INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION

August 2001

DISCLAIMER: The information in this circular relating to the legal requirements of specific foreign countries is provided for general information only. Questions involving interpretation of specific foreign laws should be addressed to foreign legal counsel.

PLEASE NOTE: Greek children can be adopted only by people who are either Greek citizens or of Greek origin and residents in Greece. Exceptions will be made only for children with health problems.

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.

GENERAL: The following is a guide for U.S. citizens who are interested in adopting a child in Greece and applying for an immigrant visa for the child to come to the United States. This process involves complex Greek and U.S. legal requirements. U.S. consular officers give each petition careful consideration on a case-by-case basis to ensure that the legal requirements of both countries have been met, for the protection of the prospective adoptive parent(s), the biological parents(s) and the child. Interested U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to contact U.S. consular officials in Athens before formalizing an adoption agreement to ensure that appropriate procedures have been followed which will make it possible for the Embassy (Consulate) to issue a U.S. immigrant visa for the child.

AVAILABILITY OF CHILDREN FOR ADOPTION: Recent U.S. immigrant visa statistics reflect the following pattern for visa issuance to orphans.

FY-1996: IR-3 immigrant visas issued to Greek orphans adopted abroad - 10
IR-4 immigrant visas issued to Greek orphans adopted in the U.S. - 0
FY-1997: IR-3 visas - 1, IR-4 visas - 0
FY-1998: IR-3 visas - 3, IR-4 visas - 0
FY-1999: IR-3 visas - 11, IR-4 visas - 0
FY-2000: IR-3 visas - 4, IR-4 visas - 0

GREECE ADOPTION AUTHORITY: The government office responsible for adoptions in Greece is the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

GREECE ADOPTION PROCEDURES: The adoption process may take years. Legal private adoptions can take place in Greece. According to Greek Law, any arrangements by prospective adoptive parents for the care of a minor must be approved by Social Services following a thorough investigation. If the couple is English-speaking or residents of abroad, the family study will be done by International Social Services in Athens. There is a five year waiting period to finalize an adoption is long, since there is usually a sizeable waiting list of prospective adoptive parents. The adoptive parents will also need the assistance of an attorney. The embassy has a list of attorneys, which is listed below.

AGE AND CIVIL STATUS REQUIREMENTS: There is no religious requirement in order to adopt a child in Greece. Preference, however, is given to prospective adoptive parents of the Greek Orthodox faith. Greek children can be adopted only by persons who are either Greek citizens or of Greek origin and residents of Greece. Exceptions will be made only for children with health problems who can be found at the institutions located in Greece.

There is no marital requirement in order to adopt a child in Greece. As far as age, according to Greek law, at least one parent must be older than the adopted child by at least 18 years but not by more than 50 years. According to U.S. law for adoption, there is no required age for a married couple, but if unmarried, the U.S. citizen should be at least 25 years of age.

ADOPTION AGENCIES AND ATTORNEYS: There are many governmental institutions and orphanages in Greece which care for orphaned or abandoned infants of Greek or other ethnic descent.

Mitera Foster Home (in cooperation with P.K.P.A.- Patriotic Institution of Social Welfare and Assistance).
65 Dimokratias St.
Athens, Greece
Tel: 01-262-7155

Children’s Home Society
2231 Com Ave.
Saint Paul, MN 55108
Tel: 612-646-6393

Aghios Stylianos (Municipal Home for Foundings)
99 28^th October St.
546 42 Thessaloniki
Tel: 031-940-057 or 031-911-600

Whether an individual adopts a child from one of the above institutions or privately, a lawyer is required. The embassy also maintains a list of English-speaking lawyers, some of whom specialize in adoption. This list is provided as a service to American citizens and does not constitute a recommendation. Although attorneys on the list have been chosen with care and enjoy good reputations, the Embassy cannot guarantee their professional integrity or ability:

ANAGNOSTOPOULOS & FIFIS Law Firm

Specializes in: criminal, civil and real estate
Office address: Patriarhou Ioakim 6, GR-106 74 Athens, Greece
Tel: Office: 7292-010/12
Fax: 7292-013
Mobile Phone: 0944765338- Mr. Fifis

ARGYROPOULOS, Achilleas

Specializes in: criminal and civil law
Office address: Panepistimiou 67, GR-105 64 Athens, Greece
Telephone:
Office: 3214-583, 3246-391
Home: 8132-679 or 9334-636
Fax: 3213-948
Mobile Phone: 0932349224

ATHANASSIADES, Alexander B.

