International Intended Parents: COVID-19 Travel Advice for US Surrogacy, Birth

Join assisted reproductive technology attorneys Rich Vaughn and Molly O’Brien of International Fertility Law Group as they share information and advice for international intended parents planning to travel for the births of their babies via surrogacy in the United States during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

Planning is key. No one becomes a parent through assisted reproduction without lots of advance planning. Now, as countries implement travel bans and airlines cancel flights, it is essential to plan as far in advance as possible. Ips should evaluate visas, ESTAs and consider any possible exceptions to travel bans, such as familial relationships. In the event intended parents are unable to travel for the birth, or are quarantined upon arrival in the U.S., temporary guardianships and safe, properly vetted foster families are available options.

Planning for the birth. Hospital delivery and labor departments have tightened restrictions on visitors in response to the COVID-19 crisis, and in some cases even spouses or birthing partners may be excluded. Check with the hospital for current policies, which may change day-to-day.

For intended parents, surrogates, donors and reproductive health professionals the COVID-19 pandemic has created a host of obstacles and complications that make the challenging road to parenthood via ART even more challenging. We hope you will take comfort in the knowledge that the virus has brought surrogacy professionals in the United States together as never before. You are not alone. We all are working together as a community, sharing answers, sharing resources, and sharing support.

Going home: Once you are here in the U.S. with your new baby, the challenges presented by COVID-19 travel restrictions and government agency closures are likely to continue. See our video here on what to plan for in bringing your baby back home. 

For more information and resources for intended parents, surrogates donors and 3rd-party matching programs coping during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, visit our multi-media library of COVID-19 information.

Find a transcript of the complete video presentation here.

 

 

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Rich Vaughn & Molly O'Brien

RICH VAUGHN, ESQ.: Attorney Rich Vaughn combined his personal passion as a father of twin boys born via assisted reproductive technology (ART) with more than 20 years of experience in business and technology law to build International Fertility Law Group. Today IFLG is one of the most successful and best-known law firms in the world focused exclusively on fertility law, helping thousands of intended parents through empathetic listening, thoughtful and compassionate guidance, and unmatched expertise. As an advocate for reproductive freedom, Rich contributes his knowledge and time to improving the understanding and practice of ART law around the world. MOLLY O'BRIEN, ESQ.: Molly O'Brien has worked in the field of assisted reproduction since 2005. In that time, she worked for an egg donation agency and a surrogacy agency, where she became familiar with all aspects of in vitro fertilization and egg donation, including the financial aspects of surrogacy. Since becoming an attorney in 2011, she has gained extensive experience in drafting and negotiating surrogacy, egg donation, sperm donation and embryo donation contracts on behalf of her clients throughout the world.