Primary Provider Adoption FAQs

I Know the Child I Want to Adopt; Do I Need a Primary Provider?

Yes, all international adoptions—including Relative, Identified Child, and Heritage—require a Primary Provider. Under the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption and the Universal Accreditation Act (UAA), a Primary Provider must ensure each adoption meets legal standards in both the U.S. and the child’s country. New Beginnings has successfully served as a Primary Provider for adoptions from Morocco, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Tunisia, Algeria, Pakistan, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Togo, Ghana, Jamaica, and Dominica. For more details about adoption from specific countries, please visit the U.S. State Department’s website.

What is the Primary Provider?

A Primary Provider is a Hague-accredited adoption agency that oversees the adoption process, ensuring all services comply with U.S. and foreign laws. The UAA requires that U.S. families use an accredited adoption service provider (ASP) as the Primary Provider in all international adoption cases involving a U.S. citizen. This is mandatory, even for private or identified child adoptions.

When are Primary Provider Services Needed?

Primary Provider services are required in cases such as:

• Identified Child or Relative Adoptions: When adopting a known child or family member abroad.
• “Upside-Down Adoptions”: When a family has completed a foreign adoption without a Hague-accredited agency and is later informed by U.S. Immigration Services that a Primary Provider is needed to facilitate the child’s immigration process.

New Beginnings offers Primary Provider services in both scenarios, creating a Service Plan to ensure the adopted child qualifies for U.S. immigration.

Where Can NB Be a Primary Provider?

New Beginnings offers primary provider services for adoption worldwide. Prospective families are encouraged to complete a free pre-application online so we can evaluate their unique circumstances. If New Beginnings is not the best fit, we can assist in finding an appropriate agency.

In some cases, countries permit international adoption only for their citizens or require a distinct process for citizen adoptions abroad, known as Heritage Adoptions. Currently, we provide Heritage adoption services for Jamaicans, Pakistanis, and Moroccans. Additionally, where Heritage adoption is allowed but lacks an established process, New Beginnings may offer Primary Provider services to guide families through the requirements.

Steps in the Primary Provider Process

1. Select a Primary Provider: New Beginnings. The State Department recommends identifying a Primary Provider before starting the process. Begin by filling out our free Pre-Application, and a team member will reach out to assist you.
2. Home Study and USCIS Approval: After selecting a Primary Provider, your agency will guide you through the home study and USCIS approval (I-600A/I-800A forms) processes.
3. Adoption Process in the Foreign Country: Once USCIS approval is obtained, the legal process in the child’s country can begin.
4. Review of Completed Adoptions: If the adoption or guardianship is already completed abroad, the Primary Provider will review all documents to ensure compliance with U.S. and foreign laws. A home study and USCIS approval will follow.
5. Filing for the Child’s U.S. Visa: After foreign documentation is complete, the Primary Provider helps file the I-600 or I-800 forms for the child. Once USCIS approval is granted, the agency will assist in obtaining a U.S. immigration visa from the relevant U.S. embassy or consulate.
6. Post-Placement and Post-Adoption Support: After the child arrives in the U.S., the Primary Provider ensures completion of all required post-placement or post-adoption supervision. This includes sending necessary supervision reports to comply with the foreign country’s guidelines.

Eligibility Requirements

• Nationality — One adopting parent must be a U.S. citizen. For most countries in which primary provider services are being sought, one parent would be a national from that country.
• Age — Minimum age is 25. There is no age limit. Our guideline is there should be no more than a 45-year age difference between the child and the youngest parent. In relative adoptions, individual circumstances are considered.
• Marital Status — If the country allows, single applicants are permitted. When permitted, it is often limited to single females. If married, our guidelines are to be married for at least two years or have evidence of an established relationship. The country’s requirements for the length of marriage may be longer.
• Income — 125% over the poverty guidelines and Financial stability. Link to I-864P, then click “For 48 Contiguous States…”
• Health — Good health without medical concerns.
• Family Composition — All adults and children in the home must be interviewed for the home study. Adults will be required to get clearances.
• Country Requirements — Must meet the requirements of the country adopting from.

Considering New Beginnings as Your Primary Provider

New Beginnings is dedicated to assisting families with diverse and unique adoption situations. To learn more, please start by filling out our pre-application, and we will arrange a time to discuss how we can help meet your Primary Provider needs.