

	*Liberia*
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Country Status

Liberia is currently OPEN to adoptions by US citizens.

For a list of Joint Council agencies working in Liberia, please consult our Country Programs page.

March 19, 2008 -

The U.S. Department of State has issued the following update regarding Liberian adoptions:

"On March 14, the director of a U.S. adoption agency and three employees of the agency were prevented from departing Liberia with recently adopted Liberian children. The children were in possession of lawful adoption decrees and valid U.S. immigrant visas, and their escorts had Powers of Attorney from the adoptive parents of the children which allowed them to act as escorts. The director of the agency was later told that adoptive children will not be permitted to depart Liberia with an escort unless their travel had been cleared by the Ministers of Justice and Gender. The U.S. Embassy in Monrovia is seeking confirmation of this new requirement. The Government of Liberia is currently reviewing its adoption laws and regulations with the aim of strengthening the current system."

To view the actual post, please visit the U.S. Department of State website.

October 5, 2004 -

Changes to Liberian Adoption Requirements

The Liberian Ministry of Health has informed the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia that effective October 15, 2004, adoptive families must obtain a letter from the Ministry of Health approving the adoption of a specific child. This is in addition to obtaining a Relinquishment (Ministry of Health) and Adoption Decree (Liberian Court). The U.S. Embassy is seeking clarification as to whether or not adoption cases that began in good faith prior to October 15 will be grandfathered. This site will be updated as more information becomes available.

September 30, 2003 - The U.S. Department of State issued at travel warning for Liberia alerting U.S. citizens of ongoing safety and security concerns and advises them to defer non-essential travel.

September 18, 2003 - The Office of Children's Issues has released another notice to prospective adoptive parents adopting from Liberia. Click here to read the notice.

August 26, 2003 - The U.S. Department of State has issued two notices to Prospective Adoptive Parents adopting from Liberia. The first is an update which was issued on 8/26. The second was issued on 8/29 and addresses humanitarian parole.

August 25, 2003 - We have confirmed with the U.S. Department of State that the the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia has resumed investigations and visa processing as conditions permit. At this time, the U.S. Department of State is still recommending against travel to Liberia.

August 14, 2003 - Peacekeepers Move Into Port of Liberian Capital

On August 6, JCICS attended a briefing at the U.S. Department of State regarding intercountry adoptions in Liberia. There are reportedly close to 30 pending adoption cases between U.S. Citizens and Liberian orphans, with hundreds of additional children languishing in orphanages desperate for food and safe shelter (Newsday article). All parties involved are concerned about the welfare of the children and are hoping for a swift resolution to the current situation. The Department of State maintains that once the situation is more stable the Consulate Office will work diligently to process the adoption cases. Currently the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia has ordered the departure of all non-emergency personnel. The Embassy's consular services investigate the legitimacy of an adoption case in Liberia (to ensure the child meets the U.S. definition of an orphan) and also issues visas for the adopted child to travel to the United States.

June 19, 2003

The following information is currently posted on the U.S. Department of State website:

Due to the deterioration of the security situation in Liberia, the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia has had to sharply reduce visa services to Liberian citizens. This includes the processing of orphan petitions and visas for adopted children.

The Department of State has ordered the departure of all non-emergency personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia and has issued a traveling warning advising U.S. citizens against travel to Liberia at this time.

To visit the State Department's website, please click here.