Post Adoption Reports

Your adoption advisors at Holt International are happy to answer your questions on post adoption reports and citizenship documentation.

Compliance with post adoption reports has a significant impact in each of the international locations Holt partners with for adoption. It is very important for overseas officials to know that children placed with families in the U.S. are well cared for and loved, and that families are receiving appropriate support.

Select the location pertinent to your child’s adoption for report requirements, report forms and details on documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions on Documentation of U.S. Citizenship

Find detailed steps for documentation of U.S. citizenship for each location in the links above. The following information provides answers to common questions about citizenship documents.

Certificate of Citizenship (COC)

A U.S. Certificate of Citizenship is automatically issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for adoptees from locations in which adoption is finalized overseas. These children arrived on an IH-3 visa. Children adopted from the Philippines or Thailand arrive on an IH-4 visa, and the Certificate of Citizenship will be issued after the adoption is finalized in the U.S.

It currently takes the Certificate of Citizenship 90 days to arrive by mail. If you have not received it after 90 days, contact U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for further instruction.

Email [email protected]

Visit USCIS website

This document provides proof of U.S. citizenship so be sure to keep it in a safe place. The COC will need to be signed to be considered valid. A parent or legal guardian may sign for a child who is under 14 years of age. Children under 14 years of age may also sign themselves. If a parent is filing the form for a child between 14 and 18, the child must sign.

Once you re-finalize your adoption, you may need to apply for an N-565 to change your child’s name on their COC. There is a small fee associated with this document. The average wait time to receive a replacement COC is 12-18 months from application. It is important that your child’s COC bear the correct name and date of birth to prevent issues in the future.

Social Security Card

Many families are receiving their child’s social security card automatically within 90 days. If you do not receive your child’s social security card within 90 days, you should visit your local Social Security Administration office to inquire if it is in process. Be sure to call (or check the Social Security Administration website) in advance to find out what documentation is required and to verify that the office is familiar with current international adoption requirements.

Re-adoption (or Re-finalization) in the U.S.

Even though adoptions are finalized overseas in most locations where Holt International has adoption programs, there are exceptions (the Philippines and Thailand). Holt strongly recommends that you re-adopt/re-finalize your child’s adoption in the U.S. This allows you to apply for a U.S. birth certificate for your child and receive a U.S. final adoption decree, which is the same document domestic adoptees receive and is widely recognized.

If you wish to change your child’s name from what appears on the Certificate of Citizenship, you may do so as part of this process. The re-finalization process also makes your child a legal resident in your state. This ensures your child’s eligibility for state-funded programs, grants, scholarships, and in some states, the legal right to inherit.

If you have questions about how to go about this within your state or county, you will want to either speak with your local agency/social worker or contact your local court, which will have more information about documents needed for this process.

U.S. Passport

Your child cannot travel out of the country without a U.S. passport. It provides proof of U.S. citizenship for travel until it expires. You will need your child’s U.S. documents to apply for or renew a U.S. passport. For more information on how to apply for a U.S. passport, visit the U.S. Department of State.

The passport office will take the supporting documents and send them to the regional passport office. You’ll get them back usually within 6-8 weeks. Make a photocopy of all documents before sending them (especially if you only have one copy of your original adoption decree) as they are impossible to replace! It is possible for the documents to be lost. To make sure you get your originals back, pay the additional fee for it to be expedited and for upgraded mail service with a tracking number.