Adoption Blog

Extended Tax Credit for Adoptive Families

Dear Families,

There is good news for newly adoptive families from the health care bill that was signed into law on the 23rd.  The adoption tax credit has been extended until the end of 2011 and increased from $12,170 to $13,170 for adoptions occurring after January 1, 2010 (it's retroactive).  Even better, the credit is now refundable.

Bill text:
See page 903 of 906 at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h3590enr.txt.pdf
If you find the 2409 page version, its on page 2400.  It's the very last section. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.3590

USA Today's brief analysis:

"Taxpayers who adopt children:  Effective in 2010, the bill makes the adoption credit refundable, increases the credit by $1,000 and extends the increased adoption credit through 2011." http://www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/2010-03-23-health-care-taxpayers_N.htm

Adoption Tax Credit Letter Template

Recently, in our Adoption Tax Credit Information post we encouraged families to contact their congressman or senator, in order to ask them to work to increase the tax credit for 2011 and all subsequent years, as it is a very important resource for many families.  (You can find your representative’s contact information at https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml.)

In order to make this easier for families, here is a simple template:

The Honorable FIRST NAME LAST NAME
U.S. Senate or U.S. House of Representatives
OFFICE ADDRESS
Washington, D.C. ZIP CODE

Dear Senator LAST NAME:

My family and I are your constituents in NAME OF TOWN. We request your support of The Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act of 2009, H.R. 213 (FOR HOUSE) or S.2816 (FOR SENATE).

The adoption tax credit that this legislation would make permanent is very important to my family and me. Without this significant financial assistance, we would not have been able to adopt our beautiful son (or daughter), NAME.  I am including a photo of my son/daughter.

As you may know, adoption expenses can easily exceed $20,000, a significant sum to most families.  Without the adoption tax credit, it would likely be very difficult or impossible for many families to adopt.  Through this adoption tax credit, I believe that many more children will find new, loving families like my own.

I urge you to co-sponsor H.R. 213 (FOR HOUSE) or S.2816 (FOR SENATE).  This legislation is very important to me and I, along with other adoptive families across the nation,  will be following its progress through Congress.  Thank you in advance for your support of this legislation that truly serves children who need families.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME

The Adoption Tax Credit Information

The National Council for adoption has released a helpful, practical guide to the adoption tax credit.  The Adoption Advocate No. 21 entitled, “Tax Benefits for Adoption: The Adoption Tax Credit includes a complete explanation of and examples of how to apply the tax credit, as well as details on:  the history of the tax credit; current status of the tax credit; and pending legislation to extend the tax credit.  Please Click Here to read Adoption Advocate No. 21. Families who have questions on the tax credit should contact their tax advisor as America World is unable to provide tax advice. Families are also welcome to contact their representative and ask them to work to increase the tax credit for 2011 and the years to follow as it is a very important resource for many families.  You can find your representative’s contact information at https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml.

Rwanda Travel Update

America World rejoices with the 9 families currently in Africa completing their adoptions from Rwanda. These 9 families spent the past week with their children in Kigali, Rwanda and are now in Nairobi, Kenya completing visa paperwork. Please keep these families in your prayers as they continue to bond with their children and finalize paperwork. We are excited to share a group photo of these sweet families and their adorable children!

 

Travel Update

We are excited to share the news that 25 families in our China program and 4 families in our Ethiopia program met their children for the first time today! We also currently have 5 families from our Rwanda program in Africa this week. We are thankful for the Lord’s faithfulness to each of these families and rejoice as they have their children in their arms at last!

Our China travel group consists of 13 families from our China Waiting Children program and 12 families in the healthy referral program. The families will be in their child’s province this week then headed to Guangzhou on Friday to obtain their child’s US visa at the US Consulate. Families in the group are adopting from the Hunan, Guangdong, Gansu, Guangxi, Henan, Jiangxi,  and Yunnan provinces. We rejoice with these families as they begin to get to know their precious children after a long wait.

The four families in Ethiopia met their children today and spent the day with them at our transition home in Addis Ababa. During their time in Addis Ababa the families will be meeting with our transition home doctor, visiting two of the orphanages we work with, and obtaining their child’s US visa.

Our Rwanda program has continued to grow and we are blessed to have sent our largest group of families to Rwanda yet! Families in this program spend their first week in Rwanda meeting their child and completing local adoption paperwork then travel to Ethiopia to obtain their child’s US visa.

Please keep our traveling families in your prayers as they continue to bond with their children and complete their adoption paperwork.

Immunization Recommendations by the CDC

Families should note the following information from the US Department of State regarding Hepatitis A vaccinations, Hepatitis B screening, and Hepatitis B vaccinations:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC – www.cdc.gov ) now recommends Hepatitis A immunization for household members (including  babysitters or anyone who anticipates close personal contact) who will be returning to the US with a child who has been adopted from a country where hepatitis A is prevalent.  Screening for Hepatitis B is also recommended for children who were born in geographic regions where Hepatitis B is common. 

Under current law, children adopted from Hague countries, are required to present documentation of having received certain required vaccinations and screenings, including Hepatitis B.  Families can find more information about these regulations from the CDC at the following sites:

Hepatitis A
Updated Recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for Use of Hepatitis A Vaccine in Close Contacts of Newly Arriv¬ing International Adoptees

Hepatitis B Screening
http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/HBV/PDFs/ChronicHepBTestingFlwUp.pdf
(recommendations for Routine Testing and Follow-up for Chronic Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
Infection)

More information about Hepatitis A and B:
http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/

International Adoption Overview and Statistics:
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2010/chapter-7/international-adoptions.aspx

Rwanda Referrals!

