Passports USA.com

The Department of State strongly advises American citizens not to adopt in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) at this time. Due to a lack of blank passports, the RMI government is unable to issue acceptable travel documents. Thus, Marshallese children adopted by American citizens are not able to travel to Manila to process their immigrant visas at the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines. Philippines Immigration authorities have refused entry to inadequately documented adopted Marshallese children and airlines in the Marshall Islands are refusing to board them. The RMI government has informed us that it could be several months before new passports are available. Please check this Web site for additional information as it becomes available.

Immigrant visa processing, including orphan visas, for the Marshall Islands is currently under review by the state Department and the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. Nonetheless adopted children will be unable to depart the Marshall Islands until the RMI government is able to issue new passports.