Specializes in: criminal, civil law
Office address: Stournara 5, GR-106 83 Athens, Greece
Telephone:
Office: 3827-779, 3843-977
Home telephone: 2432-024
Fax: 3843-977

DIMITRAKOPOULOS, Spiro G

Specializes in: civil, adoption, divorce & property law
Office address: Massalias 14, GR-106 80 Athens, Greece
Tel: Office: 3622-720
Home: 2918-332

KOURTIS, Steven

Specializes in: criminal, civil, commercial law
Office address: Voulis 5, GR-105 61 Athens, Greece
Tel: Office: 3218-900
Fax: 3218-914
Mobile telephone: 0932193374
E-mail: grsnklaw@hol.gr

NIKEA-MOURATOGLOU, Titika

Specializes in: civil, criminal, real estate & inheritance
Office address: Fidiou 14-16, GR-106 78 Athens, Greece
Tel: Office: 3843-494
Fax: 3839-819

PAPADOPOULOS, John G

Specializes in: criminal and civil law
Office address: Themistokleous 43-45, GR-106 83
Athens, Greece
Tel: Office: 3821-667
Fax: 3815-532
Mobile telephone: 0944610635

PAPAGEORGIOU-GONATAS, Stylianos

Specializes in: civil, criminal, real estate, commercial law
Office address: Kodrigtonos 8
GR-112 57 Athens, Greece
Tel: Office: 8239-744
8212-585
Fax 821-6227
Mobile Phone: 0932279725

PAPAZISSIS, Michael

Specializes in: civil, criminal, commercial law
Office address: Xanthou 5, GR-106 73 Athens, Greece
Tel: Office: 3640-143 or 3643-482
Fax: 3646-590

STAROYIANIS, Stratis

Specializes in: General practice includes civil and criminal law
Office address: Stadiou 61, GR-105 51 Athens, Greece
Telephone:
Office: 324-9184
Home: 813-3066
Fax: 324-7773
Mobile Phone: 0944383649

TSAKIRAKIS, Athina

Specializes in: criminal, civil, commercial law
Office address: Meg. Alexandrou 35, GR-171 21 Nea Smyrni, Athens
Tel: Office: 9319-411
Fax: 9328-468
Mobile phone: 0944544297

TSOURIDES, Vanessa

Specializes in: civil law
Office address: Thalou 9 & Amalias 42, GR-105 58 Athens, Greece
Tel: Office: 3216-513 or 3217-513
Fax: 3216-613
E-mail: law-greece@otenet.gr

TZORTZAKIS, George

Specializes in: criminal and civil law
Office address: Soteriou Haralambi 14, GR-114 72 Athens, Greece
Tel: Office/Home: 6463-057, 6445-242
Mobile telephone: 0932671333

VAKRINOS & KONTOGIANNIS

Specializes in: civil, custody cases, international private law, taxation, real estate
Athens office: Omirou 58, GR-106 72 Athens
Telephones of associates John & Chris Kontogiannis: 3630-594, 3630-664, 8086-163
Fax: 3630-594 & 3630-664
Mobile: 0944340970
E-mail: cjkont@hol.gr

U.S.A. offices:

1808 East Timberview Lane, Arlington, Texas 76014
Office Telephone: (817) 261-6707
Fax: (817) 274-9050
Email: tvakrinos@doubled.com

7822 Ridgecrest Drive
Alexandria, VA 22308
Telephone: (703) 7686-666
Fax: (703) 7685-657

FRANGOYIANNOPOULOS, Nicolaos

Specializes in: general practice
Office address: Kalavryton 17, GR-272 00 Amalias, Greece
Telephone:
Office: 22333
Home: 22322
Fax: 28027

