Ask a parent who has adopted a child from another country what's the best type of adoption, and she'll likely say international. Ask a parent who has adopted a child born in the U.S. and she'll say domestic. The point is, both types of adoption generally end with happy parents in love with beautiful children. Still, domestic and international adoption have their differences, and looking at them side by side can help you decide which way to go.
Cost
The cost of both types of adoption can vary, although the fees for international adoption tend to be more predictable than domestic. (Domestic costs often hinge on how much care the birth mother needs.) A 2008 survey by Adoptive Families magazine found that the majority of domestic newborn adoptions cost less than $20,000, while the majority of international adoptions cost more than $20,000 (travel costs often drive up the rate). At upwards of $35,000, Russian and some Guatemalan adoptions were the most expensive.
Legal Requirements
Anyone who adopts a child is subject to United States laws and the laws of the state they live in, which vary. When you adopt from a foreign country you are also subject to its rules, and they too differ. China, for instance, mandates that adoptive parents be married and have no more than two divorces in their past. Haiti, on the other hand, allows single parents to adopt. Foreign adoption laws often change, but the State Department and your adoption agency can help you keep up to date.
Waiting Period
The time it takes to bring home a child from another country is variable, but the average is 2 years. According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway, the wait time for domestic adoption can range from a few months to more than 2 years.
Child's Age
You have a greater chance of adopting a newborn baby if you go the domestic route--many babies go right from the hospital to the homes of their adoptive parents. Children from foreign countries tend to be older. The Office of Homeland Security found that, in 2008, 34 percent of the children adopted internationally were younger than 1 year old, while 48 percent were ages 1 to 4. Some countries do not allow children to be adopted until they are older than 4 or 5 months.
Medical and Familial History
In international adoption, it's not always easy to learn about a child's family or the birth mother's prenatal care. More information is usually available in domestic adoption, although there is no guarantee that you'll get a complete picture of your child's background. Many parents who adopt domestically have extended contact with their child's birth family, however, continued (or any) contact with the family of a child adopted from a foreign country is rare.
Cultural Concerns
While adopting a child internationally doesn't obligate you to expose your child to the culture of his birth country, it's a responsibility that many adoptive parents choose to shoulder. This is less of a concern with domestic adoption, but if you adopt a child who is of a different race than yourself, you may need to consider responsibilities relating to your child's racial identity.
