Visa change complicates adoption for Rhode Island family
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — With international visa processing paused, a local family is fighting to get their adopted daughter home.
Dave and Grace Macchione thought they were finally at the finish line.
After first meeting their daughter, Zuli, the Rhode Island couple spent the past year following the required steps to adopt her.
Working through the legal process with adoption agencies, the State Department, and immigration services to bring her to the United States and finalize her citizenship.
They first connected with Zuli in December 2024 through an exchange program, hosting her in their home for about a month.
The family says that time together only strengthened their bond.
With plane tickets booked and their trip to Colombia set to leave Jan. 24 to complete the adoption, the family says everything suddenly changed.
They learned the adoption process had been paused as the U.S. government moved to revoke more than 100,000 international visas spanning more than 75 countries, citing security concerns.
The Macchiones say they've reached out to local and federal officials for help, but they're still left with little concrete guidance as they try to figure out what happens next and how long the delay could last.
Now, they're pushing for the process to continue, not only for Zuli, but for other children and families caught in the same uncertainty.
In the meantime, they say they stay connected with Zuli through video calls, reassuring her they're still coming, even if the timeline is no longer clear.
Back in Rhode Island, they say her room is ready. The only thing missing is her.
The couple is urging decision-makers behind the pause to consider the families who have already followed every step required to adopt legally and are now stuck waiting with no clear end in sight.
