Vietnam


 
 

Country Status

 Vietnam is currently OPEN to adoptions by foreign citizens.  Parents should work    with licensed agencies.  Click the link below for a list of currently accredited agencies.

Click here for a current list of Joint Council agencies licensed in Vietnam
 

April 1, 2008

The Council on Accreditation recently submitted a letter to Tom DiFilipo, President & CEO of Joint Council, regarding the rolling nature of Hague Accreditation specific to Vietnam. Please click here to view a copy of the letter.

March 7, 2008

The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors is pleased to clarify Joint Council's position regarding the current Vietnam negotiations, specific to an earlier post issued on March 7, 2008:

Joint Council continues to advocate for all JCICS member and affiliate organizations with programs in Vietnam and those hoping to establish them.  It is, however, important to bear in mind that Joint Council is not alone in this conversation.  As we all know, there are multiple entities, governmental and non-governmental, involved in the on-going negotiations around re-establishing the MOA between the US and Vietnam.  As a contribution to these negotiations, Joint Council offered the recently created Standards of Practice for Vietnam – a document all involved parties recognized as "a key element of elevating child welfare services...."

Joint Council encourages Vietnam's movement toward functional implementation of the Hague Convention and, pending that eventuality, strongly supports continuation of programs and agency licensure based on best practice as outlined in the Joint Council Standards of Practice for Vietnam.  

Additionally, we have issued a post regarding the “rolling nature” of the COA/DOS list of Hague accredited agencies initially released on February 29, 2008. Our newest post can be accessed at http://www.jcics.org/Hague.htm.  The Hague list of accredited agencies issued on February 29th was only an initial release. As we noted on March 3rd, many other Joint Council agencies will finalize their Hague Accreditation and be added to the list, both before and after April 1, 2008. 

Again, Joint Council continues to advocate on behalf of all our member and affiliate organizations. Adoption service providers and prospective adoptive families are encouraged to contact Joint Council staff and the Joint Council Board of Directors with any questions regarding the “rolling nature” of the Hague accreditation process as well as for up-to-date information regarding Joint Council members currently pursuing accreditation.

March 7, 2008

This week Joint Council had the honor of presenting the Joint Council Vietnam Standards of Practice to the Vietnam Ministry of Justice (MOJ), Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) and to the United States Embassy in Hanoi.  We are proud to report that all parties expressed their appreciation for and support of the collective efforts of Joint Council, its Member Organizations and non-member organizations in addressing the ongoing concerns related to intercountry adoption.  All parties uniformly stated that the Standards are a key element of elevating child welfare services to a level consistent with the tenants of the Hague Convention and the hopeful continuation of permanency and humanitarian services to the children and families of Vietnam.   

During numerous meetings with MOLISA and MOJ, their desire to implement the Hague Convention was reconfirmed.  Joint Council understands that the MOJ, as part of aligning practices with Hague standards, will permit the continuation of adoption licenses for agencies receiving Hague accreditation by the U.S. Central Authority.  While the timing and other specifics remain uncertain, Joint Council and the U.S. Department of State have requested clarification.  In addition, Joint Council has strongly advocated for the following.   

  1. All adoptions in which a referral has been issued are permitted to continue through to the finalization of the adoption.

  1. Recognizing that a list of Hague accredited agencies has been announced by the U.S. Department of State via the Uniform Notification Date (February 29, 2008), agencies accredited as of April 1, 2008 (the date the Convention goes into full effect in the United States) be used to determine the continuation of licensure by the Vietnam MOJ. 

Joint Council supports the MOJ and its continuation of licensure for Hague accredited agencies.  Our support of this initiative is based on both principles and practicality.  Given Joint Council’s long standing support of a functional implementation of the Convention in the U.S. and other countries, we encourage Vietnam’s movement toward that end.  Given the expiration of the current MOA between the U.S. and Vietnam in less than six months (on September 1, 2008), this decision by the MOJ is a strong indicator of Vietnam’s serious intent to continue permanency and humanitarian services via a new or amended MOA.

While some may see the continuation of licensure for only Hague accredited agencies as overly restrictive, Joint Council fully recognizes this utilization of Convention principles as a means of ensuring both best practices and a key element for the continuation of finding permanent, safe and loving families for the children of Vietnam.

