Family Resources

a Minnesota licensed non-profit adoption agency

Family Resources has moved to a new location

11311 Dayton River Road
Raintree Plaza
Dayton, Minnesota

 Hope for Children Act Tax Credit

The Hope for Children Act was signed into law by President Bush on June 7th 2001.  The act increased the adoption tax credit from $5,000 to $10,000 for all adoptions.  It also increases income limits from $75,000 to $150,000. 

The Hope for Children Act is indexed for inflation to ensure that the tax credit and income limitations continue to rise alongside the cost of living.  For tax year 2005, the tax credit is $10,630 and you have this year and up to the next five years in which to use it.

The Hope for Children Act applies to all adoptions - both domestic and inter-country. Like current law, in order to claim the tax credit for inter-country adoptions, the adoption must be finalized. For IR-3 visas, finalization usually occurs abroad. For IR-4 visas, finalization usually occurs in the United States.

U.S. Speeds Citizenship Papers for Children

Children adopted overseas will receive citizenship papers within 45 days of their arrival in America, rather than waiting up to 18 months, under new rules that will remove a major bureaucratic hurdle for parents. The U.S. citizenship and Immigration Services agency announced the change, which takes effect in January 2004.

Although the 2000 Child Citizenship Act made all foreign born children U.S. citizens at the time of their adoption, parents still had to submit an application for citizenship and wait many months for it to be processed.

Proof of citizenship is required for a Social Security number, which the child needs to be claimed as a dependent for income tax purposes; to obtain government medical benefits; enroll in school and be issued a U.S. passport.

Social Security Information

We have been advised by our local Social Security office, that internationally adopted children receiving social security numbers prior to being able to demonstrate US citizenship (only known available proof at the present time is a US passport) receive, in the Social Security computer system, an alien status. This alien status is not reflected on the card, but could pose problems, should the child need to collect social security benefits, some time in the future. If you have obtained a social security card for your child without demonstrating proof of US citizenship for that child (US passport of the child), please return to the social security office once you obtain their US passport and show it to the Social Security officer and request that your child's status be changed from alien to US citizen.

Please be advised that if you obtained a Certificate of Citizenship for you child prior to the law change last February 2001, that also serves as proof of citizenship.  Such a Certificate of Citizenship can no longer be acquired and proof is replaced by the US passport.

Please find the following link to file for a US passport for your child.
Passport Home