{"id":1475,"date":"2020-05-07T13:14:40","date_gmt":"2020-05-07T17:14:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/vital-records\/?page_id=1475"},"modified":"2024-12-30T15:17:46","modified_gmt":"2024-12-30T20:17:46","slug":"foreign-adoption","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/vital-records\/foreign-adoption\/","title":{"rendered":"Adoption"},"content":{"rendered":"

Adoption FAQs<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

I am a Virginia Resident and adopted a child born in a foreign country. How do I obtain a certified birth record from Virginia?<\/strong>
\nThis office will issue a Certificate of Foreign Birth with the proper documentation. <\/p>\n

I am adopted and seeking original birth information.<\/strong>
\nAdoption records are sealed in the Commonwealth of Virginia.\u00a0 Visit the Department of Social Services’ website<\/a>\u00a0to learn more and\u00a0find contact information for an Adoption Disclosure Specialist who can assist you.<\/p>\n

I am a Virginia Resident and adopted a child born in a foreign country. How do I obtain a certified birth record from Virginia?<\/strong>
\nThis office will issue a Certificate of Foreign Birth with the proper documentation. Please complete an Application for Certification of a Birth Record<\/a> and include the pertinent records you received from the adoption.<\/p>\n

I was born outside the U.S. but a child of the U.S. parent(s). Where do I get a birth record?<\/strong>
\nU.S. Dept. of State
\nPassport Services, Correspondence Branch
\n1111 19th Street NW, Suite 510
\nWashington, DC 20522-1705
\n(202) 955-0307<\/p>\n

How can I request Adoption Records or an original Birth Record?
\n<\/strong>Once a new certificate is created, the original birth certificate and adoption order are placed in a seal file. Information regarding the release of the adoption order and original birth certificate may be obtained from the Adoption Report and Resource Section, Office of Social Services, 7 N. 8th Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219-1849.<\/p>\n

Statutes Related to Adoption<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Statutes (Chapter 7 (\u00a7 32.1-249 et seq.) of Title 32.1 of the Code of Virginia)
\n\u2022\t\u00a7 32.1-261 (A) (1) of the Code of Virginia<\/a> directs the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate for a person born in the Commonwealth upon receipt of a report of adoption (VS21 form), an adoption report prepared and filed in another state or foreign country, or a certified copy of the adoption decree. Applicants must also submit the information needed to locate the registrant’s original birth certificate and the information to establish the new birth certificate. The provision restricts establishing a new birth certificate due to adoption if the registrant is aged 18 or older.
\n\u2022\t\u00a7 32.1-261 (E) of the Code of Virginia<\/a> directs the State Registrar to establish a “Virginia certificate of birth” (AKA certificate of foreign birth) upon receipt of a report of adoption (VS21 form) for an adoption finalized in a foreign country or a report of adoption or final order of adoption prepared by a Commonwealth court. The provision restricts establishing a new birth certificate due to adoption if the registrant is aged 18 or older.
\n\u2022\t\u00a7 32.1-261 (H) of the Code of Virginia<\/a> requires the court to submit a confirmation of an adoptive parent’s military or military reserves membership along with the adoption paperwork to the State Registrar within 5 business days of the court clerk’s receipt of the final adoption decree from a judge, and requires the State Registrar to expedite issuance of the adopted child’s new birth certificate to the adoptive parents. Adoptive parents are responsible for notifying the court of military or military reserves active duty or retired membership, completing the requests to amend the child’s birth certificate and issue the new birth certificate, and for payment of any applicable fees for amendment and issuance of the certificate.
\n\u2022\t\u00a7 32.1-262 of the Code of Virginia<\/a> (i) requires a report of adoption be completed for each adoption that occurs in the Commonwealth: (ii) outlines the steps taken by the court to complete and submit the report of adoption to the State Registrar; and (iii)requires the State Registrar to submit reports of adoption to the appropriate registration in the jurisdiction of birth if received for a person born outside of the Commonwealth (in a different state, U.S. territory, or foreign country).<\/p>\n

Statutes (Chapter 12 (\u00a7 63.2-1200 et seq.) of Title 63.2 of the Code of Virginia)
\n\u2022\t\u00a7 63.2-1200.1 of the Code of Virginia<\/a> directs the State Registrar to establish a new birth certificate for a child born and adopted in a foreign country and who entered the U.S. on an IR-3 or IH-3 visa upon receipt of certain documentation.
\n\u2022\t\u00a7 63.2-1220 of the Code of Virginia<\/a> requires that the procedures outlined in \u00a7\u00a7 32.1-261 and 32.1-262 of the Code of Virginia be followed when securing a new birth certificate for a child adopted under Virginia law.
\n\u2022\t\u00a7 32.1-1221 of the Code of Virginia<\/a> permits a court to amend, correct, or establish the date of birth on the birth certificate of a child born in a foreign country during the adoption proceeding, and requires the State Registrar to include the date of birth as amended, corrected, or established by the court on the adopted child’s new birth certificate.<\/p>\n

Regulations Related to Adoption<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Regulations (12VAC5-550)
\n\u2022\t12VAC5-550-280<\/a> clarifies the conditions under which a new birth certificate is established due to adoption, and specifies the documentation required to establish the new birth certificate:
\no\tFor children born in Virginia and adopted through a Virginia court, the several states of the United States, or in a foreign country – a report of adoption or certified copy of an adoption decree and a request to prepare a new birth certificate must be submitted to the State Registrar.
\no\tFor children born in a foreign country and adopted through a court in Virginia – a report of adoption and a request that a Virginia birth registration be prepared for the adopted child must be submitted to the State Registrar.
\n\u2022\t12VAC5-550-330<\/a> specifies the forms used to prepare and file the new birth certificate after adoption.
\n\u2022\t12VAC5-550-520<\/a> outlines the fees charged for issuance, correction, or amendment to vital records:
\n\t$10.00 Administrative Fee (per application)
\n\t$12.00 Vital Record Issuance Fee (per certified copy issued OR per search of the system of vital records where a certified copy is made or not made)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Adoption FAQs I am a Virginia Resident and adopted a child born in a foreign country. How do I obtain a certified birth record from Virginia? This office will issue a Certificate of Foreign Birth with the proper documentation. I am adopted and seeking original birth information. 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