Please know that Joint Council will continue to engage all stakeholders and inform you of events as they unfold.

March 3, 2008

Joint Council is pleased to provide a final list of the adoption service providers who have demonstrated their commitment to practices in the best of interest of children as signatories of Joint Council's Standards of Practice for Vietnam.

  • Adopt International

  • Adoption Center of Washington

  • Adoption from the Heart

  • Adoptions International, Inc.

  • Adoptions Together, Inc.

  • Alliance for Children

  • Americans for International Aid and Adoptions

  • Asian Children's Services & Vietnam Humanitarian Corp

  • Carolina Adoption Services

  • Children's Home Society & Family Services (CHSFS)

  • Children's Hope International

  • Children's House International

  • Commonwealth Adoption International

  • Crossroads Adoption Services

  • Dillon International

  • Faith International Adoption

  • Families Thru International Adoption

  • Gift of Love International Adoptions, Inc.

  • Harrah's Adoption International Mission

  • Hawaii International Child & Family Services, Inc.

  • Holt International

  • International Assistance and Adoption Project

  • International Children's Alliance

  • Los Ninos International Adoption Center

  • Lutheran Community Services of South New England, Inc.

  • Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota

  • Mandala Adoption Services

  • New Beginnings

  • Orphans Overseas

  • Pearl S. Buck International

  • Plan Loving Adoptions Now

  • Ventures for Children International

  • Vietnamese Orphans Relief Fund

  • Wasatch International

  • World Association for Children & Parents (WACAP)

  • World Child International

  • Worldwide Adoption Services (WAS)

February 14, 2008

Joint Council is pleased to formally announce the release of our Standards of Practice for Vietnam. In addition to the formal Standards, Tom DiFilipo, President & CEO of Joint Council has issued an official summary of the document. In order to access Tom DiFilipo's summary, please click here. A copy of Joint Council's Standards of Practice for Vietnam can be downloaded here.

As indicated in Mr. DiFilipo's summary, licensed adoption service providers must confirm their status as a Joint Council Vietnam Standards of Practice signatory no later than close-of-business on Monday, February 25, 2008.

January 29, 2008

The U.S. Department of State has issued a warning regarding adoptions in Vietnam as well as a press release which further addresses their concerns. To read the Department of State's warning, please click here. To read the press release, please click here.

January 3, 2008

The timeline regarding the finalization of Joint Council’s Vietnam Standards of Practice has been extended. This decision was made in order to ensure that the most up-to-date information is incorporated in the document which will be presented to Vietnamese provinces and the DIA by Joint Council President & CEO Tom DiFilipo.

New information obtained from USCIS and USDOS officials at Joint Council’s Board of Directors meeting next week as well as the feedback received from Joint Council members and external Summit attendees will be incorporated into the document which will be available for your review around January 27th.

 Our extended Vietnam Standards of Practice timeline is as follows:

  • Early February 2008 (updated) – Joint Council’s final Vietnam Standards of Practice will be issued and will reflect feedback received throughout December and January

  • Late February 2008 (updated) – Adoption Service Providers return signed Vietnam Standards of Practice to Adam Schlicht, Child Advocacy Program Manager at adams@jcics.org

  • Early March 2008: Joint Council will present our Standards of Practice to DIA and Vietnamese provinces through Joint Council’s International Relations Initiative

  • July 30, 2008 (updated): Vietnam Standards of Practice compliance for all signatory ASPs

Again, Joint Council is thankful for your participation as we establish a comprehensive Vietnam Standards of Practice and continue to advocate for the right of all Vietnam's children to a safe, loving, and permanent home.

December 4, 2007

To review and download a copy of Joint Council's official summary of the Vietnam Summit which was held on November 28 in Washington D.C., please click here.

November 26, 2007

Joint Council is pleased to announce that we have secured a larger meeting space for the November 28 Summit in Washington, DC.  The meeting will now be held in the Longworth building, which is next door to the Rayburn building.

