Introduction
When choosing to adopt a child internationally, you need to choose the country you plan to adopt from. The country you adopt from will dtermine the process. The Hague adoption process involves 75 countries that have joined the coalition of convention countries that have stricter regulations on international adoption to protect both the families and the adoptees. Depending on the country you're adopting from, you begin a Hague or non-Hague adoption process to bring your child safely home.
Hague Adoption Process
When adopting a child from a convention country, including Paraguay, Portugal, Canada, Mexico and Dominican Republic, you must first choose an adoption agency that is licensed in its state of operation, as well as accredited by the Department of State. Ask for these accreditations at your initial meeting with any adoption agency. Once you've chosen your agency, you can proceed by gaining your eligibility to adopt. This will take place with a medical examination, a home study as well as answering key questions about your family history and family dynamic. Your adoption agency will perform these tasks with you and will file a form I-800A when you've been deemed eligible. The agency will then match you with a child as referrals come through the agency. The child will then be deemed eligible for adoption through medical examination, and a I-800--Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative will be filed and approved. You can then petition for an immigrant visa for the child to enter the country before the adoption proceedings are finalized. Once all of these have been approved, which can take up to two years, you are able to travel to the country to pick up your adoptive child. Some adoption agencies prefer you stay in the U.S. and the child is brought to you. Check with your adoption agency for their policies.
Non-Hague Adoption Process
If you are planning to adopt from a country that is not on the convention list, like China, Russia and South Korea, then your process is slightly different. The adoption agency you choose will need to be licensed with the state but not accredited through any agency. Their contracts are not supervised by state law, and as such, the parents must do more careful research when choosing an adoption agency. The home study and medical information is the same as Hague adoption, but the forms filed will be the I-600A, as the adoption is with a non-convention country. After the application is submitted, the adoption process is much the same as for a Hague adoption; parents must apply for an IR-3 or IR-4 visa to bring their child to the U.S., and the only difference is that the visa is submitted after the adoption proceedings.
