[Hokie97]

Hi. I have a question, and hoped that someone here would know the answer, or at least where to direct me.

Our 4 year plan involved us staying in the UK until 2013. I cannot adopt here in the UK until I've been here a year. We can start the process now, but it would not go to court until at least March 2010.

Our new plan is a 1 year plan. We are moving to the States next summer. The adoption people said that it could take months to a year to finalize the adoption if we started the process now. (A year from March 2010) It could be done before next July, but might not.

What is the process for starting the adoption after we have moved to Virginia?

I guess I should look into a legal guardianship thing now. I suppose that would be legal in the US as well, at least giving me permission to sign documents...

Any thoughts or advice welcome! Thanks

[Englishman in Eugene]

I have no hard information, but I think the authorities would rather you adopted an American child if you are going to be living in the US. It might be worth hooking up with the adoption agencies in Virginia to see what they advise.

[ava]

Hokie, I assume your partner has custody of your stepchild? Is the other parent still in the picture? Are you a member of any adoption discussion boards that might know more about international adoptions? Or can you get advice from an adoption agency or lawyer in Virgina?

My aunt and uncle in the US adopted two little girls from China quite some time ago. I'd think that it would make it even easier if the child in question is the biological child of your US-visa-holding spouse.

Good luck, and thanks for deciding to take that child fully into your life

[Englishman in Eugene]

Originally Posted by Englishman in Eugene

I have no hard information, but I think the authorities would rather you adopted an American child if you are going to be living in the US. It might be worth hooking up with the adoption agencies in Virginia to see what they advise.

Sorry, I missed the word Step in your title, which makes the rest kind of pointless.

[geally]

If your husband has custody of your stepchild, why not have the child move with you to the US and then adopt the child here once you're all settled? You cannot adopt the child in either country if the other parent has custody also(in any shape or form).

[Hokie97]

I did not get alerts that I had replies, I was not ignoring you all. And thank you for giving your input.

My husband does have full custody, his first wife passed away in 2001. I have finally gotten a reply back from Adoption USCIS, who handle regulations for international adoptions (I think my first email to them got lost, as they have previously been very quick to respond).
Apparently once we get settled in Virginia next summer, all we need to do is contact a family law attorney and file with the court system. I just thought it would be harder because they are not USC, that we'd have to go through the UK Embassy or something. What a relief that some part of this whole visa/moving process is actually EASIER than I thought it would be! Go figure.