This larger space will enable us to accept an additional 20 participants from Member or Non-Member organizations who RSVP and provide corresponding payment prior to close of business Monday.  Please note that we are unable to provide lunch for these 20 participants. We are also unable to accept RSVPs from individuals not affiliated with an organization. 

To RSVP, please send an email to adams@jcics.org with "Vietnam Summit RSVP - New Location" in the subject line.  You will also need to make a $15 payment to cover beverages provided in the morning. Please make this payment online by visiting http://www.jcics.org/Donate.htm. You will need to select "International Relations Initiative" from the program area dropdown menu and enter "Vietnam Summit" in the comments field.  

As indicated last week, all confirmed participants who also sent their corresponding payment prior to our Friday deadline will receive a follow-up email by close of business Monday.  This email will include a specific room number for the Longworth Building.  We highly recommend that anyone who has any question regarding their status for Wednesday's Summit contact us at (703) 535-8045 prior to traveling to DC.

November 20, 2007

As of 3 p.m., Joint Council has received the maximum number of Vietnam Summit RSVPs that we can allow due to space restrictions.  Any RSVPs received after 3 p.m. will go on a waiting list.

All confirmed participants who have also sent their corresponding payment will receive a follow-up email by close of business Monday.  This email will include a specific room number for the Rayburn Building.  We highly recommend that anyone who has any question regarding their status for Wednesday's Summit contact us at (703) 535-8045 prior to traveling to DC.

Also, anyone who has submitted an RSVP but not sent a corresponding payment by close of business Friday will have their space released.  Please make this payment online by visiting http://www.jcics.org/Donate.htm. You will need to select "International Relations Initiative" from the program area dropdown menu and enter "Vietnam Summit" in the comments field.  If you have sent a check to Joint Council's office, please email adams@jcics.org by Friday to let us know the payment is on its way.

Thank you for your cooperation.  We look forward to a productive event next Wednesday.

November 16, 2007

Joint Council will host a Vietnam Summit Meeting of adoption service providers, along with representatives from the U.S. Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Congress on Wednesday, November 28th.  Although Joint Council has opened the meeting to both Member and non-Member organizations, all participants will need to RSVP by Friday, November 23 due to space restrictions. Please read below for more information.

Joint Council Vietnam Summit
Wednesday, November 28th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC

To RSVP, please email your name and cell phone number to Adam Schlicht at info@jcics.org. In addition, participants will need to pay $30 to cover the costs of a working lunch offered during the Summit.  Please make this payment online by visiting http://www.jcics.org/Donate.htm; you will need to select “International Relations Initiative” from the program area dropdown menu and enter “Vietnam Summit” into the comments field. Once Joint Council has received your RSVP and payment, we will respond to your email with the room number of the meeting and any additional information. 

Joint Council has also reserved a small room block at the Holiday Inn on the Hill—the site of the 2008 Medical Institute and Conference—for out-of-town participants traveling on November 27th.  Please call 1-800-638-1116 and refer to the JCICS room block to ensure your rate of $219/evening.  Rooms are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

November 12, 2007

In line with our mission of protecting each child’s right to a permanent, safe and loving family, Joint Council will host a Vietnam Summit Meeting of adoption service providers, along with representatives of the U.S. Department of State and Homeland Security, on Wednesday, November 28th.   In order to encourage a successful Summit through collaboration, Joint Council has opened the meeting to both Member and non-Member organizations.  The Summit will serve as a forum to help adoption service providers appropriately meet the current practice and regulatory challenges facing intercountry adoption in Vietnam.  The Summit will also serve to develop a unified standard of practice, which will provide the basis for ethical intercountry adoption from Vietnam and serve the best interest of each child.

November 12, 2007

 Joint Council can confirm that the Vietnam Department of Intercountry Adoption has temporarily suspended referrals from the Phu Tho province for U.S. potential adoptive parents effective November 5, 2007.

It is our understanding that the suspension will not interfere with the adoptions of those children referred prior to November 5, 2007.

October 25, 2007

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has issued an update announcing that the USCIS office in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam will have sole jurisdiction over all Form
I-600s filed on behalf of a Vietnamese child on or after October 29, 2007.  The announcement also states that as of November 16, 2007, USCIS will not expedite the processing of the Form I-600 solely because the petitioner is in Vietnam.  You may access the complete update by clicking here.

