If you represent an organization, we need your support of a new bill that would make the adoption tax credit refundable!
(Individuals, we’ll ask for your action and support once the bill is introduced and we are seeking additional co-sponsors.)

The Adoption Tax Credit Working Group has written the letter below to express our support for the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act, which Senator Casey hopes to introduce with Senator Landrieu next week. If your organization wants to sign on to the letter, please send an e-mail to voiceforadoption@gmail.com. We must hear from you by 4:00 p.m. eastern time tomorrow, Tuesday, May 21.

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May 16, 2013
The Honorable Bob Casey

United States Senate

Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Casey:

We are writing to express our support for the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2013 – and to express our deep gratitude for your leadership on behalf of families who adopt waiting children.

Since the adoption tax credit was established in 1997, it has helped thousands of American families offset the cost of adoption or meet their adopted children’s special needs. We are grateful to Congress for acting to make the Adoption Tax Credit permanent through the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, but we know many families are still not able to access the credit.

Research consistently shows that children who are adopted fare better than those without permanent families on adjustment measures, developmental outcomes such as cognitive abilities and educational achievement, and self-support capability in young adulthood. The benefits of the adoption tax credit go beyond the sheer importance of providing a safe, loving, permanent family for children who are adopted. The U.S. Children’s Bureau cites a 2006 study, which found that taxpayers save as much as $126,000 for every child who is adopted instead of remaining in long-term foster care. Society benefits enormously, in a number of ways, when children are adopted rather than spending their childhoods in temporary care.

A refundable adoption tax credit makes an enormous difference in terms of which families are able to claim it. Currently, without refundability, most of the benefit of the adoption tax credit goes to families making $100,000 or more per year. There are many families of moderate income who adopt and attempt to claim the credit but cannot use it because of limited tax liability. If we increase low- and moderate -income families’ access to the credit, we make adoption possible for more waiting children. To ensure the adoption tax credit is promoting adoptions, we must ensure that more adoptive families are able to access it. Refundability is the best way to accomplish this goal.

This Act seeks to ensure that families who adopt are actually able to benefit from the credit Congress established. The undersigned organizations extend our support and endorsement for the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2013, and we sincerely thank you for your commitment to children and families.

Sincerely,

Adoption Tax Credit Working Group Executive Committee:
American Academy of Adoption Attorneys
Adopt America Network
Christian Alliance for Orphans
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute
Joint Council on International Children’s Services
National Council For Adoption
North American Council on Adoptable Children RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association
ShowHope
Voice for Adoption

From Senator Mary Landrieu:

I want to make you aware of an important piece of legislation I will be announcing this Friday at the Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit in Nashville. It’s called Children in Families First or CHIFF, and it will ensure that U.S. foreign assistance puts into action the core American belief that all children have the right to grow up in a permanent, loving family. CHIFF enhances U.S. Government action on behalf of children living without families using the full array of options – family preservation, family reunification, kinship, and domestic and international adoption – while also streamlining and simplifying U.S. international adoption procedures.

We all work under the steadfast belief that every child deserves a permanent family to call his or her own. We have achieved many successes together on behalf of vulnerable children around the world, and I hope I will have your support for this important new initiative. I plan to introduce this legislation this summer and will keep you updated on developments.

If you want to be involved or have any questions, please contact Whitney Reitz at Whitney_Reitz@landrieu.senate.gov or Libby Whitbeck at Libby_Whitbeck@landrieu.senate.gov on my staff.

All the best,

Senator Mary Landrieu

On April 8, 2013, USCIS published revised Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative, and Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition, with 3/05/2013 edition dates.  USCIS will accept older editions for 60 days.  Beginning June 8, 2013, we will only accept the 03/05/2013 editions.            

Please note that the new Form I-600/Form I-600A, Supplement 1, Listing of Adult Member of the Household, must be completed for each adult (age 18 and older) who lives in the home of the prospective adoptive parent(s).  Please see the instructions for Forms I-600/I-600A for details.

Blank USCIS forms are free. Please remember that you may get our forms from the following USCIS sources:

• Download them from our website (recommended).
• Electronically request that we mail them to you.
• Call Our Forms Request Line at 1-800-870-3676.

Kind regards,

Public Engagement Division

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

www.uscis.gov/outreach