Update on Adoptions from Ghana

The Hague Convention entered into effect for Ghana on January 1, 2017. The United States will now issue Hague Adoption Certificates for adoptions from Ghana. Individual cases will be reviewed to determine whether an intercountry adoption can proceed in accordance with the Convention as well as with all U.S. laws.
Prospective adoptive parents should be aware of potential delays in the adoption process while Ghana works to implement its new adoption laws and procedures. Adoptive parents who began the adoption process on or after January 1, 2017, should work closely with their adoption service provider to ensure they comply with all Ghanaian and U.S. adoption laws.
For parents who began the process to adopt from Ghana before January 1, 2017, you may be able to continue using the non-Hague process (known as the Orphan process) if:

• You filed form 1-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan petition, with USCIS prior to January 1, OR
• You filed form 1-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative, with USCIS prior to January 1, OR
• You obtained a final adoption of a child habitually resident in Ghana before January 1

If the above circumstances apply to your adoption process, yours will be considered a “transition case.” If your case is not eligible to proceed as a transition case, you will need to adhere to the Hague adoption process. Additional information about transition cases and Hague adoption cases in Ghana is available through USCIS.
Questions about adoption from Ghana and the transition process should be directed to USCIS. The Department of State will post additional Ghana adoption information as it becomes available.