Update to Vaccination Waiver for Hague Adoption

The International Adoption Simplification Act has been in effect since November 30, 2010.  This Act provides the same waiver for required vaccination documentation for Hague Convention adoptions as is available for non-Hague adoptions .  I-800 families 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 most current version of the DS-1981 can be downloaded. 

Parents should prepare the DS-1981 before traveling to China and submit it with their child’s immigrant visa application.

Beginning March 1, 2011, if parents have not prepared a notarized DS-1981 before traveling to China, they will need to visit American Citizen Services and make a separate appointment with the American Citizen Services Unit to have the form notarized. The DS-1981 must be notarized prior to the family’s consulate appointment and submitted with their child’s immigrant visa application. The ACIVU will no longer notarize the DS-1981 at the oath-taking ceremony.

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