Due to the rapidly changing nature of the situation, we will continue to post updates to our website. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. This page was last updated 6/30/2020.
Because we care about you, our staff and the greater community we have taken precautionary actions to mitigate exposure to COVID-19.
- Tour Korea 2020 has been canceled, dates for the Korea Tour 2021 have been posted and registration is now open!
- Spring and Fall Adoption Fairs in Maryland and Minnesota have been canceled
- information meetings, Foster Care Adoption Orientations, support groups, and Foster Care & Adoption Education Classes have moved online
- Adoption Day Camp has been canceled, we hope to see you in 2021!
- Until further notice, we will not take walk-in appointments
Our team will communicate with people directly regarding personal appointments or changes to service.
A note for current clients: We expect staff to remain available, but In-office staff are limited, in lieu of this please scan and email documentation, when possible, to your worker.
Outside of the travel restrictions outlined below, our international programs are still accepting applications, working with families in-process and helping children to find families.
The Department of State released a statement on 6.22.2020, “We recognize that this is a stressful, emotional time for prospective adoptive parents seeking travel as soon as the countries of origin may allow. The Department of State’s official travel guidance remains at Level 4, which advises against all travel globally. That said, despite the Department’s worldwide suspension of routine visa services, our embassies continue to issue visas for eligible children at the end of the adoption process, provided their adoptive parents are in-country and embassy resources and local laws and processes allow them to do so.”
- Department of State has issued a global level 4 warning advising U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19. Any clients currently outside of the U.S. are encouraged to register for the Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
- China continues routine adoption processing with the exception of a temporary hold on issuing new travel permissions and a temporary suspension in processing adoption finalizations due to suspension of entry by foreign nationals since March 26, 2020, until further notice
- India began relaxation of its nationwide lockdown in certain districts while continuing to enforce restrictions in designated hotspots; India continues to impose some travel restrictions on foreign nationals.
- Ecuador is requiring travelers to present a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of travel. Minimal adoption work is happening behind the scenes, courts remain closed.
- Colombia will continue with adoption-related visa appointments, though all other non-emergency immigrant visa appointments are canceled. Colombia has closed all international travel in and out of Colombia and restricted internal domestic travel. To keep updated please visit U.S. Embassy in Colombia.
- Honduras has closed all borders (air, land and sea) as of March 15, 2020, until further notice.
- South Korea is requiring arrivals from the U.S. to undergo a mandatory 14 day quarantine period in a facility designated by the Korean government at the traveler’s expense.
