Sri Lanka Adoptions
Introduction
About the Children
Introduction
Sri Lanka is an island located in the Indian Ocean, known for beautiful beaches, temples and wildlife. Sri Lanka is rich in culture with eight UNESCO World Heritage sites.
All adoptions from Sri Lanka are completed in accordance with the Hague Convention on inter country adoption.
More information can be found here.
Agape Adoptions hosts monthly virtual information meetings for those interested in adopting through our programs.
Eligibility
About the Children
Introduction
Citizenship
One adoptive parent must be a US citizen. Priority is given to applicants with a Sri Lankan background or dual citizenship.
Age
Applicants must be at least 25 years old and at least 21 years older than the child they desire to adopt.
Marriage Status
Only married couples may adopt from Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka does not permit same sex couples or domestic partners to adopt.
Criminal History
Applicants with a criminal history of child abuse, violence, domestic violence or termination of parental rights are not eligible to adopt.
Health Conditions
Applicants must be healthy with no serious, chronic transmissible diseases (HIV positive, venereal disease, tuberculosis, etc.) or other life-threatening illnesses. Preference is given to infertile couples with supporting medical reports.
Income
Families must have an annual income of at least $30,000. Families must meet the income requirements provided by the USCIS in order for the adopted child to immigrate. Selection criteria of the Department of Probation and Child Care Services includes the health, age, and income of the family.
Children in Home
Preference is given to prospective adoptive parents who do not have children, however families with up to two children may apply.
Note regarding Relative Adoptions
Applicant must be at least 25 years old
or
Applicant must be 21 years older than the child.
These restrictions do not apply if:
- Child is a direct descendant of applicant.
- A brother or sister of applicant by full or half blood or descendant of such brother or sister.
- A child of the wife or husband of applicant by another father or mother.
Accordingly, a sister, bother, uncle and or aunt can make an application to adopt their relative child.
About the Children
About the Children
About the Children
Prospective adoptive parents may request to adopt a child with or without special needs and/or medical conditions.
Both boys and girls are available (more boys than girls), as well as sibling groups. The Department of Probation and Child Care Services will attempt to keep sibling groups together when matching children with prospective adoptive parents.
Waiting children live in state-run orphanages (children’s homes).
Children have Singhalese or Tamil ethnic background.
Foreigners may only adopt Sri Lankan children between three months and 14 years of age.
Sri Lanka Adoptions
Process & Timeline
Travel & Bonding Period; Post Adoption Requirements
Travel & Bonding Period; Post Adoption Requirements
- Complete adoption application for preliminary approval by Agape Adoptions.
- Complete adoption home study report (generally about 3-4 months to complete).
- Assemble, notarize, and submit dossier documents to Agape Adoptions.
- Submit and file immigration documents with the USCIS office. Upon completion, Agape Adoptions will register the dossier with the Sri Lankan government through one of its diplomatic missions abroad. Referrals generally take at least one year.
- Additional immigration paperwork and travel.
Travel & Bonding Period; Post Adoption Requirements
Travel & Bonding Period; Post Adoption Requirements
Travel & Bonding Period; Post Adoption Requirements
When adopting from Sri Lanka, both parents must travel to be present for court proceedings. Prospective adoptive parents should be prepared to stay in Sri Lanka from one to two months for the adoption proceedings.
Post adoption requirements
Sri Lanka requires quarterly progress reports on the child until the adoption is legally confirmed in their state of residence;
Semi-annual progress reports on the child, including his/her photograph, for a period of three years from the date on which the final adoption order in Sri Lanka is issued;
Annual reports for the child until he or she reaches ten years of age.
Fees
Travel & Bonding Period; Post Adoption Requirements
Fees
All fees are based on two adoptive parents and one adopted child
Agency Fees:
$9750
Application, parent education, dossier and other paperwork processing fees: $6825
USCIS, Department of State and CEAS Fees: $2010
Home Study and Post Placement Fees: $5950
Estimated Travel Fees: $4,050-$8150
International Service Fee: $4000
Estimated in country fees for child’s adoption processing and child’s visa fee: $600
A detailed fee schedule is available upon request