Adoption of adult

Under Michigan Law, you can adopt an adult for the purpose of bestowing your family name upon them or to make them your heir at law. You would have to file a petition to adopt with the court, and the adoptee must consent to the adoption. However, adopting an adult will not make such adult your "child" for immigration purposes. There are three ways under immigration law to get permanent resident or citizenship status for an adopted child. The fist way is through The Hague Convention Adoption Program, but the petition must be filed before the adoptee's 16th birthday. The second way is through the orphan adoption program, but, again, the petition must be filed before the adoptee's 16th birthday. The final way is to petition for the adpotee as the immediate relative of a U.S. citizen, but the adoption must have been finalized before the adoptee's 16th birthday (or 18th birthday in certain situations). If your goal is for this 27 year-old foreign national to be able to immigrate to the U.S., adoption is not the answer. She should speak with an immigration attorney about her options. DISCLAIMER: This answer is provided as general information, which may not be appropriate for the specific facts of your particular situation. No attorney-client relationship has been established based on this limited communication. You are advised to consult with an attorney in your jurisdiction before taking any action or inaction that may affect your legal rights. www.hecklerlawoffice.com