Families wishing to adopt from another country must petition the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service for an entry visa so that the child may enter the country. Adoption alone does not grant families the right to bring a child into the U.S.
A special provision in the Immigration and Nationality Act, called the "Eligible Orphans Act", permits visas for children who meet certain criteria. Children, through this act, do not have to wait indefinitely for visas. Once all the necessary paperwork is submitted, the visa will be granted.
Visa petitions should be filed with the Immigration Service Office serving the family's state of residence. The visa is granted by the U.S. Consulate office in the child's country of residence.
Once the child is in the adoptive home and the adoption is finalized, the child is eligible for U.S. citizenship. As with the entry visa, citizenship is not automatic and you must apply for this.
Note by Annette:You can contact INS for the pamphlet "The Immigration of Adopted and Prospective Adoptive Children" by writing:
INS
425 Eye St NW
Washington, DC 20536.