Program Note: We will be updating this page to reflect agency changes announced on our home page.We are not accepting application for the South Africa Program at this time.
Introduction
We are excited to announce that we are accepting
applications for the Standard South Africa Program.
Our agency will be permitted to accept five applicants for the standard,
“healthy” South Africa Program.
These spots are open to single male and females and married couples. LGBT
individuals and couples are welcome to apply.
South Africa is one of the only adoption programs currently accepting
applications from LGBT individuals and it is with great excitement that we
bring this program to our agency. While
the children in this program are considered healthy, it is important that
families are open to some special needs including prematurity, developmental
delays, and malnourishment. The
difference between this program and the South African Special Needs program
is that these children tend to have more minor needs and are younger in age.
Families should be ready to welcome a child anywhere within the age
range of 18 to 48 months at time of child referral.
Because this is a pilot program, applicants need to
keep in mind that the program can change at any time throughout the process.
International Adoption in South Africa is new, policies and
procedures are still being established and families who elect this program
will need to be flexible.
Because there are just five spaces in the healthy
program for this coming year, we ask that you apply as soon as possible by
completing and returning a
South Africa Preliminary Application.
There is no fee to submit the Preliminary Application.
On a first come first serve basis, the team at La Vida will review
your application and let you know if you meet the qualifications to adopt
from South Africa. Upon approval
of the preliminary application, you will be invited to formally apply to La
Vida International. Upon
submittal of La Vida’s formal application, a non-refundable $550 application
fee will be due. With the guidance of the La Vida team, applicants will be
expected to expeditiously work toward completion of their home study and
dossier. In order to prevent the
loss of an adoption opportunity for a child, there will be specific
deadlines for completion of necessary paperwork.
South Africa and the Children Who Wait
The Republic of South
Africa, is a country located at the southern tip of Africa.
It is a multiethnic society encompassing a wide variety of cultures,
languages, and religions.
Although South Africa’s economy is the largest and most developed in Africa,
poverty remains widespread and there are many children in need of a
permanent family. The
children who are waiting for a family are living in orphanages in the Johannesburg,
Durban and Cape Town areas. Families will travel to their child's town to meet and bond. After an
initial adjustment period, families will appear in court to officially adopt. All
families will then travel to Johannesburg to obtain a U.S. government travel
visa for their child before returning to the United States. Both boys
and girls are available for adoption and they range in age between 18 and 48
months. All children in the standard “healthy” program will have some special
needs such as developmental delays, histories of premature birth and
malnutrition. Additionally, alcoholism is prevalant in South Africa
and all children are at risk of fetal alcohol exposure and its effects.
Applicant Eligibility
The South African government has flexible
eligibility guidelines to adopt.
These include:
Applicant/s are over the age of 25 (USCIS
regulation, South Africa only requires that you be over age 18)
While there is no official cut off age, applicants
age 50 and over will be accepted by Wandisa on a case-by-case basis
Applicants must be physically and mentally able to
care for a child (If there is a significant health concern a doctor’s letter
will be required)
Married applicants’ length of marriage should be a
minimum of 2 years (at time of dossier submittal)
Applicants with minor criminal histories may be considered.
Male and Female single applicants may also apply
LGBT individuals are invited to apply
Overview of the South Africa Adoption Process
Completing an international adoption involves tasks performed here in the United States and then traveling to the child’s country to complete your adoption. La Vida will guide you step by step through each of the tasks briefly outlined below.
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Complete a preliminary application. La Vida will promptly review it and notify you of your eligibility.
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Complete a formal La Vida application and return it with the application fee. Upon receipt of your application, we will review it and generally notify you within 2 business days of formal program acceptance.
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Complete a home study. A home study report is a requirement of your state of residence, the USCIS, and the country of South Africa. If you reside in Pennsylvania, La Vida can complete your home study. If you live outside of Pennsylvania, we will help you to identify a Hague Accredited home study agency.
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Complete an application to the USCIS. La Vida will provide the application and instructions to you, review and file it for you, and monitor it on your behalf.
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Prepare an application for the South African government, also known as a "dossier". La Vida will guide you every step of the way with comprehensive instructions, samples, and staff support.
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Wait for referral of a child. La Vida will update you regularly throughout your wait, keep you fully informed, and will provide support to you during this time.
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Receive your child referral and then travel to South Africa to adopt your child.
Anticipated Time to Child Referral
The wait time from dossier submittal to child
referral is expected to be 18 to 36 months.
Due to the newness of the program, as mentioned previously, waiting
times as well as other particular details of this program are subject to
change.
Travel
Adoptive parents will be granted permission to
travel to South Africa to meet their child 8 to 12 weeks after accepting
their referral. You will be prepared to travel with a comprehensive travel
preparation manual and via a personalized teleconference with Wandisa staff.
It is important to understand that this program requires an
in-country stay of 5 to 6 weeks.
This time includes a period of visitation with your child at his/her
orphanage, independent care and adjustment, the wait for a court appearance,
and time to process your child’s South African passport and visa to travel
to the U.S. If a married couple
travels, one spouse may return after the court appearance.
Single applicants are strongly encouraged to take another adult on
the trip and children of all applicants are welcome to travel.
While you are in South Africa, our South African representative
agency (Wandisa) will be working very hard on
your behalf to successfully complete each of the necessary steps as quickly
as possible.
Post Adoption Supervision
Post placement visits by your social worker will be
due within 2 weeks of arrival home and then on the 3 month, 6 month, 12
month, 24 month and 60 month anniversary of your arrival home from South
Africa. The purpose of these
visits is to assess parent/child adjustment and to be available as a
resource to your family.
Fees and Costs
Please click here to view a
Fee Schedule for the South Africa Adoption Program.
Program Partnerships
To offer the South Africa Adoption Program, we are
working as a supervised service provider under the auspice of a U.S. Hague
Accredited agency.
La Vida International works closely
with Wandisa Adoption Agency in South Africa. Wandisa means
“one who adds to the family” in Zulu & Xhosa.
It is one of only a few agencies authorized by the South African
Central Adoption Authority to facilitate intercountry adoption to families
here in the United States, France and Canada.
Wandisa has an applaud-worthy reputation for providing quality
adoption services, and we are very excited about having the opportunity to
work with them.
We invite you to apply for this program as we
anticipate our five initial program spaces will fill quickly.
We also encourage applicants to explore the South African Special
Needs Program. If you are ready
to join the standard Program in its inaugural season, please complete a
preliminary application. You may
scan and e-mail it to info@lavida.org,
fax it to 484-318-8562 or mail it to La Vida International, 101 Lindenwood
Drive, Suite 225, Malvern, PA
19355.
For more information about the South Africa Adoption Program, please contact Emily Bell by phone, 484-318-8543 or by email info@lavida.org. We understand that the adoption process can feel overwhelming. We want you to feel confident about your adoption journey, and are happy to support you through each step of the process.
This page was last
updated on May 22, 2017.
South
Africa Special Needs Program