From 2003 to 2005, the U.S. government suspended adoption of Vietnamese children, citing corruption in the Vietnam adoption process. Now, as an adoption agreement between Vietnam and the United States is about to expire, families who have nearly completed adoptions are having to fight to get the necessary visas to bring their children home.

"Twenty-one entry visas for children have been rejected in the last two years, according to the State Department. More than half the denials have come since last October, prompting complaints that the department is singling out individual cases to embarrass the Vietnamese government into changing its adoption process."

Two California families have elicited the help of the state's Senators, one of whom has promised to lobby the State Department for approval of the visas. One couple, Tom and Wendy Mills, have been separated off and on for nearly 5 months while Tom has stayed in Hanoi caring for their adopted daughter and waiting for her visa to be approved. Read more at TheDispatch.com.

Labels: international, inter-country_adoption, state_department

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Last month, the U.S. State Department issued a warning that "strongly" cautioned Americans to "carefully consider their options" before adopting children from Guatemala. This week, the State Department has issued a stronger warning, urging Americans not to adopt children from the Central American Nation.

"'We cannot recommend adoption from Guatemala at this time,' the agency said. 'There are serious problems with the adoption process in Guatemala, which does not protect all children, birth mothers or prospective adoptive parents.'"

Concerns include a lack of government oversight in the adoption process and an unregulated foster care system. Read more at ChicagoTribune.com.

Labels: international, state_department, warnings

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