What’s involved in finalization?
Adoption of a child from Thailand is not considered finalized at the time of placement. You must submit postplacement reports through your homestudy agency at two, four, and six months from the time the child enters your family. WACAP reviews these reports and sends them to Thailand. You then receive approval from the DSDW to visit one of the Thai consulates in Los Angeles, New York or Chicago, or the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C., to finalize your child’s adoption. After this visit, you can refinalize the adoption in your local court. As a result of the Child Citizen Act, which became effective on February 27, 2001, the child is automatically granted U.S. citizenship once the adoption is finalized.
