Adoption Information: Saint Kitts and Nevis

On Feb. 1, 2021, the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (the Hague Adoption Convention) went into effect in Saint Kitts and Nevis. Saint Kitts and Nevis is now a party to the Hague Adoption Convention. In the U.S., Hague Convention adoptions are processed using Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country, and Form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative. However, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) has determined that it will not be able to process Hague Adoption Convention cases from Saint Kitts and Nevis, because Saint Kitts and Nevis does not yet have the necessary infrastructure to carry out its responsibilities under the Hague Adoption Convention.

For this reason, U.S. consular officers cannot issue the required Hague Adoption Certificate or Hague Custody Certificate at this time. Without this certification, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) cannot approve a Form I-800.

Because U.S. prospective adoptive parents cannot complete the Hague Adoption Convention process for an intercountry adoption from Saint Kitts and Nevis, we advise these parents not to file any Form I-800 on behalf of a child to be adopted from Saint Kitts and Nevis, as USCIS will reject these petitions. We also advise families not to file Form I-800A identifying Saint Kitts and Nevis as the country they intend to adopt from.

Note: Before the Hague Adoption Convention went into effect in Saint Kitts and Nevis, USCIS processed intercountry adoption cases from Saint Kitts and Nevis using Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition, and Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative. As of Feb. 1, 2021, prospective adoptive parents generally can no longer initiate a new intercountry adoption from Saint Kitts and Nevis using these forms.

We will promptly advise the public if a future determination is made that the processing of intercountry adoptions from Saint Kitts and Nevis under the Hague Adoption Convention may proceed. USCIS will begin processing Forms I-800 for Saint Kitts and Nevis once such a determination has been made.

For the latest information on Saint Kitts and Nevis, see the Country Information page on the DOS website and the latest DOS adoption notices for Saint Kitts and Nevis.