October 24, 2007

Joint Council President & CEO Tom DiFilipo has issued a new update concerning the revised I-600 procedure in Vietnam, which includes provisions for families in Vietnam or those with imminent travel. To review a copy of this latest update, please click here.

October 23, 2007

Joint Council has been in communication again today with both U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) and the U.S. Department of State (USDOS) regarding the effective date of the new I-600 filing procedures.  We have strongly advocated for a common sense approach to implementation.  As part of our advocacy, Joint Council has delivered a letter to Lori Scialabba, Associate Director of Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate at USCIS, outlining our concerns and requesting due consideration.

It is our understanding that USCIS is now considering and developing an extension of the effective date and a process which will allow families in-country or with imminent travel plans to be processed under current procedures.

Joint Council continues our recommendation to reassess the travel plans for all clients and refrain from issuing new travel dates until this issue has been fully resolved. We will continue to advocate until a positive resolution is achieved.

October 22, 2007

In September 2007, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) announced plans for their new initiative related to I-600 filings and determinations. It is our understanding that USCIS will rollout this initiative within the coming weeks.  Joint Council has been involved in the development of this initiative and has advocated for a three week (21 day) window from formal publication of the initiative to effective date.  Despite our advocacy for a policy which would minimize the negative impact on potential adoptive parents (PAPs) and children, it is our understanding that the window will be one week (7 days). 

Given the anticipated short time from publication to effective date and the pending implementation of the initiative, it is our recommendation that all adoption service providers reassess their program specific to PAPs travel and filing of I-600s. Failure to fully assess the impact of this new USCIS initiative may result in PAPs being in Vietnam for an extended period of time while a determination of the I-600 is processed.

September 5, 2007

During his visit to Washington, D.C. in July, Department of Intercountry Adoptions Director Long informed the U.S. government that the Vietnamese government would issue an official schedule of adoption-related fees in September 2007. The fee schedule is required by the terms of the bilateral agreement on adoptions between Vietnam and the United States. Part-year statistics for FY-2007 indicate a likely figure of at least 800 visas by the end of the fiscal year.

January 29, 2007

Joint Council staff and Board of Directors met with the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services last Monday in conjunction with our quarterly Board meeting.   The following update was supplied to us by DOS:

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Overseas Citizens Services, Catherine Barry, discussed the Vietnam situation during her November testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on International Relations.  As she said at the time, and as State and JCICS have spoken about previously, DOS wishes they could say the bilateral agreement was a silver bullet that solved all of the problems they saw in Vietnam before the Vietnamese Government’s 2002 suspension, but this is not the case.  The process in Vietnam remains largely decentralized, despite the creation of a Department of Inter-Country Adoptions (DIA) within the Ministry of Justice.  There are a lot of actors, each with his or her own interests, and little oversight or centralized control.  Vietnam has yet to publish a schedule of fees, as required by the bilateral agreement, and while there may be differences of opinion about the amount of authority the DIA may have in theory, no one disputes that in practices it is not taking remedial or punitive actions.  Also, DIA does not have the ability to address problems at the provincial or local level, which is, unfortunately, where the problems were primarily found in the pre-2002/2003 period.  Both the State Department and CIS are continuing to assess the situation in Vietnam and look for solutions.  DOS urges JCIC Member agencies operating in Vietnam to also work on improving the situation.  DOS believes there needs to be better coordination among adoption service providers operating in Vietnam, a willingness to report improper behavior to U.S. Government officials either in Vietnam or Washington, and the strictest adherence to ethical adoption practices.  Joint Council will continue to update the caucus on any new information or developments as they are made available.

