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Syria is not party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention). Therefore, when the Hague Adoption Convention entered into force for the United States on April 1, 2008, intercountry adoption processing for Syria did not change.
The American Embassy in Damascus has been informed that, in Syria, laws concerning personal status matters, such as adoption, are handled by religious authorities. Islamic Sharia law does not provide for adoption, and the adoption of a Muslim child would not be recognized in Syria. Technically, adoption is allowable under the laws of various Christian denominations; however, it is the Embassy's understanding that, for the past 80 years, most Christian churches in Syria prefer not to handle adoptions in order to conform to Sharia law provisions on inheritance. The Embassy has been informed that Sharia law restricts distribution of inheritance to spouses and certain blood relatives and, for that reason, adoption does not exist in Syria.
The Embassy of Syria, 2215 Wyoming Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20008, tel. no. (202) 232-6313, may be able to provide additional information on Syrian law. If not, an attorney in Syria may be able to help.
Last updated: April 2009
WHO CAN ADOPT
To bring an adopted child to the United States from Syria, you must be found eligible to adopt by the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government agency responsible for making this determination is the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Learn more.
In addition to these U.S. requirements for prospective adoptive parents, Syria also has the following requirements for prospective adoptive parents:
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RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS: Adoptions of Catholic orphans do not require residency in Syria for prospective parents.
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AGE REQUIREMENTS: The prospective adoptive parent(s) must be a minimum age of 40 years old. The age difference between the prospective adoptive parent(s) and the child must be at least 18 years.
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MARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS: One person of a married couple may adopt, or both spouses may adopt the child jointly.
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INCOME REQUIREMENTS: The religious courts will determine this level on a case by case basis.
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OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Adopting a Syrian orphan is a difficult process and, often, an impossible one unless one of the adoptive parents is originally a Syrian citizen. American citizens who are not also Syrian nationals must secure a court order from a Syrian court granting them custody or guardianship of the child. As a cautionary note, this approval is very rarely granted. In the case of a Catholic child, at least one of the prospective adoptive parents must be Catholic, unless the church authority makes an exception for the prospective adoptive parent that is from another Eastern Christian denomination, i.e. Greek Orthodox. The religious courts will also pursue an investigation to determine whether the prospective adoptive parents are of good behavior and high moral reputation before deciding on the case.
WHO CAN BE ADOPTED
In addition to these requirements, a child must meet the definition of an orphan under U.S. law for you to bring him or her back to the United States. Learn more about these U.S. requirements.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Relinquishment Requirements: The consent of the surviving parent(s), or the guardian, if applicable, is required. In all cases, if the child is old enough, his/her consent is also required. There is no specific age of consent but practice indicates that age 10-12 or older is customary. If the child is too young to give consent, then the minor’s guardian or the religious authorities must consent on the child’s behalf.
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Abandonment Requirements: A foundling child takes the religious affiliation of the orphanage that receives the baby. In a case where both parents of the minor have passed away, the consent of the head of the religious authority for that community will be required.
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Age Requirements: The child must be 18 years difference in age from the prospective adoptive parent.
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Sibling Requirements: A case by case basis.
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Requirements for Special Needs or Medical Conditions: A case by case basis.
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Waiting Period: Due to the fact that the adoption of Catholic orphans has only been made possible since the establishment of the Catholic Civil code in July, 2006, and other adoptions occur so infrequently, average time frames have not yet been established for adoptions in Syria.
HOW TO ADOPT
Syria’s Central Adoption Authority is based within the Ministry of Work and Social Affairs, at their main office entitled “Zaid Bin Haretha”, located at Masaken Barzeh, Damascus, Syrian Arabic Republic.
The Process
The process for adopting a child generally includes the following steps:
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Choose an Adoption Service Provider
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Apply to be Found Eligible to Adopt
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Be Matched with a Child
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Adopt the Child in Syria
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Apply for the Child to be Found Eligible for Adoption
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Bring Your Child Home
1. Choose an Adoption Service Provider
The first step in adopting a child is usually to select a licensed agency in the United States that can help with your adoption and to be sure that they be licensed by the U.S. state in which they operate. As Syrian adoptions are relatively rare it will be difficult to locate a U.S. licensed agency to assist you and there are no adoption agencies in Syria. Churches and governmental orphanages care for abandoned children but may not always have the legal expertise to handle an adoption. Attorneys who specialize in family law may assist in handling adoption cases.
