The population of Brazil is approximately 170 million and is growing at a rate of 1.9 percent annually.

Brazillians are friendly, warm, happy and free spirited people. They are also outgoing and enjoy being around others.

ADOPTION IS A LIFETIME COMMITMENT

You must be sure about this very important step! Foreign adoption is not for every family. Many good parents can not truly accept someone elses child and love them as their own. Many adoptive parents are excellent parents to a child of their own race, but are not cut out to be parents to a child of another race or background.

Children are removed from their country ONLY because they essentially have little future in that country and no possibility of being cared for by permanent, nuturing or through strong, long-term foster care.

Their only alternative to inter-country would be institutional care until they reach the majority age. We need to support the humanitarian and child centered views that have permitted the children to emigrate and become part of our families. As with any birth or adoption, there is an element of risk and there can be NO GUARANTEE's to the health intelligence, appearance, or development or behavior of the child.

LANGUAGE:

Because Portugal colonized Brazil, Portuguese is the official language. English is a popular second language.

RELIGION:

There are more Roman Catholic's in Brazil than in any other country; 90% of the people are Catholic.

GOVERNMENT:

Brazil is a federal republic consisting of twenty six states and one federal district (Brasilia, the capital). Each state is technically autonomous, with a legislative body and an elected governor.

ECONOMY:

Brazil's gross domestic product is coffee, oranges and bananas. They are second in soybean and cocoa production, third in corn and beef, fourth in pork and eight in rice. Much of Brazil's sugarcane is used to make ethyl alcohol, a fuel used in over 1.5 million Brazilian cars. Brazil has a strong industrial sector.

Exports are automobiles, textiles, minerals, iron, steel and metals.

RECREATION:

The national sport is soccer. Brazil's soccer teams are among the finest in the world. The legendary soccer player, Pele, is from Brazil. Basketball and Volleyball are also popular. Because the nation has many fine beaches, boating, fishing and swimming are enjoyed by Brazilians and tourists alike.

FAMILY:

Families are traditionally large and may include the extended family. The family is strong and is led by the father. The mother does have an influence in the decisions, however, especially those in the home. Children usually only leave home when they marry and rarely before. It is very common to see grandparents living with their children until they die.

DIET:

Breakfast usually consists of coffee with milk, bread cheese, eggs and butter.

Lunch and dinner are the main meal. These include beans, rice, meat, salad, fruit, potatoes and bread. Brazillian food is very tasty.

THE CHILDREN:

~ live in Orphanages
~ are 4 years of age and up
~ many come in sibling groups
~ children come from different racial backgrounds, such as afro with European,
the mix-raced Brazilian children are beautiful!!

PARENTS:

Brazil has placed the fewest restrictions on adoptive parents in the world.

~ Married couples
~ Single men and women
~ Gay couples are welcomed in Brazil
~ No age restriction
~ Any religious background or belief

APPROXIMATE WAITING PERIOD:

The length of time to a proposal will depend on the age of the child you request.

However, to give you a referral might take from five to six months. It is hard to estimate the waiting time.

TRAVEL:

Adoptive parents must travel to Brazil.

The parents are required to stay in Brazil for approximately 31 to 45 days. Cohabitation period is mandatory.

Brazilian Social Workers are very considerate with adoptive parents and children.

Their main goal is the happiness for both parties. During this time, the parents and child are observed by the Brazilian authorities through a series of friendly interviews and mutual visits.

Parents will not be alone, they will have the support of one member of our staff or Ysabel will be there to assist and translate for you.

BRAZIL IS A HAGUE COUNTRY:

The number of Brazilian adoptions with Americans is increasing. Americans are adopting mostly sibling gropus from Brazil. The cost will be the same as to adopt only one.

ADOPTION FEES IN BRAZIL:

There are no government fees to open a dossier with CEJAs (the central authority). However, in order to keep your process in order and be updated with the legal paper work we need an attorney. We will work with your visas and help you with the interviews requested in order to completed your adoption.

The State Judiciary Commission of Adoption (CEJA) is the division of the government responsible for inter-country adoption in Brazil.

