INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION


GREECE

 

October 2006

DISCLAIMER: The following is intended to be a very general guide to assist U.S. citizens who plan to adopt a child from a foreign country and apply for an immigrant visa for the child to come to the United States.  Two sets of laws are particularly relevant: 1) the laws of the child’s country of birth govern all activity in that country including the adoptability of individual children as well as the adoption of children in country in general; and 2) U.S. immigration law governs the immigration of the child to the United States.

The information in this flyer relating to the legal requirements of specific foreign countries is based on public sources and our current understanding.  It does not necessarily reflect the actual state of the laws of a child’s country of birth, and is provided for general information only.  Moreover, U.S. immigration law, including regulations and interpretation, changes from time to time.  This flyer reflects our current understanding of the law as of this date and is not legally authoritative.  Questions involving foreign and U.S. immigration laws and legal interpretation should be addressed respectively to qualified foreign or U.S. legal counsel.


PATTERNS OF IMMIGRATION OF ADOPTED ORPHANS TO THE U.S.: Recent U.S. immigrant visa statistics reflect the following pattern for visa issuance to Greek orphans:

Fiscal Year       Number of Immigrant Visas Issued

FY 2006                                     1
FY 2005                                     0
FY 2004                                     2
FY 2003                                     3
FY 2002                                     2


ADOPTION AUTHORITY IN GREECE:  The government office responsible for adoptions in Greece is the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity, at the following address:

17 Aristotelous Street     
104 33 Athens, Greece
Tel. 210-5232820-9
Fax 210-5234768
E-mail: www.mohow.gr


ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ADOPTIVE PARENTS: Prospective adoptive parents may be married or single and must be residents of Greece.  Exceptions for prospective adoptive parents who do not reside in Greece will be made only for children with health problems who live in Greek institutions.  There is no religious requirement in order to adopt a child in Greece.  At least one parent must be older than the adopted child by at least 18 years, and not more than 45 years old.  Only minors can be adopted, except in the case of stepparent adoption.  Adoptions done privately are also legal in Greece.  In case of a private adoption no restriction applies as to the place of residence of the prospective parents.  There are no private adoption agencies in Greece, however children may be adopted with the involvement of an attorney who will act as a facilitator. In any case, a court decision must be issued following the field investigation of the relevant social service.


ADOPTION FEES IN GREECE:  The U.S. Embassy in Athens is aware that there is a 300 euro revenue stamp that a prospective adoptive parent will have to obtain from the Greek government before a child is released to him/her by a local institution.  It is the embassy’s understanding that court and attorney fees generally do not exceed 1,000 Euros (approximately $1,250.00) for adoptions of children living in local institutions.  The embassy is not aware of the expenses involved in private adoptions, although certainly there are some, and they can be substantial.


TIME FRAME:  Due to the limited number of children available for adoption, and a large number of prospective adoptive parents, the waiting period to finalize an adoption is approximately five years for a child living in an institution.  An attorney is necessary in order to present the case to court and finalize the adoption.  Court decisions concerning adoption cases usually take from 1-6 months before a final decision is issued.  For children with health problems it usually takes up to three years.


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.  Jurisdiction over the premises and the services provided to children living in institutions belongs to the Greek Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity, www.mohaw.gr.  The following two Greek institutions care for abandoned children:

  1. Mitera Foster Home, 65 Dimokratias Avenue, 131 22 Athens, tel. 210-2627155, email, mitera@otenet.gr
  2. Agios Stylianos Municipal Home for Foundlings, 99 28th October Street, 546 42, Thessaloniki, email, agstyl1@otenet.gr

Whether an individual adopts a child from one of the above institutions or privately, a lawyer is required.  The embassy maintains a list of English-speaking lawyers, some of whom specialize in Family law, http://www.usembassy.gr/us_citizen/attorneys.pdf . Although attorneys on the list have been chosen with care and enjoy good reputations, the Embassy cannot guarantee their professional integrity or ability.

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/or the licensing office of the appropriate state government agency in the U.S. state where the agency is located or licensed.  Please see Important Notice Regarding Adoption Agents and Facilitators at the Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs web site travel.state.gov.


ADOPTION PROCEDURES:  According to Greek Law, 2447/1996, all petitions submitted to local institutions by the prospective adoptive parents are followed by an extensive and thorough field investigation performed by the social services of the institution, which is supervised by the Greek Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity. When the investigation is over, the case file is forwarded to the local institution’s Council, which approves or disapproves the petition of the prospective parents.  The Council of the local institution does the matching of prospective adoptive parents with children, taking into account the specific needs of specific children, and the corresponding ability of prospective parents to meet those needs.  Because of the relatively small number of adoptions in Greece, this matching process can be detailed and precise.  Adoptive parents’ applications are processed by the local institutions strictly in chronological order, with the exception that priority is given to persons willing to adopt a child with special physical or intellectual needs.

If the petition is approved, then the case file is forwarded to the appropriate court for endorsement.

In order for prospective parents who live abroad to initiate an adoption, they must communicate with the respective office of the International Social Services in their country of residence, www.iss-ssi.org (for the Greek branch, issgr@otenet.gr).  For private adoptions within Greece, the social service arm of the respective Nomarchy (Prefecture) of the area that the parents reside will conduct the field investigation.  The law requires that a home study be conducted by local social services, prior to the court hearing, so that the family and the social status of the adoptive parents can be determined.