KOTSIFAKIS, Nicholas

Specializes in: general practice
Office address: Sfakianaki 36Γ, GR-731 00 Hania, Greece
Tel: Office: 42710
Fax: 28452
Mobile telephone: 0977777954

PSORAS, Michael & Markela

Specializes in: civil and criminal law
Office address: Alex. Pachnou 3, GR-821 00 Chios, Greece
Tel: Office: 21641 or 42497
Fax: 42497
Mobile telephone: 0932543319

PAPADRIKOPOULOU, Ourania

Specializes in: criminal, civil, commercial
Office address: Stoa Orfea, Bldg B’, 1^st floor, GR-454 44 Ioannina, Greece
Tel: Office/Fax: 25931
Home: 40737
Mobile telephone: 0977168656

KARELIS, Aris

Specializes in: criminal and civil law
Office address: Venizelou Sq. 15, GR-712 02 Iraklion, Greece
Telephone:
Office: 224790
Home: 245518
Fax: 285430
Mobile telephone: 0944147114

MARKAKIS, Emmanuel G.

Specializes in: general practice including criminal law
Office address: Papa Alexandrou 16, GR-712 02 Iraklion, Greece

Telephone:
Office: 226239
Home: 380216 or 380480
Fax: 380216

PERTSINAKIS, George

Specializes in: general practice, including criminal and civil law
Office address: Papa Alexandrou 16, GR-712 02 Iraklion, Greece
Telephone:
Office: 224278
Home: 245957
Fax: 227868
Mobile telephone: 0945035180

NIKITEAS, Ioannis

Specializes in: criminal, civil, tax law
Office address: Aristomenous & Vas.Olgas 2, GR-241 00 Kalamata, Greece
Telephone:
Office: 22050 or 21242
Home: 80493 or 83245 or 58498
Mobile telephone: 0944339510

GALOUSIS, George N

Specializes in: criminal and civil law
Office address: N. Plastira 12, GR-431 00 Karditsa, Greece
Telephone:
Office: 21731 or 24731
Home: 71345
Fax: 21731
Mobile telephone: 0944352757

DEMAS, George

Specializes in: criminal and civil law
Office address: Koliatsou 49-51, GR-201 00 Korinthos, Greece
Telephone:
Office: 24667
Home: 23200
Mobile telephone 0932437755

DIAMANTIS, John

Specializes in: general practice
Office address: Defkalionos 1, GR-412 22 Larissa, Greece
Telephone:
Office: 530371 or 251670
Home: 222287

HATZIANAGNOSTOU, Athanassios

Specializes in: criminal and civil law
Office address: Defkalionos 16, 1^st floor, GR-412 22 Larissa
Tel: Office: 536131
Mobile telephone: 0977528098

KALAMATIANOS, Demetrios C.

Specializes in: general practice
Office address: Papanicolaou 20, GR-211 00 Nafplion, Greece
Telephone:
Office: 27567
Home: 27396

LOGARIASTAKIS, Michael

Specializes in: criminal, civil, commercial & corporate law
Office address: Neapolis, GR-724 00 Crete, Greece
Telephone:
Office: 31272
Home: (81) 280-030, (841) 31220

PAPADAKIS, Haridimos

Specializes in: criminal, civil, commercial & corporate law
Office address: Kountourioti 59, GR-741 00 Rethymno, Greece
Telephone:
Office: 24370
Home: 24371

KARAMARIOS, Anastasios

Specializes in: criminal and civil law
Office address: Kazouli 13, GR-851 00 Rhodes, Greece
Tel: Office: 74100 or 75220
Fax: 76700
Mobile telephone: 0944517555

FRERIS, Markos

Specializes in: civil, criminal law
Office address: Parodos Emm. Roidi, Neorio, GR- 841 00 Syros, Greece
Tel: Office: 80444
Fax: 86444

DOCTORS: The U.S. Embassy (Consulate) maintains current lists of doctors and sources for medicines, should either you or your child experience health problems while in Greece.

