# Presentation: 201583

## Orphan Visa Processing in Vietnam

- Embassy of the United States of America
- Hanoi, Vietnam
- December 15, 2005

**Notes:**
Sinh Chao Quy Vi.  Good Morning.  I’m very pleased to see some familiar faces and some new faces.  I look forward to working with all of you in the future.  Let’s get right into this.

You should think about this as a two step process. The first being the approval of the I-600 Orphan Petition by the USCIS.  The second step is the Orphan Visa by the Consular Section.  It is unique in VN because here we will allow the Petitioners to file the I-600 with the Consular Section, however, it is still the USCIS that will approve or disapprove the I-600.  Don’t confused what is required for the I-600 petition with what is required for the orphan visa.

The most important information I can give you today is...

## Contact Information

- Website:  http://vietnam.usembassy.gov/orphan_visas.html
- Email:  _[HanoiAdoptions@state.gov](mailto:HanoiAdoptions@state.gov)_
- Facsimile:  84-4-831-4578
- Telephone:  84-4-831-4590

**Notes:**
Our website provides all the information you will need to process the orphan visa.  If there’s information not on the website that required, please send us an email.  We’ll respond to you and put it up on the website to let others know as well.  

Inquiries about a specific case should be sent to the HanoiAdoptions email address, rather than to an individual officer or employee of the Embassy.  Someone is tasked with checking this email address and respond to the inquiries.

We’ve included our telephone number and facsimile but please use this only as a last resort. 

**Notes:**
This is a view of the Embassy’s webpage for Adoptions.  We already have much information there and will continue to update it.

## Make an Appointment to:		

- File an I-600 petition and complete the I-604 interview (one appointment)
- File the orphan application and complete the visa interview (one appointment)
- Meet with a Consular Officer regarding an adoption related issue

**Notes:**
You may make appointments on behalf of your clients.

An appointment to meet with a Consular Officer should not be just to drop by to say hello.  This should be used to provide sensitive information or make sensitive inquiries that CANNOT be made by email.

## How/When of Appointments

- Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays (except local and American holidays).
- Send an email to _[HanoiAdoptions@state.gov](mailto:HanoiAdoptions@state.gov)_, providing the following information:
- Name of the Petitioner(s):
- Name of the Beneficiary(ies):
- Requested time/date (within the parameters above):
- Alternate times/dates:
- Telephone Number:
- The Sender of the email will be notified via email (or telephone), often within an hour, of the time/date of the appointment.

**Notes:**
Please show up at the Consular Section on time and only at the time/date of your appointment to ensure that we are able to provide prompt attention to everyone.

## Slide 6

**Notes:**
Here’s an example of what a request for an appointment should look like.

## Authentication of Documents

- Vietnam is not a party to a treaty called the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents ("Hague Legalization Convention").
- Therefore, documents must be authenticated--the cumbersome, time-consuming process of obtaining a series of certifications known as the "chain authentication method".
- Such documents range from powers of attorney, affidavits, birth, death and marriages records, incorporation papers, deeds, patent applications, home studies and other legal papers.

**Notes:**
The State Department’s website provides detailed instructions on how to do this.  We will have a link to it on our website.

## Submitting the I-600 in Hanoi

- Make an appointment. Come at appointed time.
- Submit all paperwork. (10-15 minutes)
- Interview by Consular Officer (15-30 minutes)
- The I-600 petition, supporting documents and I-604 are sent to USCIS HCMC for adjudication.
- Make appointment for orphan visa application/interview.
- Await I-600 approval. (48 hours)

**Notes:**
We will conduct the interview immediately after the submission of documents.  It is important that all documents be brought to the Consular Section at the time of the appointment.  Do NOT mail, fax, or email any documents to the Consular Section.  You will NOT be able to pick up documents mailed, faxed, or emailed, to us.

While ASP representatives may accompany the PAPs to the Consular Section, they may NOT sit in on the interviews.  If the child has accompanied the PAPs to the I-600 submission and I-604 interview, ASP representatives should take care of the child so that the PAPs may concentrate on the interview.

