As part of it’s advocacy for abandoned and physically disabled Brazilian orphans, since 1984 Limiar has helped unite over 1700 Brazilian children with permanent families in the US, Canada, and a dozen other countries around the world. Limiar has always believed that every child has the right to a dignified life, and loving, permanent family is the best way to achieve that goal.

On April 1, 2008, the USA began enforcement of the provisions of the Hague Treaty on International Adoptions and this has changed the way US couples are able to adopt orphan children from Brazil. All international adoptions must be supervised by a Hague-certified US international adoption agency. Parent initiated adoptions are no longer possible. The agency represents the prospective family and helps them obtain Central Authority and USCIS approval for the adoption. Limiar Brasil continues to work with several CEJAs or adoption boards in Brazil and Courts of Minors, identifying children available for international adoption, and translating and disseminating information to several agencies who have contracted our services. When a US family has requested a Brazilian adoption, we help facilitate communication between the family, the US agency, and the Brazilian CEJA’s, who refer adoptable children to the prospective family and must approve the prospective family before they are invited to come to Brazil and complete the adoption.

A Brazilian adoption is no more complicated or lengthy than in any other Hague country (Brazil adopted the Hague Convention rules for adoption in 2001). Brazil is proud of the fact that it’s domestic and foreign adoptions are gratis, that is, the prospective parents do not pay orphanages, or intermediaries, and all adoptive services are provided through the courts or CEJAs without charge. Families are responsible to pay their travel and living expenses while in Brazil as well other direct local expenses related to the adoption. Limiar receives payment for operational costs, registration fees, translations etc. from the US agency taken from their adoption fees. Documents required for a Brazilian adoption are the same or similar to other Hague countries, including a homestudy and psychological report done by licensed professionals. Brazil also requires that an adopting couple has been married for a minimum three years, and that a successful cohabitation of the prospective parents with the child/children for a period of 30 calendar days takes place in Brazil, after which the adoption is finalized, new passports are issued for the child/children, and finally the new family goes to the US consulate in Rio de Janeiro where the immigration visa is granted. Time in Brazil is usually 40-45 days for both parents. Single parents of either gender are considered.

Even though the adoption is final when the new family leaves Brazil to return home, the courts continue to follow the family for two more years, requiring four post placement reports completed by a licensed social worker. Limiar Brazil continues to be the link between the adoptee living in their new home and Brazil. We regularly conduct BACK TO BRAZIL trips aimed at giving an opportunity for the adoptive family and child to re-experience the sights, sounds, smells, food, music of Brazil through an excursion planned and guided by Limiar staff. Our annual LIMIAR FAMILY REUNION is intended a give adoptees and their families a taste of Brazil in their home country. Also, our Limiar offices in Brasil gives adoptees and the adoptive families a place to go for answers for questions ranging from sponsorship donations, internships, document issues, searches for missing family members and many more. Please see other sections of the web site for more information.

For Information about Brazilian Adoptions, please contact Luciana Matson at lmatsonl@yahoo.com or limiar@limiar.org