GREECE DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS: The International Social Service in Athens requires the following documents in order to adopt a child:

• An application to show their interest to adopt a child notarized by the Greek police if they happen to be here in Greece or sent through their International Social Service from U.S.A.
• Certified copies of Birth certificates and Baptismal certificates of the adoptive parents.
• Certified copy of their Marriage certificate.
• Medical certificates concerning the general health condition and separate certificates concerning the mental health of the adoptive parents.
• Evidence of the financial status of the adoptive parents.
• Two letters of recommendation from friends, organizations, or their church.
• Penal records of both adoptive parents. For your information "penal record" is a document which Greek citizens can obtain from the appropriate area judicial authority regard to their "conviction-free" background. It has been the Embassy's experience that U.S. citizens, whenever required, can submit to the Greek authorities an FBI record, which is considered to serve the same purpose.
• The law also requires that a home study be conducted by the local social service, prior to the court hearing, so that the family and social status of the adoptive parents can be determined.

These documents need to be authenticated as well. Here is the procedure:

Generally, U.S. civil records, such as birth, death, and marriage certificates, must bear the seal of the issuing office and then be authenticated by the appropriate State Secretary of State in the U.S., the U.S. Department of State's Authentication’s Office, and the Guatemalan Embassy or nearest Consulate.

Tax returns, medical reports and police clearances should likewise be authenticated, beginning with the seal of a notary public in the United States, or some appropriate issuing office. The notary's seal should be authenticated by the clerk-of-court of the county where the notary is licensed, or some similar authority. The document should then be authenticated by the appropriate State Secretary of State in the U.S., the U.S. Department of State's Authentication’s Office, and the (Insert County’s name here) Embassy or nearest Consulate.

U.S. IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS

A Greek child adopted by an American citizen must obtain an immigrant visa before he or she can enter the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident. There are two distinct categories of immigrant visas available to children adopted by American citizens.

A Previously Adopted Child. Section 101(b)(1)(E) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act defines an "adopted child" as one who was adopted under the age of 16¹and who has already resided with, and in the legal custody of, the adoptive parent for at least two years. Parents who can demonstrate that their adopted child meets this requirement may file an I-130 petition with the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security (BCIS) having jurisdiction over their place of residence in the United States. Upon approval of the I-130 petition, the parents may apply for an immigrant visa for the child at the U.S. Embassy in Athens. American citizens who believe this category may apply to their adopted child should contact the U.S. Embassy in Athens for more information.

¹ A child adopted at age 16 or 17 will also qualify, provided he or she was adopted together with a natural sibling who was under age 16.

An Orphan. If an adopted child has not resided with the adoptive parent for two years (or if the child has not yet even been adopted) the child must qualify under section 101(b)(1)(F) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act in order to apply for an immigrant visa. The main requirements of this section are as follows:

• The adoptive or prospective adoptive parent must be an American citizen;
• The child must be under the age of 16¹ at the time an I-600 Petition is filed with the BCIS on his or her behalf;
• If the adoptive or prospective adoptive parent is married, his or her spouse must also be a party to the adoption;
• If the adoptive or prospective adoptive parent is single, he or she must be at least 25 years of age;
• The child must be an orphan, as defined by U.S. regulations. Although the definition of an orphan found in many dictionaries is "A child whose parents are dead," U.S. immigration law and regulations provide for a somewhat broader definition. Children who do not qualify under this definition, however, may not immigrate to the U.S. as an orphan even if legally adopted by an American Citizen. The Department of State encourages Americans to consider if a particular child is an orphan according to U.S. immigration law and regulations before proceeding with an adoption. A detailed description of the orphan definition used by BCIS can be found on BCIS's web site at http://www.uscis.gov.

U.S. IMMIGRATION PROCEDURES FOR ORPHANS

I. The Petition.

Adoptive and prospective adoptive parents must obtain approval of a Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative (Form I-600) from the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security (BCIS) before they can apply for an immigrant visa on behalf of an orphan. The adjudication of such petitions can be very time-consuming and parents are encouraged to begin the process well in advance.

