International Adoption Guidance That Brings Clarity Across Borders
Most Attorneys Handle Part of This Process. We Handle All of It.
International adoption involves legal filings, immigration requirements, agency coordination, country-specific documentation, and USCIS approvals — and most attorneys in New York handle only a portion of that picture, leaving families to piece together the rest on their own. James M. Greenberg is the only attorney in the area who provides full end-to-end international adoption service, from your first consultation through finalization and immigration. That means one consistent guide across a process that typically spans two years, one point of contact when questions come up, and no gaps between providers at the moments that matter most.
If you're just beginning to explore international adoption and don't know where to start, this is the right place.
What "End-to-End" Actually Means
Many families don't realize how many distinct systems are involved in international adoption until they're already in the middle of the process. A complete international adoption typically requires all of the following, and Greenberg & Greenberg handles each one.
Initial Eligibility and Legal Planning
Understanding which process applies to your situation, which country's requirements are involved, and how U.S. law intersects with foreign law before any filings begin.
Agency Coordination
For Hague adoptions, working with an accredited agency is required. James maintains direct relationships with agencies and coordinates that process as part of his representation, not as a referral you manage on your own.
Determining your eligibility to adopt and the child's eligibility to immigrate, filing the appropriate forms in the correct sequence, and managing the timeline with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
USCIS Filing and Immigration Approval
Country-Specific Legal Requirements
You no longer have to navigate situations where your role is questioned; your legal status supports the reality of your family.
Country-Specific Legal Requirements
Every country has its own process, documentation standards, and approval steps. The firm's experience is deepest with Colombia, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, communities it has served extensively, including families in the Queens and Jamaica Queens areas whose roots trace back to those countries.
Finalization and Re-Adoption
Once your child is home, re-adoption in New York ensures full legal recognition under state law, simplifying documentation, name changes, and long-term legal matters. That step is handled here as well.
Understanding Hague vs. Non-Hague Adoption
Knowing whether your adoption falls under Hague or non-Hague rules is one of the first things to establish, because it determines every step that follows.
- Hague Adoption Process
Applies to countries that follow international standards designed to protect children and families. This process includes specific safeguards, accredited agencies, and structured approvals. - Non-Hague Adoption
Applies to countries not part of the Hague Convention. While still regulated, the process differs and requires careful attention to both U.S. and foreign requirements.
Colombia is a Hague country. Bangladesh and Pakistan are non-Hague. If you're adopting from one of these countries, or from any country and aren't sure which framework applies, that's exactly the kind of question a consultation is designed to answer.
Key U.S. Steps in International Adoption
International adoption involves coordination between multiple U.S. entities, each with a defined role.
- USCIS (Immigration Approval)
Determines your eligibility to adopt and the child's eligibility to immigrate. - U.S. Department of State
Oversees visa processing and ensures compliance with international adoption standards. - Court and Documentation Process
Aligns your adoption with both U.S. and foreign legal requirements for recognition.
Each step must be completed in the correct order, with accurate documentation, to avoid setbacks.
Forms and Terminology You'll Encounter
Many families feel overwhelmed by the number of forms involved in international adoption. Understanding the key documents helps reduce confusion early in the process.
Hague Forms
I-800A (application to determine suitability) and I-800 (petition for child eligibility)
Non-Hague Forms
I-600A (advance processing) and I-600 (petition to classify orphan)
Hague Forms
Includes background information, home study reports, and country-specific requirements.
Having these documents prepared correctly from the beginning helps prevent delays and keeps your case moving forward. With full end-to-end representation, document preparation is handled as part of the process, not left for you to manage separately.
The Communities We Serve
The firm has deep experience working with families from Colombian, Bangladeshi, and Pakistani communities, many of them based in Queens and Jamaica Queens, who are navigating international adoption from countries they or their families know personally. That familiarity with the specific legal pathways, country requirements, and cultural context involved in these adoptions is something that's been built over decades of focused practice, not assembled case by case.
What Makes This Firm Different
01
The Only Full End-to-End International Adoption Attorney in the Area
From initial consultation through finalization and immigration, James handles the entire process. No gaps, no handoffs, no coordinating between multiple providers on your own.
