Legal service providers face complex challenges when cases extend beyond national borders. Navigating different legal systems, cultural contexts, and social service structures requires accurate information and trusted partners. ISS-USA works to bridge these gaps by offering global expertise and practical support. As part of a network spanning over 120 countries, we work alongside legal and social service professionals to provide the assessments, connections, and services needed to protect families, uphold due process, and ensure safe, child-centered solutions across borders.
Your Needs
Cases that cross international borders pose unique challenges. Accurate information, reliable assessments, and trusted partners to help you navigate unfamiliar systems and ensure the best outcomes for clients. Here’s how we can help:
Documentation
We help locate people and verify records across borders, providing accurate tracing and documentation that stand up in legal and immigration proceedings.
Assessments
Our expert evaluations—including home studies, community resource assessments, and country condition reports—equip you with reliable, culturally informed insights to strengthen your case.
Coordination
We facilitate safe cross-border family reunifications and connect clients with trusted services abroad, enabling parents to fully engage in hearings and helping legal advocates achieve effective case outcomes.
Check out our full list of services HERE.
ISS in Action: A Provider’s Perspective
“Managing cross-border cases can be complicated. In one instance, I was helping a family pursuing voluntary return, and there were questions around travel documents and the next steps for reintegration. ISS-USA assisted by verifying key documents, connecting with local partners, and providing guidance on pre-departure counseling. Their input made it easier to navigate the process and focus on supporting the family through what was already a stressful time.”
Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ provides guidance for legal service providers managing cross border cases. It includes answers to common questions about ISS-USA’s services, processes, and available resources. For our full list of frequently asked questions visit our FAQ page!
I am a working with a child who doesn’t have a case for adjustment of status/OR who wants to voluntarily return to their home country. What type of services are available for them?
ISS-USA works with local child protection systems and community-based agencies in 120 countries to support cross-border reunification planning.
ISS-USA offers family tracing, home studies, community resource assessments, travel coordination, and post placement reporting for children seeking to return to their home country. We can also help assist getting key documents necessary to arrange travel. For a detailed description, see our services or contact [email protected] to inquire about case-specific needs. We can recommend services that ensure that the child is able to return to to a safe, loving environment with access to appropriate services and legal protections.
I am representing a child whose parents are detained. How can you help?
ISS-USA can provide technical assistance related to long-term planning, including preparing for and supporting family reunification in a parent’s country of origin. The nature of our support will depend on the family’s involvement with child welfare, short- and long-term goals, citizenship status and country of origin. Examples of support include obtaining documents from a country of origin, and conducting home studies with parents or relatives in a country of origin as well as community resources assessments to establish a reintegration service plan. ISS-USA can also provide travel coordination assistance for family reunification. Full descriptions of the services are available here.
When a detained parent wishes for their child to remain in the U.S., ISS-USA can provide some technical assistance and connection to resources to ensure the guardianship arrangement is sustainable. ISS-USA can also coordinate child welfare checks with children in the U.S. to ensure ongoing safety and wellbeing.
What do I do if a US citizen child is going to be placed with family in another country?
There are a lot of things to consider when preparing for a child’s placement overseas, including immigration requirements for them to remain legally in the country, if a dual national, what is needed to maintain their citizenship in the U.S. and any limitations on their eligibility for services in the community. It’s also important to obtain key documents needed by parents or guardians to ensure the child can remain in their care without risk of disruption. We are happy to work with you on various services such as home study, community resource assessment, and post-placement follow-up.
Can you help me with managing custody between caregivers in two countries and make sure the process is well documented?
ISS-USA can work on private custody cases when both caregivers agree to services. Examples of services provided may include child welfare checks with the child in a caregiver’s home, or a home study to assess the suitability of a potential custodian’s home in another country.