Adoption Notice: Universal Accreditation Act (UAA)

May 12, 2014

Universal Accreditation Act (UAA):  The Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues and the Department of Homeland Security’s US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will hold UAA Update and Training Sessions for Adoption Service Providers (ASPs) on May 20^th at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time and for Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAPs) on May 22nd, at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

As announced in our notice of April 11, 2014, the Department and USCIS will provide UAA Update and Training sessions in anticipation of the UAA’s effective date of July 14^th of this year.  Separate UAA Update and Training dates have been set aside for ASPs (May 20^th at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time) and PAPs (May 22^nd at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time).  The Council on Accreditation, the national accrediting entity, will also participate in the training to discuss the impact of the UAA on accreditation/approval and what to do if things go wrong with supervised or other providers assisting the primary provider in an intercountry adoption case. 

 

Topics for the UAA Update and Training include: 

• Grandfathering under the UAA;
• Home study requirements;
• UAA and the accreditation regulations;
• What to do when things go wrong with domestic and foreign supervised providers;
• Independent adoptions;
• Primary provider rules;
• What to do if part of the case occurred before the effective date and part after;
• How to work in countries that do not permit U.S. accredited agencies to provide services there; and
• Some country specific guidance. 

We have drawn heavily on the questions submitted by both ASPs and PAPs for these meetings and will invite submission of additional questions during the Update and Training as time permits.   

 

How to Join the Sessions: 

Session for Adoption Service Providers:

Tuesday, May 20, 2014, 2:00 -3:30 p.m., Eastern Time

Dial-in information:  1-888-363-4749, Access code:  6276702#

 

Session for Prospective Adoptive Parents:

Thursday, May 22, 2014, 3:30 -5:00 p.m., Eastern Time

Dial-in information:  1-888-363-4749, Access code:  6276702#

Please join us for these UAA Update and Training Sessions. 

No RSVP required.

NOTICE: Bulgaria's Ministry of Justice Announces New Guideline Enforcement for USCIS Approval After Expiration

Today the Ministry of Justice informed US adoption service providers of their decision regarding the registered prospective adoptive parents, whose USCIS approval for adoption has expired. Please note that pursuant to Art.29, par.7 of Ordinance No.13/2009, our foundation partners are required to present a new USCIS approval within 30 days following the expiration of the previous one. Otherwise the Ordinance provides for automatic removal from the register.

Until this decision, the Ministry of Justice demonstrated understanding and waited for prospective adoptive families to obtain a new approval and extended time for the prospective adoptive families to obtain a new USCIS approval, after the original approval had expired.  The legal stipulation of 30-day's is now in effect. 

The Ministry of Justice will no longer accept statements from the prospective adoptive families or from the accredited agency representing them. According to the decision the Ministry of Justice will permit up to 60 additional days, ONLY if the prospective adoptive families present documentation issued by USCIS confirming that the prospective adoptive families have initiated the process of obtaining a new USCIS approval. Otherwise the prospective adoptive families will not be provided with an additional deadline and will be removed from the register after the expiration of the 30-day deadline stated in the Ordinance.