Some adoptive parents prefer international adoption because the process is usually more predictable than in domestic adoption. However the international adoption process is lengthy and expensive, and you will need an adoption attorney to make sure the adoption is legal and your child secures U.S. citizenship.
Children available for international adoption
Children become available for adoption in other countries due to extreme poverty, restrictive government policies, social stigma, or parents' personal problems. Generally the parents have abandoned the child and you will not have any contact with birth parents.
While about half the children adopted from foreign countries are under 1 year old, they are generally not newborns due to the lengthy process of dealing with a foreign government's adoption rules and working through various intermediaries. In many countries, the children are in orphanages prior to adoption, though some countries use foster homes for children awaiting adoption.
Foreign-born adoptees may have a range of medical or emotional special needs due to conditions they experienced during their birth mother's pregnancy, as well as abuse or neglect they may have suffered since birth.
The international adoption process
Most international adoptions are done through an adoption agency, due to the complexity of the foreign adoption process. Rules for adopting vary from country to country—for instance, there may be age or marital status requirements, or you may be required to reside in the child's home country for a period of time. Adoption agencies specializing in foreign adoption have the experience and connections in other countries to help insure the process goes smoothly. You should expect the following during the international adoption process:
- For an agency to match you with a child overseas who is available for adoption, you will first need a home study. An agency caseworker will visit your home, request a criminal background check, and interview you to determine if you could provide a good home for a child.
- It can take from a few months to 2 years to bring your foreign-born adopted child home after you are matched.
- You may need to pay costs such as agency fees, translator fees, travel expenses, and overseas orphanage or adoption program fees.
- You will also need to secure an immigrant visa for your child to travel to the U.S.
Getting help with an international adoption
Because of the complexity of adopting from another country, it is highly advisable to hire an attorney experienced in international adoption. The attorney will make sure the adoption is finalized in court and your child is granted U.S. citizenship.
International adoption has become increasingly common, with more than twenty thousand Americans adopting abroad annually. Be aware, though, that changes in foreign countries' adoption policies can affect the outcome of international adoptions while they are in process.
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