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Intercountry Adoption > Country Information > Chile Intercountry Adoption Information
Exercise increased caution in Chile due to crime and civil unrest.
Country Summary: Street crime (e.g., muggings, pick-pocketing, theft) is common in Chile. Rates of violent crime, such as assaults, homicide, carjackings, and residential break-ins, are increasing.
Large-scale demonstrations periodically occur in Santiago and other cities in Chile. Demonstrations can take place with little or no notice, and often result in disruptions to transportation, including public bus and Santiago metro services.Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Chile.
If you decide to travel to Chile:
Chile is a party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention or Convention). Intercountry adoption processing in Convention countries must be done in accordance with the requirements of the Hague Adoption Convention; the U.S. implementing legislation, the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA); the IAA’s implementing regulations and U.S. adoption-related immigration policies; as well as the implementing legislation and regulations of Chile.
U.S. citizens interested in adopting children from Chile should contact the Central Authority of Chile to inquire about applicable laws and procedures. U.S. citizen prospective adoptive parents living in Chile who would like to adopt a child from the United States or from a third country should also contact Chile’s Central Authority.
Under Chilean law, foreign adoption service providers must be authorized to provide adoption services from Chile by Servicio Nacional de Menores de Chile (SENAME). No U.S. adoption service provider is currently authorized to provide adoption services from Chile. See contact information below:
Chile’s Adoption Authority
Servicio Nacional de Menores de Chile (SENAME)
Unidad de Adopción
Huerfanos 587
Santiago, Chile
Telephone: (56)(2) 398-4447
Website: https://www.sename.cl/web/
Under U.S. law, an accredited or approved adoption service provider must serve as the primary provider in adoptions between the United States and Chile. Under Chilean law, foreign adoption service providers must be authorized to provide adoption services from Chile by Chile’s Adoption Authority Servicio Nacional de Menores de Chile (SENAME). Since no U.S. adoption service provider is currently authorized to provide adoption services from Chile, Convention adoptions of children from Chile are not possible at this point in time.
Caution: Although U.S. citizens generally must follow the Hague Convention process to adopt a child from a Hague Convention country, the Family-Based Petition Process (Form I-130) may be an option for U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to petition for their adopted child. However, U.S. citizens may file a Form I-130 for a child from a Hague Convention country only if they can establish the Convention does not apply to the adoption. There are significant differences between the Hague and the Family-Based Petition Process. For more information about specific Form I-130 requirements for adopted children, see the USCIS website and the USCIS Policy Manual, Vol. 5.
Chile’s Adoption Authority:
Servicio Nacional de Menores de Chile (SENAME)
Unidad de Adopción
Huerfanos 587
Santiago, Chile
Telephone: (56)(2) 398-4447
Website: https://www.sename.cl/web/
U.S. Embassy Santiago, Chile
Consular Section - Immigrant Visas
Avenida Andrés Bello 2800
Santiago, Chile
Email: Santiagoimmigration@state.gov
Office of Children’s Issues
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
SA-17
Washington, DC 20520
Tel: 1-888-407-4747
E-mail: Adoption@state.gov
http://adoption.state.gov
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
For questions about a pending Form I-800A application, Form I-800 petition or related supplement:
USCIS
Tel: 1-877-424-8374 (toll free); 1-913-275-5480 (local); Fax:1-913-214-5808
Email: NBC.Adoptions@uscis.dhs.gov
For other USCIS-related questions:
USCIS Contact Center
1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833)
Internet: uscis.gov
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