International Adoption Program  Azerbaijan
 Parental Qualifications for Adoption in Azerbaijan
Married couples and single women who are at least 25 years old may adopt. We prefer no more than a 45-year difference between the child's age and the age of the younger adopting parent.Childless families need to be open to accepting a child of either gender.
Adoption Program and Procedure
International adoptions from Azerbaijan began in 2000. Azerbaijan is a small country with a limited number of children eligible for international adoption. Adoptions from Azerbaijan were on hold for several years while new adoption regulations were being drafted and approved by the government. New procedures were recently implemented. Adoptions from Azerbaijan will now be in accordance with the Hague Convention on Intercountry adoption. Whenever new adoption laws are inplemented, there can be delays or an unpredictable time frame.
In order to adopt a child from Azerbaijan, you will need to complete a home study and a dossier for Azerbaijan. Your dossier will be translated and submitted to the Azerbaijan Consulate in Washington, DC. It will then be sent to Baku for submission to the officials.
Our Representative will work with the local officials to identify a child to be referred to you. He will obtain as much medical and social information about the child as possible. When a child is identified for you, you will receive a referral with photographs, videotape and a brief medical report on the child.
It is important to note that the medical reports commonly contain a diagnosis of a physical, hereditary or developmental problem. Although some of these diagnoses may be accurate, many diagnoses are unsubstantiated by U.S. physicians upon the child’s medical examination in America.
When you have accepted the referral of a child, a court date will be set. Both parents must travel to attend the court hearing. This first trip is typically 2 to 3 days in country to meet your child and to appear in court. You will be met at the airport and escorted throughout your stay in Azerbaijan.
Following the initial court hearing, there is a 30-day waiting period before the adoption decree will be issued. Adopting families usually return home to the U.S. until the 30 days have passed.
Both parents must travel to finalize the adoption – typically a stay of 7 days in Baku to complete the remainder of the paperwork. Your child will stay with you during this period. Once the adoption is finalized, you will fly with your child to T’bilisi, Georgia for 2 days to obtain your child’s visa. Then, you may bring your child home!
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