Comment on DOS-2011-0126-0001

Chief, Legislation and Regulation Division Visa Services--IASA Sibling Reg. 2401 E. Street, NW. Washington, DC 20520-30106. Document ID: DOS-2011-0126-0001 Document Type: Rule Docket ID: DOS-2011-0126 To Whom It May Concern: I am writing you today concerning the rule titled Visas: Documentation of Immigrants Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, as Amended. As stated, this rule amends the Department of State's regulations relating to adoptions in countries party to The Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, to include new adoption provisions from the International Adoption Simplification Act. Further, the legislation provides for sibling adoption to include certain children who are under the age of 18 at the time the petition is filed on their behalf, and also certain children who attained the age of 18 on or after April 1, 2008 and who are the beneficiaries of a petition filed on or before November 30, 2012. I strongly agree with the changes made to section 101(b)(1)(G)(i), that once enacted, will change the current except that the child be under 16 years of age to under 18 years of age. All efforts to reunify sibling groups are highly desirable, as they create not only a source of comfort and support for those siblings, it also maintains a familial connection that can be lost with international adoptions. By increasing the age to under 18 years of age, children are able to reunify with adoptable siblings who otherwise would not have qualified. Sincerely, Cheryl A. Pine, BSW