The Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (the Convention) governs adoptions between the United States and over 100 countries party to the Convention. Children adopted from Convention countries who will come to live in the United States must first obtain an immigrant visa, which will be issued at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the foreign country where a child resides. The immigration process, which includes requirements and steps that prospective adoptive parents must follow if planning to adopt a child from a Convention country, is summarized in the flowchart below. See this page for additional information on the U.S. immigrant visa process for adopted children.

U.S. Immigration Flow Chart - Convention Adoptions