Recently we asked the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi for more information about the schedule of fees that was to be published according to the Agreement originally signed by Vietnam and the United States. Here is the Consul’s reply:
According to the Memorandum of Understanding, the Government of Vietnam agreed to publish a comprehensive schedule of fees. Such a schedule is an important step toward ensuring transparency in the adoption process in Vietnam, and the United States government continues to urge Vietnam to publish a comprehensive schedule of fees in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding.
Prospective adopting parents should discuss the issue of fees with their agency. The agency should be able to provide them with a complete schedule of fees for their adoption. Prospective adopting parents should note that currently fees can very significantly between provinces and agencies. Additionally, the Department for International Adoptions has informed the Embassy that direct cash parents from adopting parents to orphanages and orphanage staff in Vietnam are a violation of Vietnamese law and regulations.
In addition, the embassy received permission from USCIS to release more information about the NOIDS that have been issued since adoptions reopened:
Since the US resumed adoptions in Vietnam in February 2006, Consular officers have been conducting field verifications in order to determine the accuracy of documentary evidence presented in I-600 petitions. When these verifications indicate significant differences between the facts presented in the Form I-600 petitions and the facts uncovered by the investigations, USCIS has issued Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs) to the petitioning parents.
The first NOID issued in Vietnam following the resumption of adoptions was issued in August 2006. Prior to September 2007, 7 NOIDs were issued by CIS – four withdrew and two denials were upheld by the Administrative Appeals Office, and one was case was approved based on the evidence supplied in the rebuttal.
Since September 2007, the number of I-600 petitions filed in Vietnam has increased by over 60%, and there has been a corresponding increase in the number of field verifications. The information discovered during these verifications led to the issuance of 5 NOIDs in September and 8 were issued in October. In all 13 cases, the investigations revealed significant irregularities in the Vietnamese documents relating to the child’s abandonment or relinquishment. All of these cases are still in the rebuttal period.
We very much appreciate the Consul’s responses to our questions, especially as we know this is a very busy time at the Embassy.
One response
This is great information! Thank you so much for posting this and thanks to the embassy for responding.
I would also love to hear more specifics about the bilateral agreement (exact expiration date and what would happen to pipeline cases if it is not extended on time). There is so much speculation right now that it would be great to get some information from the embassy directly.
Thanks!