Factsheet, Page 2
PERUVIAN ADOPTION AUTHORITY: The government office responsible for adoptions in Peru is the Ministry for Women and Social Development (Ministerio de la Mujer y Desarrollo Social) or MIMDES. MIMDES is responsible for identifying possible orphans for assignment to prospective adoptive parents, assisting the court''s investigation of the child''s background, contracting and coordinating with the approved U.S. adoption agencies, and certifying the court-issued adoption decree. They also establish post-adoption controls to ensure the child''s adequate development and care in the U.S.
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The post-adoption controls for adoptive parent couples where both parents are U.S. citizens differ from the controls established for couples where one parent is a Peruvian citizen. For U.S. citizen couples, the U.S. adoption agency is responsible for conducting post-adoption checks for four years after the adoption takes place, according to the norms established by each adoption agency. For couples where one parent is a Peruvian citizen, a U.S.-based entity that has been judged by the Peruvian government to be the general equivalent of MIMDES is responsible for conducting an initial post-adoption evaluation and an evaluation every six months for the following four years. Peruvian law does not require that adopted Peruvian children be registered with a Peruvian Consulate in the United States.
PERUVIAN AGE AND CIVIL STATUS REQUIREMENTS: An adopting parent must be at least 18 years older than the child to be adopted. In some cases, the prospective parents may not be more than 55 years old. Both married and single persons may adopt in Peru; however married couples must jointly present the adoption application. Both spouses must be present to adopt in Peru. Applications from unmarried couples will not be considered.
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS: There are no residency requirements for international adoptions.
TIME FRAME: International adoption from Peru can be time-consuming. Recent experience suggests the total time (from the initial inquiry with an approved adoption agency until the child arrives in the U.S.) can take several months and often over one year. Although both adoptive parents do not need to be present in Peru for the entire time, both must be present for the provisional placement, evaluation, and ratification of the adoption through the Court. Only the applicant must be present for the visa interview (with a legal representative), but the U.S. Embassy encourages at least one parent to attend. Adoptive parents should plan to stay in Peru for approximately eight weeks, and sometimes longer. The USCIS and the Immigrant Visa unit at the U.S. Embassy will do their best to process visa paperwork for an adopted child quickly, but parents should be prepared for unexpected delays.
ADOPTION AGENCIES AND ATTORNEYS: Only MIMDES-approved agencies are permitted to initiate foreign adoptions in Peru. Each licensed agency must designate at least one local (Peruvian) representative. MIMDES reviews each agency''s status every two years. Prospective adoptive parents are advised to fully research any adoption agency or facilitator they plan to use for adoption services. For U.S.-based agencies, it is suggested that prospective adoptive parents contact the Better Business Bureau and licensing office of the Department of Health and Family Services in the state where the agency is located. The U.S. Embassy in Lima has a list of agencies known to work in Peru that can be made available upon request. The Department of State does not assume any responsibility for the quality of services provided by these private adoption agencies or their employees.
Please see Important Notice Regarding Adoption Agents and Facilitators at the Web site for the Bureau of Consular Affairs at http://travel.state.gov.
Credits: U.S. Department of State
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