Adoption from Vietnam – Some additional information

Six years ago, the Adoption Agreement between the US and Vietnam was terminated because of some “irregularities” in Vietnam, including accusations of baby-selling. In September this year, the Agreement was re-instated, but with major changes.

Potential adopting parents are often interested in adopting infants or older nieces and nephews. In most cases, this is no longer possible. The new adoption agreement is called the Special Adoption Program and it allows the adoption of only three types of children:

· Children with medical conditions such as HIV and children with disabilities,
· Children at least five years of age, up to 15 years old,
· Children in biological sibling groups or two or more, with at least one of the siblings under 16 years of age.

The second major change in the Special Adoption Program is that the children will be chosen by the Vietnamese government. That means that the Vietnamese government agencies will provide the prospective adopting parents with information about one or more children who are eligible for adoption. The parents can choose one of the children, or decline to choose any.

The third major change is that there are only two adoption agencies in the US who can take part in the Special Adoption Program. They are Dillon International and Holt International Children’s Services. Only these two agencies can work directly with the Vietnamese authorities in the processing of adoption cases.

International adoptions are a very in-depth process. They are not as simple as filing an I-130 for your relatives. Adoptions require a Home Study to determine the suitability of the parents. There are several pages of questions that are used to determine the parents’ social, moral, medical and financial background. An immigration services provider can be of help in completing these items for the Home Study.

The adoption procedures could take two or three years and could cost between $20,000 to $30,000.

Here is a brief Adoption Timeline:

1. Apply online to Holt International or Dillon International to start the process.
2. Holt or Dillon will arrange for a Home Study and will prepare the I-800A for submission to USCIS
3. Apply to Vietnam Authorities to Adopt and be Matched with a Child (Vietnam government will provide information about one or more children who are eligible for adoption).
4. Apply to USCIS (I-800) for the Child to be Found Provisionally Eligible for Immigration to the US and Receive U.S. Agreement to Proceed with the Adoption
5. Adopt the Child in Vietnam
6. Apply for a U.S. Immigrant Visa for Your Child and Bring Your Child Home

We understand and sympathize with the Vietnamese and US governments’ attempt to provide good homes to children who are often forgotten. Most parents are looking for infants or very young children in good health. By the time children reach five years of age, they may be less flexible in adapting to a new family and may be influenced by the loss of their original family. And, adopting a child with special needs means that the adopting parents must be very special themselves.

Although it is definitely a challenge to bring an older child or a disabled child into a family, the rewards to both the parents and the adopted child can be great. The Special Adoption Program is indeed a special program for special parents.


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Q.1. Many Vietnamese in the US would like to adopt a niece or nephew from Vietnam in order to provide the child with a better life. Can this be done?
A.1. The child can only be adopted within the categories that have been established: five years of age or older, or with special needs, or as siblings (2 or more), one of which must be under 16 years of age. AND, the child must be located and presented for adoption by the Vietnamese government.

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Q.2. If I know about a child under the age of five, can I start the adoption procedure now because the child will be five years old by the time the process is complete?
A.2. The Vietnamese government will only present children for adoption who are at least five years of age.

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Q.3. Who can adopt?
A.3. Under Vietnamese law, prospective adoptive parents must be at least 20 years older than the child to be adopted. Vietnamese law permits adoption by both single persons and married couples, but not by gay or transgender persons.


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ROBERT MULLINS INTERNATIONAL www.rmiodp.com www.facebook.com/rmiodp
Immigration Support Services - Tham Van Di Tru 

9070 Bolsa Ave., Westminster CA 92683 (714) 890-9933
779 Story Road, Ste. 70, San Jose, CA 95122 (408) 294-3888
6930 65th St. Ste. #105, Sacramento CA 95823 (916) 393-3388
Rang Mi - 47 Phung Khac Khoan, Q1, HCMC (848) 3914-7638