There is a 15-20 day fostering period for children living in institutions.

The documents that comprise the legal file submitted to the court in order to issue a final decision for the adoption are:

  1. Field investigation report by the Institution’s social service department;
  2. Marriage certificate;
  3. Penal record;
  4. Family status certificate;
  5. Written consent of biological parent(s);
  6. Proof of good financial status of prospective adoptive parents;
  7. Two reference letters.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR ADOPTION IN GREECE: an application signed by the adoptive parents is submitted to the institution.  In case of an inter-country adoption, the International Social Service in Athens requires the following documents from prospective adoptive parents in order to proceed to the social field investigation:

  • 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 Services office from U.S.A;
  • Certified copies of birth certificates, and baptismal certificates if applicable, 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 place of worship.
  • Penal records of both adoptive parents.   A "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;

AUTHENTICATING U.S. DOCUMENTS TO BE USED ABROAD:  The language describing the process of authenticating U.S. documents to be used abroad is currently under review. Please click on the following link for more information until the new language is finalized: http://www.travel.state.gov/law/info/judicial/judicial_701.html

GREEK EMBASSY AND CONSULATES IN THE UNITED STATES:

The Embassy of Greece
2221 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20008
Tel: 202-939-1300
Fax: 202-234-2803

Greece also has Consulates in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Florida.  For detailed contact information, please visit the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs website at, www.mfa.gr.


U.S. IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS:  Prospective adoptive parents are strongly encouraged to consult the USCIS publication M-249, The Immigration of Adopive and Prospective Adoptive Children, as well as the Department of State publication,International Adoptions .  The USCIS publication is available at http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/lawsregs/handbook/adopt_book.pdf .  The Department of State publication International Adoptions can be found on the Bureau of Consular Affairs Web site travel.state.gov

Before completing an adoption abroad, prospective adoptive parents are strongly encouraged to read the requirements for filing Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative.   Please see the flyer “How Can Adopted Children Come to the United States” at the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs web site http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/info/info_449.html.


U.S. EMBASSY IN GREECE: Americans living or traveling abroad are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov/, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within the country of travel.  Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.  The Consular Section is located at:

91 Vasilissis Sophias Avenue,
Athens 10160, Greece,
Telephone: 30-210-721-2951
athensconsul@state.gov
Telephone: 30-210-721-2951


APPLYING FOR A VISA AT THE U.S. EMBASSY IN GREECE:   Adoptive parents must file the I-600 with the DHS/USCIS office at the U.S. Embassy in Athens.  To make an appointment, please call
210-720-2404.

As soon as the Immigrant visa unit receives the case from USCIS Athens, it notifies the applicant’s parents by sending them or giving them a list of documents and forms called the “packet 3.”  The parents will also be asked to take their child to one of the Embassy’s two panel physicians for a required medical examination. As soon as the petitioning parents notify our office they are ready with all the paper work, an appointment is scheduled.  Please call (210)720-2452 or (210)720-2453 to make an appointment.


NOTE: The Embassy will issue the visa in the evening of the next working day after the immigrant visa interview. 


ACQUIRING U.S. CITIZENSHIP: The language describing the acquisition of U.S. citizenship for adopted children is currently under review. Until the new language is finalized, please click on the following link for further information: http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/info/info_457.html.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Specific questions about adoption in Greece may be addressed to the U.S. Embassy in Athens.  General questions regarding intercountry adoption may be addressed to the Office of Children’s Issues, U.S. Department of State, CA/OCS/CI, SA-29, 4th Floor, 2201 C Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20520-4818, toll-free Tel: 1-888-407-4747.

Useful information is also available from several other sources:

Telephone:
• Toll Free - For information on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction, call Overseas Citizens Services at 1-888-407-4747.  This number is available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).  Callers who are unable to use toll-free numbers, such as those calling from overseas, may obtain information and assistance during these hours by calling 1-202-501-4444.
• U.S. Department of State Visa Office - recorded information concerning immigrant visas for adopting children, (202) 663-1225.
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services - recorded information for requesting immigrant visa application forms, 1-800-870-FORM (3676).

Internet :
• Adoption Information Flyers: The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs web site at: http://travel.state.gov/ contains intercountry adoption information flyers like this one and the International Adoptions brochure.
• Country Specific Information: The State Department has general information about hiring a foreign attorney and authenticating documents that may supplement the country-specific information provided in this flyer.  In addition, the State Department publishes Country Specific Information for every country in the world, providing information such as location of the U.S. Embassy, health conditions, political situations, and crime reports.  If the situation in a country poses a specific threat to the safety and security of American citizens that is not addressed in the CSI for that country, the State Department may issue a Travel Alert alerting U.S. citizens to local security situations.  If conditions in a country are sufficiently serious, the State Department may issue a Travel Warning recommending that U.S. citizens avoid traveling to that country.  These documents are available on the Internet at: http://travel.state.gov/ or by calling the State Department's Office of Overseas Citizen Services Toll Free at 1-888-407-4747.  This number is available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).  Callers who are unable to use toll-free numbers, such as those calling from overseas, may obtain information and assistance during these hours by calling 1-202-501-4444.
• USCIS web site - http://uscis.gov/.