2. Legal Articles
  3. Immigration
  4. DOS Reviews Japanese Laws Affecting Certain Intercountry Adoption Cases

REFINE BY AREAS

Search Legal Articles

DOS Reviews Japanese Laws Affecting Certain Intercountry Adoption Cases

author by Alexander J. Segal on May. 23, 2018

Immigration Immigration  Deportation Immigration  Visa 

Summary: On April 13, 2017, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) stated that it is currently reviewing Japanese law regarding the transfer of custody of a child without a court order.

immigration attorney nycOn April 13, 2017, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) stated that it is currently reviewing Japanese law regarding the transfer of custody of a child without a court order [PDF version]. The DOS stated that the transfer of custody of a child without a court order “may affect a child's eligibility for an adoption-based visa under the Immigration and Nationality Act.”

In light of the review, the DOS “urge[d] families with pending I-600 petitions and immigrant visa applications based on the transfer of custody of children — if such applications do not involve a court order — to consider deferring their travel to Japan to complete the visa process at this time.” Furthermore, the DOS also urged adoption agencies to not make any referrals to prospective adoptive parents in the United States in these cases until the DOS issues further notice.

The review may implicate adoption cases in Japan involving the transfer of custody of a child without a court order. Prospective adoptive parents in these cases should consult with their Adoption Service Provider and an experienced immigration attorney for a case-specific consultation and an understanding of the relevant U.S. immigration laws. We will update the website when more information is available.

Please visit the nyc immigration lawyers website for further information. The Law Offices of Grinberg & Segal, PLLC focuses vast segment of its practice on immigration law. This steadfast dedication has resulted in thousands of immigrants throughout the United States.

Lawyer website: http://myattorneyusa.com

Legal Articles Additional Disclaimer

Lawyer.com is not a law firm and does not offer legal advice. Content posted on Lawyer.com is the sole responsibility of the person from whom such content originated and is not reviewed or commented on by Lawyer.com. The application of law to any set of facts is a highly specialized skill, practiced by lawyers and often dependent on jurisdiction. Content on the site of a legal nature may or may not be accurate for a particular state or jurisdiction and may largely depend on specific circumstances surrounding individual cases, which may or may not be consistent with your circumstances or may no longer be up-to-date to the extent that laws have changed since posting. Legal articles therefore are for review as general research and for use in helping to gauge a lawyer's expertise on a matter. If you are seeking specific legal advice, Lawyer.com recommends that you contact a lawyer to review your specific issues. See Lawyer.com's full Terms of Use for more information.

© 2025 LAWYER.COM INC.

Use of this website constitutes acceptance of Lawyer.com’s Terms of Use, Email, Phone, & Text Message and Privacy Policies.