Adoption Agencies in Honduras

Overview

Honduras is not a party to the Hague Convention.

Who Can Adopt

You must meet eligibility requirements in the United States as set by the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), as well as those of Honduras.

Honduras country requirements include:

• Heterosexual married couples and female singles may adopt. Married couples must be married for a minimum of 3 years and apply jointly for the adoption of a child.
• Adoptive parents must be in good physical, medical and mental health and free of criminal conviction, including that relating to moral character.
• Must meet US Poverty Guidelines.
• Demonstrated ability to provide a safe family environment and meet the needs of a child, including an understanding of risks, developmental delays, identified and potential medical needs, and the adjustment course for an internationally adopted child.
• Applicants must complete Adoptive Parent Training and Education, including awareness of how to maintain the child’s connection to culture and heritage.
• Agreement to complete all Country and US requirements, including a period of post-adoption reports required.

Children Awaiting Adoption

Every attempt is made to place a child with a family in-country before determining that a child is eligible for intercountry adoption. In addition, the child must meet the US definition of an orphan.

Boys and girls under the age of 15 years are eligible for adoption. Children under 14 years of age need to be adopted through IHNFA. The adoption of children over 14 years of age go through the family courts.

Prospective adoptive parent(s) may identify a child. The child must still meet adoption requirements of Honduras and the United States. Children will also be identified for prospective adoptive parent(s). There is no gender selection. Siblings are rare.

How to Adopt

Choose an Accredited Adoption Service Provider. Starting July 14, 2014, under the Universal Accreditation Act of 2012 (UAA), prospective adoptive parents must work with an accredited or approved adoption service provider. A prospective adoptive parent should confirm with the National Benefits Center if they need an Adoption Service Provider for their adoption, if before July 13, 2013, they filed a Form I-600 or I-600A application, or started the adoption with the foreign competent authority (as determined by the Department of State).

Apply to be Found Eligible to Adopt – USCIS Form I-600A.

Submit adoption application, which is reviewed by the Honduran Family Court for children over 14 years of age and to the Instituto Hondureño de la Niñez y la Familia (IHNFA) for children under 14 years of age.

There are 2-3 trips needed to complete an adoption from Honduras. The first trip is approximately 1 week. If married, both must travel. The second trip is 6-8 weeks, or can be divided into 2 separate trips. If 3 trips, one spouse of the couple must make the 3rd trip.

Referral of a child will be made by Instituto Hondureño de la Niñez y la Familia (IHNFA). The family accepts or refuses the referral. Individual cases and circumstances affect the time frame and waiting period.

Apply for the Child to be Found Eligible for Adoption USCIS Form I-600.

Finalization or Obtain custody/guardianship of the child if the adoption will take place back in the United States.

Obtain child’s birth certificate and passport.

Obtain U.S. immigrant visa from the United States. If IR 3 grants custody of the child to the prospective adoptive parent(s). The child becomes a Legal Permanent Resident upon entering the US.

Adoptees entering on an IR4 visa become Legal Permanent Residents upon admission to the United States, but do not automatically acquire U.S. citizenship. They will obtain US citizenship based on the date of the US final adoption decree. They child must be under the age of 18 at that time, residing in the US and in the legal custody or physical custody of the adopting parent(s).

Child Citizenship Act

For adoptions finalized abroad: The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 allows the child to acquire American citizenship when they enter the United States as lawful permanent resident.

For adoptions to be finalized in the United States: The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 allows your child to acquire American citizenship when an adoption decree is issued by a US court. Failure to obtain citizenship, may put your child’s status in jeopardy.

After Adoption

Honduras does not specify a supervisory period. Your Adoption Service Provider may have requirements for Post Adoptive Reports.

U.S. Embassy in Country and in U.S.

U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa

Avenida La Paz

Tegucigalpa M.D.C.

Honduras

Tel: (504) 2236-9320

Email: usahonduras@state.gov

Website: https://www.usembassy.gov/honduras/

Embassy of Honduras

3007 Tilden Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20008

Tel: (202) 966-7702

Email: embassy@hondurasemb.org

Website: http://www.hondurasemb.org

NOTE: Honduras also has consulates in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, Phoenix, San Francisco, San Juan, and Tampa.

Office of Children’s Issues

U.S. Department of State

CA/OCS/CI

SA-17, 9th Floor

Washington, DC 20522-1709

Tel: 1-888-407-4747

Email: AskCI@state.gov

Internet: adoption.state.gov

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

For questions about immigration procedures, call the National Customer Service Center (NCSC) 1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833).

Or, contact USCIS in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, at:

Tel: 011-504-236-9320 ext. 4500

Email: USCISTGU.Inquiries@dhs.gov