2. Apply to be Found Eligible to Adopt
To bring an adopted child from Syria to the United States, you must apply to be found eligible to adopt (Form I-600A) by the U.S. Government, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Learn how.
In addition to meeting the U.S. requirements for adoptive parents, you need to meet the requirements of Syria as described in the Who Can Adopt section of this Country Information. As part of this process, you will need to obtain:
- A Syrian police report; and
- A certificate of good moral conduct from the petitioner’s mayor at place of domicile.
3. Be Matched with a Child
If you are eligible to adopt, and a child is available for intercountry adoption, the central adoption authority in Syria may provide you with a referral to a child. Each family must decide for itself whether or not it will be able to meet the needs of a particular child and provide a permanent family placement for the referred child.
The child must be eligible to be adopted according to Syria’s requirements, as described in the Who Can be Adopted section. The child must also meet the definition of an orphan under U.S. law. Learn more.
4. Adopt the Child (or Gain Legal Custody) in Syria
The process for finalizing the adoption (or gaining legal custody) in Syria generally includes the following:
· ROLE OF THE ADOPTION AUTHORITY: The Ministry of Work and Social Affairs has jurisdiction over governmental orphanages and must first recognize the orphanage you are adopting from. You will then need the following:
o A copy of the police report on how the child was found.
o A statement from the orphanage about how the child was released to them.
o A contract between you and the orphanage showing that they are officially releasing the child to you.
o Permission from the Syrian Ministry of Work and Social Affairs granting custody of the child to the adopting parents and allowing the adopting parents to travel with the child for immigration purposes.
- ROLE OF THE COURT: An adoption request for that child must be submitted to the presiding judge of the religious court of the community to which the child belongs. The religious court will investigate the case, which entails proof of the good moral reputation of the prospective adoptive parent(s) and financial support for the child. If the court does not find any grounds for objection to adoption, the court will issue a decree confirming the adoption. The court’s final decision on the adoption must be affirmed by the bishop of the same relevant jurisdiction in the case of a Christian orphan. To be valid the adoption decree must be granted exequatur, or endorsed, by the Civil Courts Enforcement Bureau.
· ROLE OF ADOPTION AGENCIES: There are no adoption agencies in Syria. Churches and governmental orphanages care for abandoned children but may not always have the legal expertise to process an adoption. Attorneys who specialize in family law may assist in handling adoption cases. The U.S. Embassy in Damascus maintains a list of lawyers. This list is available by calling the Consular Section at +963-11-3391-4444 and asking for American Citizen Services.
· ADOPTION APPLICATION: After endorsement by the Civil Courts Enforcement Bureau. The adoption decree must then be submitted to the Syrian Bureau of Vital Statistics so that the civil status of the adopted child can be amended in the registry book.
· TIME FRAME: Due to the fact that the adoption of Catholic orphans has only been made possible since the establishment of the Catholic civil code in July 2006, and other adoptions are rare, average time frames have not been established.
· ADOPTION FEES: There are no actual governmental fees for the adoption procedure.
· DOCUMENTS REQUIRED: Police report on how the child became an orphan, Contract between adoptive parents and orphanage or guardians, Adoption decrees- both religious and civil, and the Amended Registry Book.
NOTE: Additional documents may be requested. If you are asked to provide proof that a document from the United States is authentic, we can help. Learn how
5. Apply for the Child to be Found Eligible for Adoption
After you finalize the adoption (or gain legal custody) in Syria, the U.S Government, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) MUST determine whether the child is eligible under U.S. law to be adopted (Form I-600). Learn how.
6. Bring Your Child Home
Now that your adoption is complete (or you have obtained legal custody of the child), there are a few more steps to take before you can head home. Specifically, you need to apply for several documents for your child before he or she can travel to the United States:
Birth Certificate
You will first need to apply for a new birth certificate for your child, so that you can later apply for a passport. Your name will be added to the new birth certificate. The adoption decree must accompany the application for a Syrian identity card and the abstract for individual civil status record.