September 26, 2006

The Vietnamese government does appear to be working on long-term reform to the adoption process, including eventual accession to the Hague Convention, but the near-term fixes to the immediate problems are more difficult. Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Maura Harty and Childen's Issues office director Ellen Conway were in Vietnam on September 13-14, stressed the importance of complying with Vietnam's current obligations under the U.S.-Vietnamese bilateral agreement, including real assessments of ASPs before granting licenses, some sort of enhanced oversight of independent facilitators, and the publication of transparent and uniform fee schedule as soon as possible. The Department of State also continues to stress to the Department of Intercountry Adoptions (DIA) the need for greater accountability in humanitarian assistance projects, which are prerequisite for DIA licensing. Many ASPs, including a number of JCICS members, have reported shakedowns and bribery solicitations by Vietnamese government officials, and much of DOS' emphasis with the DIA continues to be how they can work to combat this.

August 25, 2006 -

The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi announced as of August 15, 2006, the Ministry of Justice of the Social Republic of Vietnam will temporarily stop receiving applications for establishment of office from American Adoption Service Providers.  Click here for the full list of JCICS agencies currently licensed in Vietnam.

January 18, 2006 -

The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi has released the following information.  The Department of International Adoptions in Vietnam has licensed a total of 9 US adoption agencies (7 of whom are JCICS members).  Click here to see the 7 JCICS members licensed in Vietnam. Additional applications are pending, although we do not know how many or the timeframe for licensing. 

Click here for the agreement.

June 21, 2005 -

Today the agreement between the United States and Vietnam concerning intercountry adoptions was signed.  The momentous event took place at the Department of State in the Delegates Lounge and was well attended by government officials, NGOs and families. Minister Uong signed for Vietnam and Maura Harty signed for the United States.

After brief remarks by Assistant Secretary Maura Harty and Minister Uong from Vietnam, Congressman Delahunt (D-MA) made a few remarks.  Then the signing occurred marking the beginning of a new relationship and agreement between our two countries and hope for many orphaned children. 

According to the State Department's website:

This has been an effort of many months and reflects both countries’ commitment to the welfare and well being of children and parents, as well as to a transparent and effective adoption system between our two countries.  The features of the agreement include:

  • The Parties support the facilitation of the adoption of orphaned children on humanitarian grounds and for the purpose of child protection.

  • The agreement that appropriate measures should be taken under respective national laws to prevent and deal with actions of adoption abuse involving the exploitation of children and other infringements on a child’s lawful rights and interests.

  • Recognition of the respective national laws governing the licensing and oversight of adoption service providers.

The United States welcomes indications from the Government of Vietnam that it intends to accede to the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption.  The United States supports the goals and principles of this Convention, which calls for transparency in a country’s adoption system and safeguards to protect vulnerable children.

April 25, 2005 - Joint Council sent a letter to Maura Harty regarding the continued negotiations between the US and Vietnam.  (click here for the letter)

April 6, 2005 -
The following statement was released by The U.S. Department of State:

On April 6, Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Maura Harty spoke with Dr. Vu Duc Long, Director of the Department of International Adoptions, concerning both countries’ interest in finalizing a bilateral agreement on intercountry adoptions. Dr. Long informed Assistant Secretary Harty that the Government of Vietnam would submit to the Department of State a revised draft agreement by the end of April. Accordingly, Assistant Secretary Harty extended a formal invitation to the Vietnamese Government to send a delegation to Washington in early May, contingent upon receipt of the draft agreement.

February 18, 2005 - We appreciated the help of all JCICS members in explaining to interested families that at this point in time no agencies should be advertising an active Vietnam program. The U.S. Department of State is in current discussions with the Government of Vietnam. We are hopeful that a program can be agreed upon to help those children with special needs find permanent families.  As we learn of new information, we will update our site.  

Notice on Vietnam - Special Needs Program

 The Department of State and the Government of Vietnam have recently been exploring the possibility of a special needs program as part of a multi-track approach on adoptions that includes negotiations for a general bilateral agreement and Vietnam's eventual accession to the Hague Adoption Convention.  No program has yet been agreed upon or implemented, and the criteria and procedures that might be used for special needs cases have not yet been determined.

 

US Agencies Licensed in Vietnam

The following is a list of Joint Council on International Children’s Services U.S. member agencies who are currently licensed by Vietnam to process adoptions.  (Provinces in which these agencies are licensed to operate are listed below.)

Note to JCICS Member agencies: Please fax a copy of your license to JCICS at (703) 535-8049.

Joint Council Members Licensed in Vietnam:
 

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