Advice on adopting step-children

I have been in the UK since March this year. As a family we have decided that I will be adopting my step-children. I know that I have to have lived with them for 6 months, and been in the UK for 12 months prior to filing.

Has anyone been through this themselves? What sort of time line are we looking at? Normally this would not have been an issue, the time line, but we've been discussing moving to the States next summer instead of in 3-4 years after I get my citizenship, which doesn't give us much time between when I can file for adoption and when we may end up moving (july/aug) so they don't miss school.

Any advice or thoughts appreciated!

I've read that you need to contact someone in your local social services office and at least 3 months before you start the adoption process.  You may want to drop in and explain your entire situation to them and see if they can help.  If not, I'd go straight to a solicitor.  The fact that you're not a UKC makes the process a bit different than a "normal" stepparent adoption, so I'd want some official guidance (not just something I read on the internet).

You can check out this site (which appears to be pretty official).  There's a lot of useful info there and the site is fairly easy to navigate.

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2002/ukpga_20020038_en_1


Good news if you are planning to move back to the US and you are able to go forward with the adoption beforehand...the children automatically gain USC when you adopt them (there's some technical things involved, but it seems to be a fairly easy process)...so no visas needed for them, only a US passport.     I'm not sure what your reasons for moving back to the US are, but perhaps you might want to consider that bit of information before making a decision.

Thank you TarnLover. I'm going to take a look at the link now. I had gotten a packet when I first moved from the Leicester Adoption something or other. It didn't give a time line, but implied that it could take a while. They used words like when you "eventually" get contacted by a social services agent... Not very optimistic. I will give them a call, though and see if we can get in to talk to someone.

I wasn't sure about them being automatic US Citizens. I thought I had read it somewhere, but then I read that that applied to if you went somewhere and adopted, but step-children adoptions were different. That would save us a fortune to not have to get them visas.

I'm going to be stepping out for awhile, but I will try to find the link sometime this weekend about the citizenship qualifications.  The process for step-parents is different then the process for 2 USC adopting a foreign-born child.  I'll try to find that info for you as soon as I can.

I'd be ever so grateful! I'll look as well and post if I find anything.

Well, I didn't find what I was looking for. I found what I didn't want to find.

ACS Services
Step-children of U.S. Citizens

Children born outside the United States can only acquire U.S. citizenship at birth based on a blood relationship to a parent who is a U.S. citizen at that time.

U.S. immigration law, however, does accord U.S. citizens the right to seek immigration benefits (i.e. a green card, with the possibility of eventual naturalization) for a step-child who was still under the age of 18 on the day the U.S. citizen legally married the child’s parent.  The U.S. citizen begins this process by filing an I-130 Petition with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  For further information, click here for the DHS’ Office of Citizenship and Immigration Services website.

I got this from http://slovakia.usembassy.gov/step_children.html
I don't suppose it matters that it's Slovakia's website, because the information is about US law. I could not find a co-oresponding link on the London US Embassy website.

Well, I didn't find what I was looking for. I found what I didn't want to find.

ACS Services
Step-children of U.S. Citizens

Children born outside the United States can only acquire U.S. citizenship at birth based on a blood relationship to a parent who is a U.S. citizen at that time.

U.S. immigration law, however, does accord U.S. citizens the right to seek immigration benefits (i.e. a green card, with the possibility of eventual naturalization) for a step-child who was still under the age of 18 on the day the U.S. citizen legally married the child’s parent.  The U.S. citizen begins this process by filing an I-130 Petition with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  For further information, click here for the DHS’ Office of Citizenship and Immigration Services website.

I got this from http://slovakia.usembassy.gov/step_children.html
I don't suppose it matters that it's Slovakia's website, because the information is about US law. I could not find a co-oresponding link on the London US Embassy website.

This law applies to step-children...not adopted children.  If you legally adopt these children, you are no longer considered their step-father so this would not apply to you.  I swear I have that link...hidden somewhere in a long lost email (which I've forgotten the password to...yay me!), but I will find it and post it to you when I've had one or five less vodka and red bulls!  I promise!

Also just a heads up...the laws on this changed recently...so if you do by some chance find a link with info, make sure you check the date to be assured it's not the out-dated immigration/citizenship laws.

Well, here's the post that I didn't get to post the other day when the board went down. Except some of the posts I was replying to went missing, but here's mine anyway:

Thanks TarnLover, I knew this was the place to come. Just having someone point out that an adopted child is no longer a step child is something that when you're in the moment you don't think about. I'm going to contact the adoption people that sent me info back at the beginning of the year tomorrow and see what they say.

Liz - Thanks

Jewlz - Thank you. I'm really lucky that they want a mother figure. Their mum died in 2001 when they were 3 and 5, so it could've gone either way I think, as far as them accepting me so quickly. Sorry you aren't able to adopt your stepson.

And new info:

I emailed the US Embassy in London who sent me to http://adoption.state.gov/ and that has mainly to do with adopting unrelated children in a different country. I emailed them, and they got back to me today. I still have to go the immigrant visa route, and can do that anytime. They will be eligible for US Citizenship after two years residency with me. That can be here, there, or split any way it doesn't matter. I am thinking of some other details to follow up with them about, but I'm trying to process everything first, so I ask succinct questions that are easy to follow in this complicated situation.

Jewlz - Thank you. I'm really lucky that they want a mother figure. Their mum died in 2001 when they were 3 and 5, so it could've gone either way I think, as far as them accepting me so quickly. Sorry you aren't able to adopt your stepson.

Awwww. Well, I was just being cheeky. I would never wish for anything to happen to the little guy's mum, even if she does annoy me sometimes! I'm sorry to hear of their mother passing, but whether this works out or not, you are there for them and that's what counts. They are lucky to have you!