Guyana to Continue Processing Certain Adoptions Commenced Before June 1, 2019

On June 14, 2019, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced that the government of Guyana has confirmed that it will continue to process certain adoption cases under the non-Hague Convention process in effect prior to June 1, 2019 [PDF version]. We noted in prior posts that Guyana had become a party to the Hague Convention, effective June 1, 2019 [see blog], but that the DOS determined that it cannot process Hague Convention adoptions from Guyana at this time [see blog].

For the time being, cases in which a U.S. citizen filed a Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition, or a Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative, on behalf of a Guyanese child prior to June 1, 2019, or in which the adoption of a Guyanese child under such non-Hague Convention procedures was completed prior to June 1, 2019, will continue to be processed by the Guyanese government. The DOS stated that it will continue to coordinate with the Guyanese government on issues related to “transition cases” that were commenced or completed prior to June 1, 2019, the date on which the Hague Convention took effect in Guyana.

The situation for adoptions from Guyana remains in flux with issues relating to the Hague Convention taking effect there. The notice that Guyana will continue processing cases that were commenced or completed under non-Hague Convention procedures prior to June 1, 2019, should come as welcome news to affected prospective adoptive parents and adoptive parents. Those with questions may contact the DOS, consult with their adoption service providers, and consult with an experienced immigration attorney in the area of international adoption. We will update our immigration blog with more information about international adoptions from Guyana as it becomes available. Please see our website's growing section on international adoption for more information on adoption in the immigration context generally [see category].