by the specific countries in order to begin the international adoption process. PLAN’s Vietnam coordinators will provide details and assistance with the dossier completion process. Because some documents are time sensitive, it is advisable not to complete your dossier until discussing the process with a PLAN coordinator. Your dossier will include:
- USCIS pre-approval (I-600A)
- Homestudy – under eight pages preferred, but must meet USCIS requirements; same homestudy must be used for USCIS and Vietnam dossier.
- Certified marriage certificates – one required – it is advisable to order an extra.
- Local police clearance – one for each parent
- Employment letters – one for each parent working outside the home
- Medical statements (forms provided)
- Application forms (provided)
- Letter of application/passports
- Photos
GETTING READY:
- Obtain two certified marriage certificates
- Pre-file I-600A with your local USCIS
- Obtain passports—necessary for both parents regardless of whether both parents travel
PREADOPT EDUCATION: Preadopt education is required for all adopting families. If your homestudy agency does not offer at least ten hours of approved, adoption-specific education, you will need to take PLAN’s adoption course. For more information about preadopt education, please click here.
CHILDREN AVAILABLE: Many of the referred children are infants, many under six months old. Although uncommon, some toddlers and young sibling groups may also be available; however, most are young infants, usually under nine months by the time they arrive home. Most of the children available for adoption have been abandoned and live in orphanages.
FAMILY REQUIREMENTS: Vietnam has no known age, size of family, or family income restrictions; they will place children with single women but not single men. Childless couples must be open to either gender. Vietnam law does not allow placement with homosexuals.
REFERRAL & PROCESSING TIME: Once the dossier is submitted to the Department of International Adoptions (DIA), the current referral time is approximately six to nine months. When a child is proposed, photos, medical, birth certificate and a statement of HIV, Hep B, Hep C & VDRL test results are provided. Processing time for adoption in Vietnam from acceptance of referral until travel date is currently estimated to be approximately three to four months. The time between acceptance of referral and travel will depend on two things:
- filing an I-600 with the child’s documents to USCIS in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) approximately 60 days
- final completion of process in Vietnam
It is important to note that all children are tested for HIV, HEPB, HEPC, and Syphilis, but there are no guarantees of the test results.
LENGTH OF TRAVEL: The process to complete the adoption and obtain the baby’s visa will take approximately two weeks. PLAN will place children from both Hanoi in the North and Vung Tau in the South. All visas will be processed in Hanoi. The traveling parent(s) will receive assistance and support during the entire process.
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