international child adoption
One of the reasons many adoptive parents choose to adopt a child from a different country is the fact that, while any adoption risks some uncertainty, it is often more predictable than domestic adoption. That is, the waiting period is easier to determine and generally ranges from one to three years, depending on the country.
This is especially true when it comes to adopting a baby, as younger children are available for adoption in countries other than the country. Some statistics estimate that in some countries almost 45% of the children available for adoption were less than twelve months old. By contrast, in the United States, nearly 42% of children available for adoption are between one and four years of age.
Most of the countries that are open to international adoption of babies are the developing nations of Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Africa, and Central and South America. Each country has different adoption rules and prospective adoptive parents find it helpful to educate themselves on these rules before choosing a country to adopt.
Couples will find that the ages of babies available for international adoption will vary greatly depending on the country chosen. It is not uncommon to find the age variant ranging from a few months to over 16 years. Many of the countries require that an attempt be made to place the child with a family in the country before placing the child with a non-citizen partner. Also, children under four months of age generally cannot be adopted internationally by the sending nation.
Most countries will require adoptive parents to make at least one, if not many, visits to the country before selecting them as potential parents for a child available for adoption. This should be taken into account, as it can often increase the costs associated with adopting a baby to proportions that may be out of the couple’s financial reach.
When considering which country to adopt a baby from, it’s also a good idea to start researching adoption agencies to help with the adoption process. Time should be taken to research all available adoption agencies to ensure that the one chosen is experienced, reputable, and well licensed in their respective licensing state. The right adoption agency should be willing to help with every little step of the adoption process, including: helping parents become adoptive parents, helping with paperwork, making sure all adoption legal issues are handled correctly, and provide support after the baby is brought home. .
After choosing an agency, prospective adoptive parents must go through a procedure similar to those who opt for domestic adoption. They will need to complete a complete home study, conduct interviews, and provide health documents. In addition to these requirements, they must also meet the eligibility requirements of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Finally, before being matched with a baby for adoption, adoptive parents will need to put together a packet of their personal documents. This package is called a file and will contain pertinent records related to identity, finances, marriage licenses, health statements, criminal background checks, proof of employment, and personal references.
After completing the preliminary steps to adopt a baby from another country, adoptive parents must now just wait to be matched. The process may seem long, lengthy, and at times confusing, but the rewards of adopting a child through international adoption will be endless.