China
Russia
Vietnam
There are two main types of visas issued by the U.S. government to children adopted internationally, either an IR-3 or an IR-4.
An IR-3 visa means your child is an automatic U.S. citizen upon entry into the U.S. An IR-3 visa is issued when the adopting parent(s) physically see the child before the adoption procedure is completed in the foreign country. When an IR-3 visa is issued, because your child is an automatic U.S. citizen upon entering the U.S., a Certificate of Citizenship will be automatically issued for your child by the Citizenship and Immigration Service (CIS) -- the Certificate of Citizenship will be mailed directly to your home within approximately 45 days of your child entering the U.S. Because citizenship is automatic with an IR-3 visa, registration/adoption/re-adoption is not required for your child to attain U.S. citizenship, but we very strongly recommend the registration/adoption/re-adoption for many other reasons, including obtaining a state issued birth certificate for your child, formal legal name change, insuring rights of inheritance, and obtaining a Social Security Card with the child's American name and with U.S. citizen designation.
If an IR-4 visa is granted, your child does not automatically gain U.S. citizenship upon entering the U.S. An IR-4 visa is issued when only one of a married couple travels, or if the adoption is completed through power of attorney prior to the adopting parents physically seeing their child in the foreign country. With an IR-4 visa, after returning home with your child, you must register/adopt/re-adopt your child according to your state's adoption laws in order for your child to attain U.S. citizenship. This registration/adoption/re-adoption process must be completed in your state of residence before you can apply to the CIS for your child's Certificate of Citizenship. Also, in certain states, if the child is to come home on an IR-4 visa, adopting parents must meet certain pre-adoption requirements.
Visa for Adoptive Parents to Travel to Foreign Country
More details regarding obtaining a visa to travel to each country, including costs and time frames, will be provided to you when you begin the adoption process. We have listed below each country for which we have an adoption program and the basic requirements regarding the need for a travel visa. You may also obtain the most up to date information regarding visa requirements for each country by visiting that country’s Embassy web-site.
China:
In addition to a valid US passport, US Citizens must obtain a tourist visa to enter China from the Chinese Consulate or Embassy.
Guatemala:
A visa is not required to enter Guatemala. You may enter using a valid US passport.
Russia:
In addition to a valid US passport, US Citizens must obtain a tourist visa to enter Russia. Because visas for Russia are single entry visas, you will be required to obtain a visa for each trip.
Vietnam:
In addition to a valid US passport, US Citizens must obtain a tourist visa to enter Vietnam from the Vietnamese Consulate or Embassy.
India:
In addition to a valid US passport, US Citizens must obtain a tourist visa to enter India from the Indian Consulate or Embassy.
Ethiopia:
In addition to a valid U. S. passport, an Arrival Tourist Visa is needed, but can be purchased upon entry into Ethiopia at Bole International Airport for approximately $70.
Bulgaria:
No entry visa is required for US citizens, only a valid US passport.
