Please read this important message from Carl Risch, the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Consular Affairs, regarding intercountry adoption.

Accurate information about the designation of the new accrediting entity (AE), IAAME; COA’s decision to withdraw as an AE; our request that the AEs conduct improved monitoring of agencies; the new fee schedule; and why these are all important can be reviewed at these links:

• August 8, 2017 - Adoption Notice: Department of State Designates Intercountry Adoption Accreditation and Maintenance Entity, Inc. as an Accrediting Entity
• August 25, 2017 - FAQ: Newly Designated Accrediting Entity, IAAME
• November 14, 2017 - Council on Accreditation to Withdraw as Accrediting Entity
• December 8, 2017 – FAQ on the Accrediting Entity Transition
• January 5, 2018 – Upcoming Changes in Accrediting Entity Activities
• February 1, 2018 – IAAME Fee Schedule, Explanation, and FAQ
• February 8, 2018 – State Department Letter to Adoptive Parents
• February 13, 2018 – FAQ, Part 2 – IAAME Schedule of Fees

Accurate information about “soft referrals,” including the use of photolistings, is also available on the Office of Children’s Issues’ website.

The decline in intercountry adopted started at 2004 and has affected every receiving country, not just the United States. Accurate information about the decline in the numbers of intercountry adoptions is available in our FY 2016 Annual Report.

The Office of Children’s Issues encourages anyone with questions about these important matters, or other issues pertaining to intercountry adoption in the United States, to contact Adoption@state.gov for information.