In December 2010, President Barack Obama had signed a bill (Help Haiti Act 2010) to help Haitian children adopted, to immediately integrate the American legal framework. The US Congress and the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Service) have worked together for the implementation of the legislation, which is now in effect.

In the past, due to a peculiarity of the old law, the adoptive families had to wait two years before they can apply for legal permanent residence for their children.

Thanks to the new bill, families who adopted a Haitian child among those who were evacuated to the United States after the earthquake of January 2010, can now apply immediately without waiting period, in view to obtain permanent residence for these children of Haiti. This new law should benefit more than 1,000 Haitian orphans who are on U.S. territory.

S/ HaitiLibre