Using an Escort

Having Someone Escort Your Child Home

Some families select a country from which to adopt based on the fact that the children can be escorted home by someone other than themselves. Some adoptive parents have a severe fear of flying. Others have small children at home and do not want to leave them, even for short periods of time. Others, such as the Amish, may not be permitted to travel by plane. If you do choose to have your child escorted home, the paperwork process gets a bit more complicated and will most likely mean that your child’s arrival home will be delayed by a couple of weeks.

Some families go into the process with the idea that their children will be escorted home. Initially, the thought of going overseas to a third world country is just too overwhelming for them. In spite of this, the parents often decide that they can hardly wait the extra time usually required to complete the paperwork for someone else to escort the child home.

If you do decide to have your child escorted home, you will need to file the I-600A form at your CIS office along with the translated adoption paperwork from your child’s country. This paperwork is usually mailed from overseas to you, the adoptive family, and you must submit it to the CIS office in which you filed your original I-600A form. Also, the paperwork may first come through your adoption agency, and the staff will overnight it to you. If you, the parents, have not seen the child before the adoption-and most people who have their children escorted home have not-then you must also submit to CIS any paperwork to prove that you have met the preadoption requirements, if any, of your state. Then the CIS adoption unit reviews the paperwork.

Upon approval by CIS, you are then issued an I-171 Notice of Approval of Relative Immigrant Visa Petition. The CIS also sends to the U.S. Embassy/Consul­ate a Cable 39 indicating that the paperwork is approved and that the child’s visa can be issued. Getting approval from your CIS should take just a matter of days. But there have been instances of it taking weeks to be issued. Also, it is important to confirm with the U.S. Embassy/Consulate overseas that they have received the Cable 39 so that your escort can get your child’s visa from the U.S. Embassy and bring home your child. You will need to stay in close contact with your immigra­tion office. If you cannot reach them or if you cannot reach the U.S. Embassy/ Consulate overseas, you should get your congressional representative involved as you will be very eager to get your child home.

The escort must have a power of attorney given to him by you, the adoptive parents. The power of attorney is a simple document that is signed by you and notarized. This is not prepared by a lawyer. Your adoption agency will provide the format for this document. Then the escort goes to the U.S. Embassy/Consulate where your child’s visa is issued and then brings the child to the United States. Most families meet their children at the airport.

If you are torn between receiving your child yourself or having your child escorted, it is recommended that you go to your child’s country. You will have an opportunity to see your child’s country and gain an understanding of the culture and take pictures for your child. You will get to attach with your child, most likely meet his caregiver or foster mother, and learn about his habits. Your child will also not be taken from his caregiver, be placed with someone else to travel by plane to the United States, and then be handed over to you in the airport. That can be an overwhelming experience for a child who has lost everything he has ever known.