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Is international adoption a simple procedure?

International Adoption?

  • I can't find an adoption category, so I hope someone here can help us. Has anyone had any experience legally adopting as an American citizen directly from a foreign country using an attorney or agency in that country, finalizing the adoption in the child's country of birth without involving private U.S. agencies (beyond having a homestudy by a licensed person). I know celebs do this. I'm sure it costs a bundle, but it would be worth it to actually be able to adopt children who need adopting without dealing with these persnickety US agencies that demand you "re-finalize" your adoption in the US (even though the State Dept. has no such requirement). Never even mind the US Social Services agencies. I've seen them in action & they are less qualified to determine legal parentage than most toddlers themselves!

  • Answer:

    International adoption can be complicated or simple, expensive or cheap, depending on where you are adopting from. The rules sound extremely complex, but they actually are pretty straightforward. The most important thing is to either use a very reputable agency in the US and the other country, or else be very aware of the rules. Here is some excellent preliminary information: http://www.travel.state.gov/family/adoption/adoption_485.html PS - I adopted both of my daughters in India. It was very inexpensive and very easy.

Tom's Mom at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

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Actually most celebs do use American agencies to help. The media just portrays it as they go over to the country and pick out a child... not really the case (the only exception being Madonna and her adoption did need to refinanalized). If you look at the state departments website you can see the different countries which allow adoption from the US, and what their requirements are. Once you have an idea of which country you would like to adopt from I would suggest looking on groups.yahoo.com for a group dedicated to adopting from that country. Their you should find lots of program specific information regarding agencies and private adoptions from that country. From personal experience, I have heard FAR more horror stories with private adoption, especially regarding finalization and cost. We used an American agency for our adoption. I didn't not find the process to be intrusive. I had only one visit in my home (not by Social Services, but by a private agency I chose) and have 3 post placement visits in the 1st year after my son is home (again done by an agency of my choice). It is our choice if we re-finalize (not the agencies) however we are choosing to do so, so that he will have an American birth certificate. This can be important depending on the country your child is from and the ease of getting his birth certificate (which you need copies of many times in the child's life) and/or your state laws regarding his permanent rights here (while it would seem those would be federal issues I do know people who have had issues depending on the state re: homeland security stuff).

thatswhatshesaid

I spoke with a couple who used an agency called Bethany Christian adoptions or something like that - they were really happy and have a gorgeous daughter from Asia.

Mrs. Goddess

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