Springfield Family Stranded Overseas Due to Adoption and Visa Delays

A family from Springfield has been living overseas for more than a year due to an extensive international adoption and immigration process. Kaylee and James Wilson, who have previously adopted children from Africa, say that new obstacles in bringing their son Oli home have been caused by changes in the political climate and delays with his immigration paperwork.

The Wilsons legally adopted Oli in March 2025. They note that their entire family, apart from Oli, could return to Missouri, but they would not be leaving as a complete family. Our entire family, apart from Oli, could leave tomorrow, James Wilson said. We wouldn’t be leaving as a family. We would be abandoning one of our children. Kaylee Wilson emphasized, Oli was fully adopted in March of 2025. Oli has our last name. Oli is our child.

American Family Stuck in Nigeria: Visa Ban Delays Return After Adoption

A Prolonged Visa Wait

The Wilsons report that Oli’s immigration process is taking significantly longer than for their other adopted children. We’re at the 14-month mark right now of waiting for Oli’s paperwork, Kaylee Wilson said. And they say we could be waiting another 13 and a half months. Yeah, so they say it could be 27 and a half months total. Their wait has coincided with security concerns in Nigeria and U.S. visa restrictions. The United States conducted airstrikes against ISIS targets in Nigeria on Dec. 25, 2025, and the Trump administration announced visa restrictions for nationals of certain countries, including Nigeria, which took effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

US Immigration Denial Leaves Family in Financial Strain

The family filed a request with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to expedite Oli’s case, but it was denied. We thought for sure that they would approve us to have our case sped up—and they didn’t, Kaylee Wilson said. The Wilsons remain in Nigeria because returning without Oli would mean leaving a child behind, and they are not permitted to work. To help make ends meet, they have documented their experience online and sell goods through their website. Kaylee Wilson also gave birth to another child while the family was in Nigeria, a event she had hoped would occur back home in Missouri.

A Call for Systemic Change

The Wilsons state they are not seeking special treatment. I’m not saying that we are anything special, Kaylee Wilson said. There needs to be reform for adoption, immigration cases in general. It’s just so sad that children typically have to stay in orphanages while they wait. Not all families are able to move to countries like we are. The family has asked Missouri Senators Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt for help but has not yet received a resolution. Hawley’s office stated its team is looking into the case, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services referred questions to the U.S. State Department.