IFS received word from the Council on Accreditation in early June 2009 that we had received our accreditation (see the U.S. Department of State’s web site http://adoption.state.gov/hague/accreditation/agencies.html).
On May 25, 2012, the Council on Accreditation (COA) notified International Family Services (IFS) that it has granted our Renewal application for Hague Accreditation.
Under our accredited status, IFS can accept new applications as a primary, accredited provider from families who want to adopt from India or China. An adoption from India or China will be considered a Convention case if the family has not submitted an I-600a application to U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (CIS) prior to April 1, 2008. An I-171h approval of such an application must be kept current (by applying for renewal) in order to maintain transitional status.
Prospective adoptive families should also be aware that they can continue to qualify as a transitional case in adopting from India or China as long as they have filed their I-600a application with U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (CIS) prior to April 1, 2008. IFS will be seeking the following proof of this filing before we will accept a family’s application as a transitional case.
EVIDENCE of Transitional Status – Copy of I-171h
OR
date & tracking # of shipment of I-600a to CIS,
itemized list of checks to CIS ($ of each, form – cashiers’s or M.O.) AND
any CIS action after shipping (e.g. CIS financial receipt, finger printing appointment with date, letters, etc.).