Adopting a child from overseas is not easy. You will have to deal with the U.S. government, the government of your state, and the government of the foreign country you are adopting from. You will have to deal with a local adoption agency and probably with an adoption agency in the country you are adopting from. You will also have to arrange for the immigration of the adopted child to the U.S. Nevertheless, thousands of people have negotiated this process successfully.
Step 1
Determine the country from which you want to adopt a child. Procedures will be simpler if you choose a country that is a member of the Hague Adoption Convention (HAC). As of 2010, 80 countries were members of the HAC (see Resources).
Step 2
Petition for a determination that you are eligible for international adoption. This determination is made by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). You must submit Form 1-800A or 1-600A, depending on whether or not you are adopting from an HAC country, and you must submit a filing fee and appropriate documentation. The USCIS will conduct a home study to assess the suitability of your home.
Step 3
Register with an adoption agency that is licensed by your state to perform international adoptions. If you are adopting from an HAC country, the U.S. federal government also requires that your adoption agency be licensed by either the State of Colorado Department of Human Services or the Council on Accreditation.
Step 4
Select the particular child that you wish to adopt. This will require a visit to the child's home country. You will need to obtain a determination from both the USCIS and the government of the child's home country that the child is eligible for adoption. Refugee children are often declared ineligible for adoption unless both of their parents have been confirmed dead. The legal standards for eligibility will differ depending on whether or not the child's country is a member of the HAC.
Step 5
Begin adoption procedures for the child you are interested in with the authorities in the child's home country. This may be an adoption agency, an attorney, or some other authority, depending on the legal requirements of the child's home country.
Step 6
Obtain a preliminary determination of the child's eligibility to immigrate to the United States from the USCIS.
Step 7
Complete formal adoption procedures with the appropriate authorities in the child's home country. If the country is not a member of the HAC, you must finalize the adoption before you seek a USCIS determination of the child's eligibility to immigrate.
Step 8
Apply for an immigration visa for your child and enter the United States after it is issued.
Step 9
Re-adopt the child in the United States, if required by the adoption laws of your state.
Tips and Warnings
- Consider retaining an international adoption lawyer to guide you through the adoption process.
- Make sure your overseas adoption agency is properly licensed in its own jurisdiction. Otherwise you may find yourself under investigation in a foreign country for child trafficking.
Things You'll Need
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service Form I-800A or I-600A
