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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>79180</law_id><section_number>63.2-1200.1</section_number><catch_line>Recognition of foreign adoption; issuance of birth certificates</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>32.1-261</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="63.2">Welfare (Social Services)</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Social Services Programs</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="12">Adoption</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Any adoption of a <span class="dictionary">child</span> who was born in a foreign country and who was not a citizen of the United States at the time of birth shall, subject to the provisions of subsection D of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Previously married persons who stood in loco parentis during the time of the marriage may adopt in the same manner as married persons" href="/63.2-1201.1/">63.2-1201.1</a>, be recognized by the Commonwealth and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be determined as though the <span class="dictionary">order</span> of adoption was entered by a <span class="dictionary">court</span> of the Commonwealth if the adoption was finalized pursuant to the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of the country from which the <span class="dictionary">child</span> was adopted, and the <span class="dictionary">child</span> was admitted to the United States with an IR-3 or IH-3 visa issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. In such cases, the adoptive parents shall not be required to readopt the <span class="dictionary">child</span> in Virginia. <a id="paragraph-283568" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1200.1/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> In cases in which an adoption of a <span class="dictionary">child</span> was finalized pursuant to the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of a foreign country and the <span class="dictionary">child</span> was admitted to the United States with an IR-3 or IH-3 visa, the adoptive parents, if residents of the Commonwealth at the time the adoption was finalized, may submit a report of adoption to the State Registrar of Vital Records on a form furnished by the State Registrar, which shall (i) include <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> as to the date, place of birth, and parentage of the adopted person; (ii) provide information necessary to establish a new certificate of birth for the adopted person; (iii) include a certified or notarized copy of the <span class="dictionary">final order</span> of adoption entered by the foreign <span class="dictionary">court</span>, together with a certified translation or a notarized copy of a certified translation of the <span class="dictionary">final order</span> of adoption in cases in which the original order is not in English; and (iv) include an <span class="dictionary">affidavit</span> from the adoptive parents indicating that they are receiving supervision from a licensed or approved <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">child</span>-placing agency</span> in the United States or have received supervision from a licensed or approved <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">child</span>-placing agency</span> in the United States and have satisfied all post-adoption requirements as required by the foreign country from which the <span class="dictionary">child</span> was adopted. Upon receipt of a report pursuant to this subsection, the State Registrar shall establish a new certificate of birth for the adopted person, and such certificate of birth shall be registered in accordance with the provisions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="New certificate of birth established on proof of adoption, legitimation, or determination of paternity, or change of sex" href="/32.1-261/">32.1-261</a>. <a id="paragraph-283569" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1200.1/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2011, c. 486; 2012, c. 323.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
