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International
Differences to Expect
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Differences to Expect
An international adoption requires numerous unique steps that may or
may not be included in the agency's overall adoption fees. Some of the
paperwork that may be needed or unusual circumstances that may arise
in international adoptions include the following:
Dossier of documents for the Immigration and
Naturalization Service. This generally will include a fingerprint
check, proof of U.S. citizenship, marriage certificate, divorce
papers, evidence of financial support, medical exam, and birth
certificate for the adopted child.
Passports, visas, and immunizations.
Translation of documents.
"Donation" fees to help pay for the
foreign country's institutionalized children.
Foreign attorney fees and court costs.
Two agency fees. In most cases, your adoption fee
will cover the services provided by the agency doing your home study,
as well as those of the agency providing placement services. All
agencies do not work with all countries, so the agency you select may
collaborate with an agency that does work with the country from which
you wish to adopt. When two agencies are involved in the adoption,
your costs may be higher.
Transportation, food, and lodging costs involved
for you or an escort to travel to the child's country to bring the
child home. Some countries require adoptive parents to stay only a few
days; others require that at least one of the adopting parents stay
for up to 8 weeks to be approved as an adoptive family by local
officials.
Travel insurance.
Foster care for the child in the foreign country
during the adoption process.
Re-adopting in the United States, in some
instances (even if formally adopted in another country).
Naturalization process; this step is vital to
ensure the child is afforded all the protection of being a U.S.
citizen.
Proof to the U.S. government that the adoptive
family has income and/or assets that put them 125 percent or more
above the poverty level for a size family that includes the child to
be adopted.
Undiagnosed medical problems. Various parasites,
skin disorders, and so on may require treatment after you bring the
child home.
There are some financial risks in international adoptions. A country
may decide to close its doors to outside adoptions. In that case,
adoptive parents in the middle of the adoption process in that country
could lose money, as well as be unable to complete an adoption of a
child already selected. In most cases, the agency you're working with
will be aware of impending changes in a particular country, usually
before a specific child has been identified, and redirect you to
another country. There may be some costs for additional paperwork
required by the new country.
More about International Adoptions |
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