The birth certificate should be obtained from the Civil Census main office.
Syrian Passport
Your child is not yet a U.S. citizen, so he/she will need a travel document or Passport from Syria. After the identity card is issued, an application for a Syrian passport must be submitted at the Syrian Immigration & Passport Office in Damascus.
U.S. Immigrant Visa
After you obtain the new birth certificate and passport for your child, you also need to apply for an U.S. visa from the United States Embassy for your child. After the adoption (or custody for purpose of adoption) is granted, visit the U.S. Embassy for final review and approval of the child’s I-600 petition and to obtain a visa for the child. This immigrant visa allows your child to travel home with you. As part of this process, the Consular Officer must be provided the “Panel Physician’s” medical report on the child if it was not provided during the provisional approval stage. Learn more.
Child Citizenship Act
For adoptions finalized abroad: The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 allows your new child to acquire American citizenship automatically when he or she enters the United States as lawful permanent residents.
For adoptions finalized in the United States: The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 allows your new child to acquire American citizenship automatically when the court in the United States issues the final adoption decree.
*Please be aware that if your child did not qualify to become a citizen upon entry to the United States, it is very important that you take the steps necessary so that your child does qualify as soon as possible. Failure to obtain citizenship for your child can impact many areas of his/her life including family travel, eligibility for education and education grants, and voting.
Learn more about the Child Citizenship Act.
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TRAVELING ABROAD
Applying for Your U.S. Passport
A valid U.S. passport is required to enter and leave Syria. Only the U.S. Department of State has the authority to grant, issue, or verify U.S. passports.
Getting or renewing a passport is easy. The Passport Application Wizard will help you determine which passport form you need, help you to complete the form online, estimate your payment, and generate the form for you to print—all in one place.
Obtaining Your Visa
In addition to a U.S. passport, you also need to obtain a visa. A visa is an official document issued by a foreign country that formally allows you to visit. Where required, visas are attached to your passport and allow you to enter a foreign nation.
To find information about obtaining a visa Syria, see the Department of State’s Country Specific Information.
Staying Safe on Your Trip
Before you travel, it's always a good practice to investigate the local conditions, laws, political landscape, and culture of the country. The State Department is a good place to start.
The Department of State provides Country Specific Information for every country of the world about various issues, including the health conditions, crime, unusual currency or entry requirements, and any areas of instability.
Staying in Touch on Your Trip
When traveling during the adoption process, we encourage you to register your trip with the Department of State. Travel registration makes it possible to contact you if necessary. Whether there’s a family emergency in the United States, or a crisis in Syria, registration assists the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in reaching you.
Registration is free and can be done online.
AFTER ADOPTION
What does Syria require of the adoptive parents after the adoption?
No official reporting requirements are requested.
What resources are available to assist families after the adoption?
Many adoptive parents find it important to find support after the adoption. Take advantage of all the resources available to your family -- whether it’s another adoptive family, a support group, an advocacy organization, or your religious or community services.
Here are some good places to start your support group search:
· Child Welfare Information Gateway
· North American Council on Adoptable Children
Note: Inclusion of non-U.S. Government links does not imply endorsement of contents.
CONTACT INFORMATION
U.S. Embassy in Syria
2, Al-Mansour St., Abu Roumaneh, PO Box 29, Damascus, Syria
Tel: (963) 11-3391-4444
Fax: (963) 11-331-9678
Email:acsdamascus@state.gov
Internet: http://damascus.usembassy.gov
Syrian Central Adoption Authority
Address: Ministry of Work and Social Affairs, Masaken Barzeh, Damascus Syria
Al Salheyeh
Yousef Azmeh Square
Tel. 2210355/ 2225948
Fax.2247499
Embassy of Syria
Address: 2215 Wyoming Ave, Washington D.C.
Tel: (202)-232-6313
Fax: (202) 265-4585
Email:info@syrembassy.net
Internet: http://www.syrianembassy.us
*Syria also has consulates in: Houston, New York and Detroit
Office of Children’s Issues
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
SA-29
Washington, DC 20520
Tel: 1-888-407-4747
E-mail: AskCI@state.gov
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
For questions about immigration procedures, call the National Customer Service Center (NCSC)
1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833)