America World is excited to announce that 5 families have received referrals in the Rwanda program.  Congratulations to all of these families during this exciting step of your adoption process!  Please find below the list of these children and the Dossier sent to Rwanda (DTR) dates of the families.

Age and Gender of Child	DTR Date
3 Female Children	3/20/09 4/22/09 4/14/09
2 Male Children	3/30/09 4/24/09

Due to the recent trends of received referrals the wait time for a referral from Rwanda is 7-8 months.  This trend is based on recent history, but is subject to change.
Please keep these families and children in your prayers.  Please also pray for the overall adoption process in Rwanda as there are still many elements to be smoothed out and many processes to instate.  We are excited to see what the Lord has in store for this program!

USCIS Changes Mailing Addresses For Adoption Applications

Filing a first time I-600A or I-600 application
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a new address for prospective adoptive parents to submit Form I 600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative, and Form I 600A, Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition.  While the change takes affect immediately, applicants have a 30-day transition period before USCIS will return incorrectly filed petitions.
 
Applicants were previously required to file at a local USCIS field office. This new mailing system will allow USCIS to process applications more efficiently by eliminating duplicative work, and maximizing staff productivity. Affective immediately, applicants in the United States, who are filing to adopt an orphan, must submit Forms I 600 (if required to file in the U.S.) & form I 600A, and all supporting documents and fees to the following address:

Regular Mail:
USCIS
P.O. Box 299027
Lewisville, TX 75029

Express Mail or Courier Service Deliveries: (FedEx, UPS, etc.)
USCIS
ATTN: Hague
2501 S. State Hwy 121 Business, Suite 400
Lewisville, TX 75067

USCIS will forward incorrectly-filed Forms I-600A and I-600, application fees and supporting documents to the Lewisville, Texas  facility for the  30 days, until Friday November 9, 2009. 
Families filing a Hague I-800a/ I-800 Application
Effective immediately, U.S. citizens seeking to adopt a foreign child under the Hague Adoption Convention must submit Forms I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative, and I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country, and all related supplements, forms, and fees to the USCIS lockbox facility located in Lewisville, Texas for initial processing, using the following address:

Regular Mail:
USCIS
P.O. Box 299008
Lewisville, TX 75029

Express Mail & Courier Service Deliveries (FedEx, UPS, etc.)
USCIS
ATTN: Hague
2501 S. State Hwy. 121 Business, Suite 400
Lewisville, TX 75067

Previously, applicants were required to file these forms at the Chicago Lockbox facility.  The Chicago Lockbox facility will forward any filings of Hague Adoption Convention forms to the Lewisville Lockbox facility for the first 30 days after the effective date of the change of filing location.  USCIS will consider applications or petitions forwarded from the Chicago Lockbox facility or other USCIS offices properly filed when received at the new Lewisville, Texas Lockbox facility.

After the 30-day transition period, USCIS will return any incorrectly filed applications to the sender.

Families Filing an Extension of their I-800A or Filing the Supplement 3 Form
When filing to request a change on a  previous approval or renewing a current I-800A approval, families must submit the I-800A Supplement 3 form to the new USCIS Dallas, TX lockbox facility.

Families Filing an I-600A Grandfathered Renewal or Free Extension
Families filing an I-600A free extension or a grandfathered renewal I-600A application will continue to file all applicable renewal documents with the local office which has jurisdiction over the family’s case. Families in this category will not send their renewal documents to the new Texas location.

Additional Information
Families can verify the instructions for their particular case by going to www.uscis.gov , clicking “Forms” and then “Adoption Forms” and reviewing the I-600A or I-800A instructions. These instructions have been updated and will provide complete details of how each form or renewal should be filed. Families are encouraged to check with their social worker prior to filing,  to confirm if there are any exceptions in the state in which they live.

AWAA Africa Family Reunion

Branson, MO
Labor Day weekend

We are thrilled to announce that 25 families attended the 1st annual AWAA Africa Family Reunion in Branson, MO over the Labor Day weekend!  What an incredible time of fellowship and celebrating together the miracle of adoption!  We started off the event with a special Meet & Greet at Payne Stewart Country Club.  Watching children reuniting with their friends from several Ethiopian orphanages and Transitional Home was a remarkable testimony of God's love and faithfulness.
We spent the weekend exploring the Ozarks... brunch, park fun, Branson show and a day at Silver Dollar City riding rides and connecting with new friends.

 

My personal highlight was holding again several of the children that had been waiting in Ethiopia for their new families.  At the time, they did not understand they were part of a big miracle God was preparing.  They are now home thriving, bonding, growing and loving their forever family.  Adoption is a gift from God!

We passed the reunion torch to the AWAA Nashville, TN families.  See you next year!!

Blessings,
Kari Gibson, Kelly Blackwell & Kim Gillman- Missouri hosts

Rwanda Program Progress

The Rwanda program is still going strong.  We're excited for the two families that were recently approved by the Ministry after their Dossiers had been submitted and the families waited for a number of months.  The families that have been approved will have their file given to an orphanage chosen by the Ministry and the orphanage director will seek to match a child with those families.  This will allow those families to then get referral information, schedule a court date and after successful court dates, travel to Rwanda to meet and bring home the child they've been waiting for.

Let's continue to pray for the families who have their paperwork at the Ministry and for the families that are building their Dossiers.