Primary Provider Adoption
Information About Relative Adoption, Identified Child Adoption, and Heritage Adoption
Relative, Identified Child, and Heritage Adoptions
All international adoptions—including Relative, Identified Child, and Heritage—require a Primary Provider. Under the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption and the Universal Accreditation Act (UAA), a Primary Provider must ensure each adoption meets legal standards in both the U.S. and the child’s country. New Beginnings has successfully served as a Primary Provider for adoptions from Morocco, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Tunisia, Algeria, Pakistan, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Togo, Ghana, Jamaica, and Dominica. For more details about adoption from specific countries, please visit the U.S. State Department’s website.
What Is a Primary Provider?
A Primary Provider is a Hague-accredited adoption agency that oversees the adoption process, ensuring all services comply with U.S. and foreign laws. The UAA requires that U.S. families use an accredited adoption service provider (ASP) as the Primary Provider in all international adoption cases involving a U.S. citizen. This is mandatory, even for private or identified child adoptions.
Who Are These Services For?
Families adopting a known child (Identified Child), a relative (Relative Adoption), or those adopting from their country of heritage (Heritage Adoption). These adoptions often involve children already connected to the family through community, family, or cultural ties.
When Are Primary Provider Services Needed?
- Relative or Identified adoptions (when adopting a known child or family member abroad)
- Reverse or “upside-down” adoptions (when a child is identified before completing a home study and obtaining I-600A). Reverse adoptions are permitted, but they have risks.
Where Can New Beginnings Serve as a Primary Provider?
New Beginnings can assist families across the U.S. and worldwide. In states where we’re not licensed, we’ll help you connect with a qualified local agency. We currently offer Heritage Adoptions from Jamaica, Morocco, and Pakistan.
Steps in the Process:
- Start with the Pre-Application – This helps us evaluate your case.
- Home Study and USCIS Approval – Families complete a home study and apply for I-600A/I-800A.
- Foreign Country Process – Once approved, legal adoption steps begin in the child’s country.
- Document Review – For already completed adoptions abroad, we review all paperwork for compliance.
- U.S. Visa Process – We file for the child’s visa (I-600/I-800) and assist with consulate appointments.
- Post-Adoption Supervision – We provide follow-up reports required by the foreign country.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Nationality – One parent must be a U.S. citizen; one often must be a national of the child’s country.
- Age – Minimum 25; max age gap of 45 years between parent and child (flexible for relatives).
- Marital Status – Singles accepted (usually single women); married couples should have at least 2 years of marriage.
- Income – 125% above federal poverty guidelines.
- Health – Good physical and mental health.
- Family Composition – All household members interviewed and cleared.
- Country Requirements – Must meet the laws of the child’s birth country.
Ready to Learn More?
Start with our Inquiry Form and a New Beginnings team member will contact you to discuss next steps.