Each Brazilian state maintains a CEJA that acts as the central adoption authority, and is the sole organization to approve foreign adopting parents.

Our fees are $15,000.00.

BRAZILIAN ADOPTION LAW:

In October 1990, Brazil promulgated a new Federal Statute for the protection of children and adolescents. In accordance with this law, priority in adoptions is given to Brazilian citizens and to Hague countries.

However, even if the USA has not yet ratified the Hague, Brazil accepts adoptive parents' applications. A child being adopted will only be allowed to depart Brazilian territory once the adoption has been finalized.

Furthermore, an adoption home study evaluation is required to determine the suitability of the applicant(s) to become adoptive parent(s). The Brazilian home study must be performed by a professional social worker who is authorized by local authorities in Brazil to perform such work.

Adoptive parents should not be confused, as they need a home study done in their State of residence in the USA. See list of documents requested by the Brazilian Court.

All the dossier has to be translated and authenticated in Portuguese. We request two sets of photocopies.

ADOPTION PROCEDURES:

To begin the adoption process, prospective adoptive parents must apply for permission to adopt from the State Judiciary Commission of International Adoption (CEJA).

This petition will be submitted by your attorney in Brazil who will be informed when you "Habilitation Approval Certificate" will be given and eventually the Court will identify the children eligible for adoption from a database of prospective children.

The United States of America Consulate in the state of Brazil where your child has been located provides a letter addressed to the CEJA stating the United States will comply with the Hague Convention (i.e. that the adopted child will be a United States Citizen and have all the rights as any United States citizen. This letter is provided only after the DHS has approved the 1600-A application and a copy of the approval is received by the Untied States Consulate in the State of Brazil where you are adopting your child.

Once the adoptive parents satisfy Brazilian adoption requirements, a judge maygrant a final adoption. The Brazilian government will then allow the child to leave Brazil. The adoptive parents can change the child's name and request a new birth certificate (listing their names as parents) at the Brazilian Civil registry office.

However, Ysabel advices to consider the change of a name, as children leaving Brazil are not babies. This is a part of their heritage and can be detrimental for a child who has to go into many changes in his/her life.

Different home, country, language, food and a new name!

Afterwards, the adoptive parents with their attorney need to apply for a passport for the child at the Brazilian passport office.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR ADOPTION IN BRAZIL:

Any foreign couple or person adopting a Brazilian child must have authorization from the State Judiciary Commission of Adoption (CEJA). According to CEJA statues, petitioners must provide at a minimum the following:

1 ~ A home study indcluding
a. Psychological evaluation.
b. Medical report of prospective parents saying they are in good health and mentally and physcially capable to adopt.
(US medical reports are acceptable if translated into Portuguese and authenticated by Brazilian Embassy or Consulate in the USA.)
Cerficate of residence-proof of home ownership or an affidavit from the prospective parents landlord regarding the apartment and lease including pictures from the house (inside and outside).
c. Pictures of prospective adoptive family and grandparents (if possible).
2 ~ 1.71 form, notice of Approval of 1-600 A petition; 3 ~ Copy of Petitioners USA passport(s) photo and signature page;
4 ~ Police records, requested within one year;
5 ~ Last filed Federal Income Tax (return);
6 ~ Marriage certificate (if applicable);
7 ~ Birth Certificate
8 ~ Divorce Decree (if applicable);
9 ~ Applicants current state of residence law on adoptions, including statement that the law is still in effect (generally obtained at a state Court House, from a senator's office, or lawyer);
10 ~ Handwritten signed statement from the petitioned saying she/he is aware that the adoptions in Brazil are free and irrevocable.
11 ~ Statement that the petitioner is aware that she/he must not establish any contact in Brazil with prospective child's birth parent(s) or guardian (if applicable) before the authorization from CEJA is issued to your attorney in Brazil.

BRAZILIAN EMBASSY AND CONSULATES IN THE UNITED STATES FOR AUTHENTICATION OF DOCUMENTS:

Brazilian Embassy
3006 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Phone: (202) 238-2700
Fax: (202) 238-2827
Website: www.brasilemb.org

Brazilian Consulates are located in the following U.S. cities:
Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and San Francisco.