Approximately 2 percent of all children in the U.S. are adopted, according to American Adoptions website. Although the majority of these children were adopted domestically, quite a few were adopted from foreign countries. Although the domestic and international adoption processes are similar in many ways, significant differences exist that must be taken into account.
Expense
It is often thought that international adoptions are cheaper than domestic adoptions. American Adoptions estimates that the expenses for domestic and international adoptions are roughly the same: between $8,000 and $40,000, with an average of between $15,000 and $25,000. The content of these expenses is different, however. For an international adoption you must budget for travel to the host country and a U.S. visa for your child, for example. If you are adopting domestically, you may be asked to provide certain expenses for the baby's mother.
Waiting Time
Waiting times for domestic adoptions vary according to your parameters---the race of the child, and the child's medical history, for example. Waiting times for international adoptions are much more variable and depend on country conditions and local adoption laws. Adoption paperwork is significantly more extensive in some countries than in others.
Available Children
The number of children available for adoption overseas is not significantly less than the number of children available from the U.S. American Adoptions reports that in 2008, more than 17,000 orphans entered the U.S. Some countries allow foreigners to adopt older children but not infants. In a few countries, gender disparities are wide: Far more baby girls than baby boys are available for adoption from China, for example.
Medical History
Medical histories of adoptive children are more available in the U.S. than in many foreign countries. In the U.S., adoptive families generally have access to the child's medical records. They are also normally informed if the child may have been exposed to alcohol before birth, or if there is a family history of certain conditions, such as depression. In the case of international adoptions, this information may be complete, sparse or non-existent.
Legal Issues
A number of legal issues surround international adoptions that are irrelevant to domestic adoptions. Adoptive families must apply with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in order to adopt internationally, according to the U.S. Department of State. Special adoption agency licensing requirements apply when the child is from a country that is a member of the Hague Adoption Convention. You must work with both the USCIS and the government of the child's home country to have the child declared eligible for adoption, and with local authorities to have the adoption finalized. You will have to apply for and receive an immigration visa for the child. Some states will require you to re-adopt the child under state law after he arrives in the U.S.
