[marlyse]

My boyfriend and I want to get married, he lives in America and I live in England. He wants to adopt my 5yr old daughter, how long is the process? My daughters father passed away and wasn't involved in her life financially so its only right that she has a father figure and changes her name to my husband to be. My daughter has her real fathers surname, does it make me a bad person to change her surname?

[cdad]

In what country are you going to reside? Those are the laws that will take precident over your situation. If your planning on becoming a U.S. citizen then you might want to wait until such a time as you get that far and then apply for adoption. As it is now when applying there may need to be permissions made from your current home country if it is done sooner. Also it will give you a chance to be established in your marriage because in most cases courts like to see you married for 1 years time before starting an adoption. That way you have a stable record to go from.

As far as the name goes. If he was an involved father and loved her then maybe consider a hyphenated name. That way she can have the best of both worlds.

[marlyse]

I am planning to move to Miami next year n if she gets adopted won't it b easier for her to also get a green card?

[cdad]

I am planning to move to Miami next year n if she gets adopted wont it b easier for her to also get a green card?

No it doesn't. What will happen is that the child will be automatically a citizen when they are adopted. That is why it is better to wait if possible.

Quote:

Child Citizenship Act


Confers U.S. citizenship automatically and retroactively to certain foreign-born children adopted by citizens of the United States.


Ref:

Child Adoption Laws - Child Citizen Act

[ScottGem]

Besides which you will have to wait to be married for a year before you can even start the adoption process.

Do you have an official copy of the father's death certificate? You will need that as part of the adoption proceeding.