## What happens after the I-604 interview?

- USCIS approves the I-600
- I-600 will be stamped with the CIS approval, signed, and dated
- Approved I-600 will be sent to the Consular Section in Hanoi
- PAPs come to Consular Section at the time of visa application/interview appointment

- USCIS investigates
- USCIS will notify the PAPs via a letter emailed/faxed to the Consular Section
- Consular Section Hanoi will notify the PAPs and/or ASPs
- PAPs must inquire with USCIS HCMC; no action by Consular Section Hanoi until the I-600 is approved.

## The Medical Examination

- The medical examination *must* be conducted by one of the Embassy’s Panel Physicians:
- SOS International in Hanoi
- Cho Ray Hospital in HCMC
- International Office of Migration in HCMC
- Cost of the medical exam is $40 (14 and under)
- The adopted child must have his/her Vietnamese passport to have the medical exam.
- DS-2053 will be sealed in an envelop and given to the Parents/Guardians.  Please bring the sealed envelop to the appointment for the visa application/interview.

**Notes:**
If the child is found to have any of these illnesses or disabilities, the child may still be issued a visa after the illness has been successfully treated, or after a waiver of the visa ineligibility is approved by the USCIS. If the physician or the consular official notes that the child has a serious disease or disability, the parents will be notified and asked if they wish to proceed with the child's immigration. 

Prospective adoptive parents should not rely on this medical examination to detect all possible medical conditions and may wish to arrange an additional private medical examination if they have concerns about the child's health.

The consular officer ensures that the adoptive parents are aware of any medical problems that the medical examination may have uncovered. 

## The Visa Interview

- Make an appointment. Come at appointed time.
- Submit all paperwork. (10-15 minutes)
- Pay visa fees ($380.00, in USD or major credit card) at the Consular Cashier
- Interview by Consular Officer (15-45 minutes)
- (1) review the I-600 petition,
- (2) verify the child's status as an orphan,
- (3) establish that the prospective parent(s) have legal custody,
- (4) survey the child's medical condition, and
- (5) confirm that the child has the required travel documentation.

**Notes:**
Once again, we will conduct the interview immediately after the submission of documents.  It is important that all documents be brought to the Consular Section at the time of the appointment.  Do NOT mail, fax, or email any documents to the Consular Section.  You will NOT be able to pick up documents mailed, faxed, or emailed, to us.

And, while one ASP representative may accompany the PAPs to the Consular Section, they may NOT sit in on the interviews.  The ASP representative should take care of the child so that the PAPs may concentrate on the interview.

## Required Documentation

- USCIS-approved I-600 and supporting documents
- Affidavit of Support, if necessary
- The final Vietnamese adoption decree
- The child's birth certificate
- The child's Vietnamese passport
- The sealed medical exam report (Form DS 2053)
- Two (5cm by 5cm) photos of the child, white background
- The visa application (Form DS 230)

## Picking Up the Visa

- Once the orphan visa has been approved by the Consular Officer, PAPs will be given a ticket to pick up the the visa-ed passport next working day.  The ticket allows anyone to pick up the passport.
- *If our computer systems are working.  Our systems go down more often during the rainy season and when new systems or equipment is being installed in DC.

## If an investigation is needed...

- PAPs will be notified at the time of the interview and provided a written notice that the case requires “administrative processing”.
- The Consular Officer will provide an estimated date when a decision can be made and/or a follow-up interview will be needed.

## Post-Adoption Reports

**Vietnam’s Policy**
- 	Vietnam requires post-adoption reports to provide assurance to political leaders and adoption officials in the country of origin that children they place in permanent families through inter-country adoption in the United States are receiving appropriate care and protection.
**Parents’ Responsibility**
- 	Parents have the responsibility to provide reports. The Embassy has asked the GVN to contact parents directly to request these reports.
**Policy of the United States**
- 	Failure to provide post-adoption reports may put at risk inter-country adoption programs for U.S. parents who wish to adopt in the future. Accordingly, the Department of State strongly encourages parents to comply with post-adoption reporting requirements.

**Notes:**
To protect the privilege of other US parents to adopt in VN.