Help with unusual adoption

[Isabel]

I live in Greece and have adopted a baby girl of East European origin. Her mother was destitute and despite 15 years of trying, I could never get pregnant. The adoption has gone through the Greek legal system and has been finalised. I want to get my daughter (now 2+ years) an Indian passport but the Embassy here in Athens seem not to know what to do!!! Does anyone have any ideas as to how to proceed? We two are stuck here in Crete unable to travel as she can't get a Greek passport (she was not of Greeek origin) and the Indian Embassy is offering no help at all. I would sincerely appreciate any help or contacts or suggestions. I want my girl to be Indian!!



Thank you from both of us!!

[CtrlAltDel]

anyone cant just "become" indian or citizen of any country. yrs is the most unusual request and i am sure has no precedence (which explains the confusion at the Embassy).



any one not born of Indian Parents can become an Indian Citizen if:



(1) he/she has lived and worked in india for a long period (not sure abt this duration) on a legal work visa



(2) he/she has married an indian citizen and has lived in india atleast 5 years on a residence permit.



(3) he/she has migrated from pakistan before, i think, 1965



i think your daughter can be an indian in future if conditions (1) and/or (2) apply

[CtrlAltDel]

ah, yes, there's another option: let her be adopted by an indian couple. but i am sure u wont want this to happen.

[Isabel]

ah, yes, there's another option: let her be adopted by an indian couple. but i am sure u wont want this to happen.

Thanks. But I am Indian! Surely an Indian citizen should be able to adopt a child and that child should be able to obtain the nationality of her mother? This seems so simple to me but yes, not to the embassy?? I am still not sure why.

[CtrlAltDel]

ah! the twist in the tale! u are an Indian??? i thot u were greek



if the Embassy doesnt know how, i think u shud get her to India on a visitor's visa and then use the services of a lawyer to get her the indian passport. since u are an indian citizen, it shudnt be too difficult - other than the expected red tape, ie.



dont forget to get all the adoption papers to india to help u stake your claim. if they are in greek, get them translated in english and attested by the proper authorities in greece itself.

[Reality]

I have a few questions,

what is her current passport? i am guessing it must be east european since thats her country of birth. And if she doesnt have one ,, I think you should get one from her country of birth.

Once she has a passport then come the other issues.

If her country of birth is east european, i guess you should have legal adoption papers from there too. Coz greece does not come into the picture anywhere, coz none of you are greek citizens.

So i am guessing , u should have no objection or clearance papers from her country of birth and then come to india and get legal papers from india too for her adoption. Then you must be able to apply for a dependent visa for her as an adopted child.

Thats my view. Hoping everything works out fine. all the best.

[Isabel & Ambria]

Thanks for both replies ... maybe the suggestion for going to India to get this done is the best, and maybe the only way. At present my baby has NO passport; the laws in Greece changed here some years ago and even though she was born in Greece, that does not qualify her for a passport. In any event, I want her to have an Indian passport since we will some day go back to India. I will check to see how she can travel without a passport ... but somehow it must work! Maybe the Embassy here can assist with this way. Thank you again for taking the time to write! It was most kind of both of you and we thank you so much.

I have a few questions,
what is her current passport? i am guessing it must be east european since thats her country of birth. And if she doesnt have one ,, I think you should get one from her country of birth.
Once she has a passport then come the other issues.
If her country of birth is east european, i guess you should have legal adoption papers from there too. Coz greece does not come into the picture anywhere, coz none of you are greek citizens.
So i am guessing , u should have no objection or clearance papers from her country of birth and then come to india and get legal papers from india too for her adoption. Then you must be able to apply for a dependent visa for her as an adopted child.
Thats my view. Hoping everything works out fine. all the best.

[Reality]

Hey please let us know the progress on your efforts and if it works out. wishing you all the luck in your efforts.