Adopting a Child from Morocco Overview
An Introduction to Moroccan Adoption
Interested in Moroccan Adoption?
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Morocco Adoption Program with New Beginnings
Thank you for your interest in the Morocco adoption program with New Beginnings. We currently collaborate with two orphanages in Morocco: Le Nid at the Rita Zniber Foundation in Meknes and La Creche in Tangier. The Morocco adoption process follows Kafala, a guardianship system that allows families to provide a loving home for a child while respecting the child’s name, cultural heritage, and religion. Families adopting through Kafala must be practicing Sunni Muslims.
A family has generously shared their Kafala story, providing valuable insights into the adoption process. While some details may have changed, the process remain the same.
The Kafala Process
While Kafala has some unique aspects, many steps are similar to other international adoption programs:
- Home Study & USCIS Approval
- Families complete a home study with a licensed adoption agency.
- New Beginnings submits the home study to USCIS for pre-approval (I-600A) as part of the I-600 process.
- Country Dossier & Child Referral
- Once the required dossier is completed, New Beginnings sends it to Morocco.
- When a child is identified for Kafala, the orphanage prepares a background study and legal documents for New Beginnings to review.
- If the match aligns with the family’s preferences and capabilities, the family receives a referral.
- Travel & Kafala Court Process
- Families have 14 days to review and accept a referral.
- Travel to Morocco typically occurs within weeks or even days after acceptance.
- The Kafala process is finalized at the Court of Minors with the assistance of New Beginnings’ Program Facilitators in Morocco.
- Once the court grants Kafala, the child’s visa is secured, and the family returns to the U.S.
- Post-Placement & Finalization
- After arriving home, families complete a post-placement supervisory period to ensure a smooth transition.
- The adoption is finalized in local U.S. courts, granting the child the same legal rights as a biological child.
- The final step is to register the adoption with the Moroccan Consulate.
Key Considerations for Kafala
- Short Timeline for Travel: Families must be ready to travel soon after accepting a referral. While families receive notice when a referral may be expected, the timeline is unpredictable—referrals can be delayed or issued with little warning.
- Commitment to Cultural & Religious Identity: Kafala requires adoptive parents to preserve the child’s birth name, cultural heritage, and religion. While legal adoption is required in the U.S., Kafala itself is a guardianship system rather than a traditional adoption.
- Children in Need of Placement: While many children reside in Le Nid and La Crèche, not all are eligible for Kafala. Older children are often the most in need of placement. These orphanages provide a range of services beyond Kafala, and we encourage families to support their broader mission.
Who Can Adopt?
New Beginnings works with families across all 50 U.S. states.
- We are licensed in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania and can provide home study and post-placement services in these states.
- Families in other states will work with a local home study agency, while New Beginnings remains their primary provider throughout the process.
- Relative and Identified Child Adoptions are considered on a case-by-case basis.
For more information or to begin your adoption journey, contact us at nb@new-beginnings.org.