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New Rule Will Allow Adopted Kids To Obtain Citizenship In 45 Days

Aired November 30, 2003 - 22:48   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: In honor of National Adoption Month, the federal government announced it's making it easier for Americans to adopt children from overseas. Starting in January, children adopted from overseas get their U.S. citizenship papers much quicker.
Russ Knocke is with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. He joins us to explain the new adoption rule. Good evening to you, Russ.

RUSS KNOCKE, U.S. BUREAU OF CITIZENSHIP & IMMIGRATION SERVICES: Good evening. Thank you.

SAVIDGE: So, what are the changes? And how significant are they?

KNOCKE: Well, they're very significant. What we are doing is streamlining the process by which parents can obtain proof of citizenship for their internationally adopted children.

It used to be that this process would take between 12 to 18 months, just to obtain the certificates of citizenship. What we are doing now in, beginning in January, will be turning these certificates of citizenship without application and without fee, within 45 days.

SAVIDGE: And, aside from obviously reducing the time element, how does this benefit those wanting to adopt?

KNOCKE: Well, what it does is it makes the process less cumbersome for the parents. It's, in and of itself, still a very lengthy process. International adoptions take still between 12 to 18 months.

But when parents bring their children home, what they really want and ought to be focusing on is the family. The last thing that they need to be worrying about is the bureaucracy associated with obtaining these certificates.

Again, we're streamlining the process.

SAVIDGE: Absolutely. What are you seeing as far as the trend of international adoptions? Is it rising? Going down? Where does it stand?

KNOCKE: Well, it continues to rise. And I must point out that we are not promoting international adoptions over domestic. This is just an effort to facilitate another viable option. But the trends continue to rise.

SAVIDGE: And why did you feel you wanted to reduce the time?

KNOCKE: Well, as I pointed out, it's just important to really support the families when they're bringing their children home.

And, you know, these certificates are important. They're needed for a variety of services. They're useful for Social Security cards, passport issuance, school records and much more.

And as I say, the parents really need to spend time -- we want to, you know, allow the parents to spend time with their families versus dealing with bureaucracy.

SAVIDGE: You think there are other cuts that could be done, other ways of streamlining the process that would help parents that want to be?

KNOCKE: Well, we are certainly working toward that. And one of the initiatives that we're very pleased about is the announcement -- recent announcement -- of a joint working group between the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security, toward the full implementation of the Hague Convention on protection of children.

That particular global initiative will establish benchmarks, really an accreditation process, if you will, that will provide for more transparent processes and safeguards in the international adoption experience.

SAVIDGE: And when trying to adopt a child from overseas, are there problems sometimes in getting the paperwork that you need in order to get the official proof that they are, in fact, adopting? In other words, are other countries making it difficult just because of their own red tape?

KNOCKE: Well, in certain instances, yes. There are challenges, particularly with certain countries, and that's one of the reasons why we are working with the Department of State towards this full implementation of the Hague Convention.

It's going to, again, streamline processes and also establish benchmarks in this much needed and wonderful accreditation process.

SAVIDGE: Russ Knocke, it is welcome news. Thank you very much, especially during National Adoption Month. We appreciate you being with us on this Sunday evening.

KNOCKE: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





45 Days>


Aired November 30, 2003 - 22:48   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: In honor of National Adoption Month, the federal government announced it's making it easier for Americans to adopt children from overseas. Starting in January, children adopted from overseas get their U.S. citizenship papers much quicker.
Russ Knocke is with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. He joins us to explain the new adoption rule. Good evening to you, Russ.

RUSS KNOCKE, U.S. BUREAU OF CITIZENSHIP & IMMIGRATION SERVICES: Good evening. Thank you.

SAVIDGE: So, what are the changes? And how significant are they?

KNOCKE: Well, they're very significant. What we are doing is streamlining the process by which parents can obtain proof of citizenship for their internationally adopted children.

It used to be that this process would take between 12 to 18 months, just to obtain the certificates of citizenship. What we are doing now in, beginning in January, will be turning these certificates of citizenship without application and without fee, within 45 days.

SAVIDGE: And, aside from obviously reducing the time element, how does this benefit those wanting to adopt?

KNOCKE: Well, what it does is it makes the process less cumbersome for the parents. It's, in and of itself, still a very lengthy process. International adoptions take still between 12 to 18 months.

But when parents bring their children home, what they really want and ought to be focusing on is the family. The last thing that they need to be worrying about is the bureaucracy associated with obtaining these certificates.

Again, we're streamlining the process.

SAVIDGE: Absolutely. What are you seeing as far as the trend of international adoptions? Is it rising? Going down? Where does it stand?

KNOCKE: Well, it continues to rise. And I must point out that we are not promoting international adoptions over domestic. This is just an effort to facilitate another viable option. But the trends continue to rise.

SAVIDGE: And why did you feel you wanted to reduce the time?

KNOCKE: Well, as I pointed out, it's just important to really support the families when they're bringing their children home.

And, you know, these certificates are important. They're needed for a variety of services. They're useful for Social Security cards, passport issuance, school records and much more.

And as I say, the parents really need to spend time -- we want to, you know, allow the parents to spend time with their families versus dealing with bureaucracy.

SAVIDGE: You think there are other cuts that could be done, other ways of streamlining the process that would help parents that want to be?

KNOCKE: Well, we are certainly working toward that. And one of the initiatives that we're very pleased about is the announcement -- recent announcement -- of a joint working group between the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security, toward the full implementation of the Hague Convention on protection of children.

That particular global initiative will establish benchmarks, really an accreditation process, if you will, that will provide for more transparent processes and safeguards in the international adoption experience.

SAVIDGE: And when trying to adopt a child from overseas, are there problems sometimes in getting the paperwork that you need in order to get the official proof that they are, in fact, adopting? In other words, are other countries making it difficult just because of their own red tape?

KNOCKE: Well, in certain instances, yes. There are challenges, particularly with certain countries, and that's one of the reasons why we are working with the Department of State towards this full implementation of the Hague Convention.

It's going to, again, streamline processes and also establish benchmarks in this much needed and wonderful accreditation process.

SAVIDGE: Russ Knocke, it is welcome news. Thank you very much, especially during National Adoption Month. We appreciate you being with us on this Sunday evening.

KNOCKE: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





45 Days>