Adoption is a method of building a family that brings parents and children together from different backgrounds. In international adoptions, parents adopt a child from another country. Usually parents can adopt a child of any age. The process is long and can be complicated, but the new family you build is priceless.
Choose an Agency
If you are considering an international adoption, start by choosing an agency. Many agencies can assist with each stage of the process from beginning to end. Interview several agencies. Consider the country from which you want to adopt, because some agencies work with many countries, but others specialize in working with one or two. Make sure you understand the process, including the agency's fees and expectations, before you sign anything.
The Homestudy
A homestudy is a process that takes place over several weeks to months and provides a complete picture of the potential adoptive parents. You will have to gather documents, such as letters from employers, documentation of physical health, letters of reference and financial statements; the specific documentation required varies according to the state and the country with which you are dealing. In addition to the documentation, you will have a visit or series of visits by a social worker to your home. When the homestudy is complete, the agency signs and notarizes a document that contains all of the information about your family.
Citizenship and Immigration
The United States is part of the Hague Adoption Convention, an international agreement that protects the safety of children through intercountry adoption. Many countries involved in international adoption are members of this agreement, which sets out specific rules about citizenship and immigration. You must apply for your child to become a resident of the United States when he arrives in the country to live. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services determines whether you are eligible to adopt the child and whether the child is eligible to enter the United States to live as a citizen. You will have to file a variety of forms and be fingerprinted with the Department of Homeland Security.
The Waiting Time
Depending on the sending country, the time from completing a homestudy and filing immigration paperwork to actually traveling abroad for your child can vary. Countries have different requirements for paperwork. For example, some countries require parents to send a dossier, which is a collection of paperwork that includes the homestudy and proof of immigration clearance. You will receive a profile of your child, but the timing of this varies with each adoption. In some cases, you might find out about your child before you even begin the homestudy, but in others you might have to wait until all the paperwork is complete. Once you have a profile of the child, you can decide whether you want to continue with the adoption. Many countries require that adoptive parents travel to pick up their child, although some countries allow the child to travel to the United States with an escort. If you have to travel to the country, you will have to remain in the country for a period of time that varies, depending on the country.
Post-Placement
After returning home with a child, you might have post-placement visits with a social worker to assess bonding and attachment; some countries require written reports of the post-placement visits. You can use these visits to discuss how the transition is going, and to talk about any concerns you have. You also might want to meet with a doctor who specializes in the care of internationally adopted children; ask your agency for a referral.
You might need to apply for adoption again after returning to the United States, depending on your state of residence as well as the source country requirements. Even if you adopted your child in his home country and don't have to readopt in the United States, you might want to readopt in order to get a U.S. birth certificate. Check with your state for information on readoption and getting a U.S birth certificate.
References
- Joint Council on International Children's Services: General Steps in International Adoption
- United States Department of State: Intercountry Adoption
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: Adoption
- Adoption: Adopting/Readopting in the U.S.
- Child Welfare Information Gateway: Intercountry Adoption: Where do I start?