02
James Greenberg's Personal Connection
James was adopted as an infant from Bogotá, Colombia. He is now a partner at the firm his parents founded. That background isn't incidental to his international adoption practice. It's the reason he built it.
03
Country-Specific Experience That Goes Deep
Colombia, Bangladesh, Pakistan. These aren't countries the firm has handled occasionally. They represent years of accumulated knowledge about what each process actually requires and where families typically run into difficulty.
04
A Two-Year Relationship, Not a Transaction
International adoption takes time. Families who work with this firm have a consistent guide throughout that entire journey, someone who knows their case from the beginning and stays with it through the end.
Common Challenges in International Adoption
Incomplete or Incorrect Paperwork
Even small errors can delay approvals or require resubmission.
Misunderstanding Country Requirements
Each country has its own legal expectations that must align with U.S. law.
Delays in Immigration Processing
Timing and sequencing matter when working with USCIS and visa approvals.
Lack of Coordination Between Providers
When legal, agency, and immigration work are split between multiple parties, communication gaps are common and costly. End-to-end representation eliminates that risk.
How to Know If International Adoption Is Right for You
You've Explored Domestic Adoption and It Isn't the Right Fit
Domestic adoption pathways like stepparent, second parent, and kinship adoption apply to specific family situations. If none of those describe yours, or if you have a personal connection to another country, international adoption may be the more natural path.
You Have a Connection to Another Country
Many families pursuing international adoption have cultural, familial, or personal ties to the country they're adopting from. That connection is often what draws them to this path in the first place.
You're Open to a Longer, More Document-Intensive Process
International adoption typically spans two years and involves significantly more paperwork and coordination than domestic adoption. Families who go in with that understanding tend to navigate it with less stress.
You Want to Grow Your Family Across Borders
For some families, international adoption isn't a fallback. It's the path they always had in mind, and understanding what it actually involves is the first step toward making it real.
Re-Adoption After an International Adoption
If you completed an international adoption and need to re-adopt in New York to ensure full legal recognition under state law, that process is handled here as well. Re-adoption gives your child clear legal status under New York law and can simplify documentation, name changes, and long-term legal matters.
Ready to Move Forward With International Adoption?
Whether you're just beginning to explore the process or you've already started and need clearer guidance, Greenberg & Greenberg is the only firm in the area that handles international adoption from start to finish. The firm supports families across Long Island, New York City, and Queens communities, including Jamaica Queens, with the same consistent, end-to-end approach.
International adoption is also among the most significant financial commitments a family makes. If you're thinking through costs, our financial assistance resources are a useful starting point.
What to Expect From Start to Finish
Working with Greenberg & Greenberg means having one attorney with you from your first conversation through your child's finalized adoption and legal recognition in New York. You'll understand each step, what documents are required, how timelines typically unfold, and what's happening with your case at every stage. The goal isn't just to get through the process. It's to make sure you always know where you are in it.
Common Questions About International Adoption
Is my country Hague or non-Hague?
This depends on whether the country participates in the Hague Adoption Convention. Colombia is Hague. Bangladesh and Pakistan are non-Hague. For other countries, a consultation will establish which framework applies and what that means for your process.
What are the first steps with USCIS?
You typically begin by filing the appropriate application to establish eligibility before identifying a child. The specific form depends on whether your adoption is Hague or non-Hague.
Do we need a Hague-accredited agency?
For Hague countries, yes. Accredited agencies are part of the required safeguards, and the firm works directly with agencies as part of its end-to-end representation.
What documents are typically required?
Applications, background information, home study reports, and country-specific documentation are commonly needed. Document preparation is part of what full representation covers.
What are common delays and how do we avoid them?
Delays most often come from incomplete paperwork, misordered steps, or gaps in coordination between legal and immigration processes. End-to-end representation is specifically designed to prevent all three.
Schedule a Consultation
Get Guidance That Keeps Your Process Moving
International adoption doesn't have to feel uncertain or overwhelming, especially when one attorney is managing the entire path forward. Greenberg & Greenberg helps you move from not knowing where to start to bringing your family home.
