What is the current process by which an adopted child can gain entry into the United States? How would the ICARE bill change this process?
There are two ways to bring a foreign adopted child into the United States. The fastest and easiest way is to adopt an orphan who automatically becomes eligible to enter the United States with an immediate relative visa. Only U.S. citizens are eligible to immigrate a child as an orphan. The second way is to adopt a child and reside with that child abroad for two years prior to petitioning for a visa for the child to enter the United States as an immediate relative. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents may immigrate a child with whom they have lived for two years. Upon legal entry into the US, a child who has been legally adopted by a U.S. citizen is eligible for automatic citizenship. Unlike the conference of citizenship to a child born abroad to a U.S. citizen, citizenship for adopted children does not attach until they set foot on U.S. soil. The ICARE act proposes to eliminate the visa process for two important reasons. First, doing so promotes equity by affording children ad
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