On November 30, 2010, President Obama signed the International Adoption Simplification Act. This Act provides the same waiver for required vaccination documentation for Hague Convention adoptions as is available for non-Hague adoptions. Effective immediately, I-800 families can follow the same procedure as used by I-600 families to apply for a vaccination waiver by completing a DS-1981 (Affidavit Concerning Exemption from Immigrant Vaccination Requirements) which must be signed and notarized. The DS-1981 can be downloaded from: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/80002.pdf. The DS-1981 may be revised in the future to indicate that it also applies to Hague cases; until then, the current form will be accepted.
Parents who are already in China and do not have a signed, notarized DS-1981 can have the form notarized at their oath-taking ceremony; they do not need to schedule a separate appointment for a notarial service. Parents who have not yet traveled to China should prepare the DS-1981 before traveling, and submit it with their child’s immigrant visa application.
Panel physicians have been informed of the Act, and are aware that parents may decline the vaccines.
Please note that this waiver only applies to children ages 10 and younger; children older than 10 are still required to provide documentation of vaccination. TB testing is still required for children ages 2 and older.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Adopted Children's Immigrant Visa Unit
U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou
guangzhoua@state.gov
86-20-8518-7653
http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/