This site serves as a clearinghouse for information related to ICARE (Intercountry Adoption Reform Act of 2006).
The ICARE Act was re-introduced on 05/16/2006 as an amendment (S.AMDT.4025) to Senate Bill S.2611 which is the "Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 ". The actual text of the amendment may be seen here or in PDF format.
House of Representatives:
03/04/2004: Referred to House International Relations
03/04/2004: Referred to House Judiciary
03/04/2004: Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
04/02/2004: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims.
Senate:
05/16/2006 - Offered as an amendment
(S.AMDT.4025) to Senate Bill S.2611 which is the "Comprehensive
Immigration Reform Act of 2006 "
04/06/2005 - Offered as an amendment to Senate Bill S.600 which is the "Foreign Affairs Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2006 and 2007".
11/23/2003 - Referred to Committee on the Judiciary.
Establishes an Office of Intercountry Adoptions within the Department of State (DOS). Requires the President to appoint an Ambassador at Large to head the Office. Transfers to the Office all immigration functions with respect to intercountry adoptions currently performed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to grant automatic U.S. citizenship to internationally adopted children upon entry of a full and final adoption decree (thus dispensing with the need for such children to obtain visas). Creates a new W nonimmigrant visa category for children traveling to the United States to be adopted by U.S. citizens. Allows adopted children age 18 or under to claim an exception to immunization LowerBody for purposes of admissibility (currently limited to those age 10 or under). Redefines the term "adoptable child." Requires U.S. citizen adoptive parents to obtain approval of an adoption petition prior to issuance of a W visa or a full and final adoption decree. Provides that such petitions are subject to the terms applicable to orphan petitions. Directs the Ambassador to issue regulations:
(1) establishing an expedited reapproval process for
families whose prior approvals to adopt have expired; and
(2) governing the appeal of petition denials. Requires the Office to
determine whether a child is an adoptable child, pursuant to specified
procedures, as a prerequisite to the issuance of a W visa or a full
and final adoption decree.
Under the current process, three federal agencies are involved in international adoption. The Department of Health and Human Services advises the states regarding the licensing of agencies that conduct home studies and facilitate child placement. The Department of State is chiefly responsible for overseas processing, including background investigations and issuing the visas to adopted children. The INS (now Department of Homeland Security) regulates the petition process: pre-approving parents for adoption, approving children for adoption and inspecting adopted children when they enter the US.
ICARE proposes to consolidate all three functions into a specially created Office of Inter-Country Adoptions within the Department of State. This would allow for better communication, the development of expertise, consolidation of records and greater accountability.
For more information, be sure to see our FAQs page.
The most effective way for you to assist in the passage of the ICARE Act is by signing our new on-line Pass ICARE petition.
Click here to sign the Pass ICARE Petition.
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