A prospective adoptive parent may file Form I-600A Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition with the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security (BCIS) office having jurisdiction over their place of residence. This form allows the most time-consuming part of the process to be completed in advance, even before the parent has located a child to adopt. In addition, a parent who has an approved I-600A may file an I-600 in person at the U.S. Embassy in Athens.²

² If a married couple is adopting the child and only one of the parents will travel to Greece, that parent must be an American citizen. REMEMBER both parents must still sign the original I-600.

Detailed information about filing these forms can be found on BCIS's web site at http://www.uscis.gov. Americans who have adopted or hope to adopt a child from Greece should request, at the time they file these forms, that BCIS notify the U.S. Embassy in Athens as soon as the form is approved. Upon receipt of such notification, the Embassy will contact the parents and provide additional instructions on the immigration process. U.S. consular officers may not begin processing an orphan adoption case until they have received formal notification of approval from an BCIS office in the US.

II. The Orphan Investigation

One part of the petition process that BCIS cannot complete in advance is the "orphan investigation". An orphan investigation Form I-604 Report on Overseas Orphan Investigation) is required in all orphan adoption cases - even if an I-600 has already been approved - and serves to verify that the child is an orphan as defined by US immigration law. This investigation is performed by a consular officer at the time of the child’s immigrant visa interview.

Information regarding visa requirements for the admission of an adopted child into the United States is available from the nearest Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security office or from the Visa Section of the nearest American Embassy or Consulate. Further information concerning international adoption is available on the Internet from the Office of Children’s Issues, Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. Department of State at http://travel.state.gov.

GREECE EMBASSY (and Consulates) IN THE UNITED STATES:

The Embassy of Greece
2221 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20008
Tel: 202-939-581, 202-232-5212
Fax: 202-234-2803

Greece also has Consulates in San Francisco, California; Los Angeles, California; Boston, Massachusetts; Houston, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; New Orleans, Louisiana; and New York, New York.

U.S. EMBASSY IN GREECE:

U.S. Embassy Athens, Greece
American Services Section
91 Vassilissis Sophias Ave.
101 60 Athens
Tel: 30-1-721-2951
E-mail: consul@attglobal.net
Web Site: http://www.usembassy.gr

Greece also has a Consulate General in Thessaloniki, Greece.

TIME FRAME: Estimation on the length of time required to complete the adoption proceeding is difficult to be made. The period of time required varies from case to case. In the case of an orphan or an abandoned child after it is located, the period of time would be 60 to 90 days, after obtaining the adoption decree through the Greek legal system.

There is both an Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Securitys (BCIS) office and an Immigrant Visa unit located at the American Embassy in Athens which can facilitate immigrant visas for children adopted by American citizens.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Prospective adoptive parents are strongly encouraged to consult BCIS publication M-249, The Immigration of Adopted and Prospective Adoptive Children, as well as the Department of State publication, International Adoptions.

QUESTIONS: Specific questions regarding adoption in Greece may be addressed to the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Athens. You may also contact the Office of Children's Issues, SA-29, 2201 C Street, NW, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC 20520-2818, Tel: (202) 736-7000 with specific questions.

Information is also available 24 hours a day from several sources:

Telephone

Office of Children’s Issues - recorded information regarding changes in adoption procedures and general information, 1-888-407-4747.

State Department Visa Office - recorded information concerning immigrant visas for adoptive children, (202) 663-1225.

Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security - recorded information for requesting immigrant visa application forms, 1-800-870-FORM (3676).

Internet

The Consular Affairs web site at http://travel.state.gov contains international adoption information flyers and the International Adoptions brochure.

BCIS web site - http://www.uscis.gov

Other Information

Consular Information Sheets - published by the State Department and available for every country in the world, providing information such as the location of the U.S. Embassy, health conditions, political situations, and crime reports. The information is available 24 hours a day by calling the State Department’s Office of Overseas Citizens Services at (202) 647-5225.