Accredited agency
The term “accredited agency” means an agency accredited under subchapter II to provide adoption services in the United States in cases subject to the Convention.
Accrediting entity
section 14922(a) of this titleThe term “accrediting entity” means an entity designated under to accredit agencies and approve persons under subchapter II.
Adoption service
Agency
The term “agency” means any person other than an individual.
Approved person
The term “approved person” means a person approved under subchapter II to provide adoption services in the United States in cases subject to the Convention.
Attorney General
section 14944 of this titleExcept as used in , the term “Attorney General” means the Attorney General, acting through the Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization.
Central authority
The term “central authority” means the entity designated as such by any Convention country under Article 6(1) of the Convention.
Central authority function
The term “central authority function” means any duty required to be carried out by a central authority under the Convention.
Convention
The term “Convention” means the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, done at The Hague on .
Convention adoption
The term “Convention adoption” means an adoption of a child resident in a foreign country party to the Convention by a United States citizen, or an adoption of a child resident in the United States by an individual residing in another Convention country.
Convention record
section 14941(a) of this titleThe term “Convention record” means any item, collection, or grouping of information contained in an electronic or physical document, an electronic collection of data, a photograph, an audio or video tape, or any other information storage medium of any type whatever that contains information about a specific past, current, or prospective Convention adoption (regardless of whether the adoption was made final) that has been preserved in accordance with by the Secretary of State or the Attorney General.
Convention country
The term “Convention country” means a country party to the Convention.
Other Convention country
The term “other Convention country” means a Convention country other than the United States.
Person
section 1 of title 1The term “person” shall have the meaning provided in and shall not include any agency of government or tribal government entity.
Person with an ownership or control interest
section 1320a–3(a)(3) of this titleThe term “person with an ownership or control interest” has the meaning given such term in .
Secretary
The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of State.
State
The term “State” means the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the Virgin Islands.
Pub. L. 106–279, § 3114 Stat. 826(, , .)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Pub. L. 106–279114 Stat. 825section 14901 of this titleThis chapter, referred to in introductory provisions, was in the original “this Act”, meaning , , , known as the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.
Pub. L. 106–279114 Stat. 830section 622 of this titleSubchapter II, referred to in pars. (1), (2), and (5), was in the original “title II”, meaning title II of , , , which enacted subchapter II of this chapter and amended . For complete classification of title II to the Code, see Tables.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Pub. L. 106–279section 14901 of this titleSection effective , with transition rule, see section 505(a)(1), (b) of , set out as an Effective Dates; Transition Rule note under .
Abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service and Transfer of Functions
section 1551 of Title 8For abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service, transfer of functions, and treatment of related references, see note set out under , Aliens and Nationality.