|
|
| International
adoption can be a wonderful experience. We hope this information
can help you as you work your way through the process. Remember
that policies and regulations can and do change. Remain
patient and flexible. Good luck as you begin your journey.
|
| 1.
First determine if an international adoption is right for
you. You will be working with the laws of two countries,
the child's birth country and the United States. At times
these laws may seem in conflict with each other and therefore
may create some unforeseen problems. International adoptions
can be a roller coaster ride of emotions. There will be
times when everything is running |
 |
very
smoothly and there will be other times when it appears that
you will never be successful. You must be prepared to be
very patient. Your child may also be of another race such
as Asian
and will certainly be from |
another
culture. You should consider your feelings concerning other
cultures and races and whether it is important to you that
the child learn about and maintain some contact with their
birth country and culture. There are really no right and
wrong answers to the items to be considered, just things
you should be thinking about as you consider a foreign adoption.
2.
After you have decided to proceed with a foreign adoption,
you should contact a social worker who can provide a home
study. The
social worker will explain to you the process they will
follow in conducting the home |
| study.
You and or your social worker should determine if there
are any special requirements for the country from which
you plan to adopt. Some countries allow only couples of
a certain age, you must be married for a specific number
of years, they may or may not allow you to have been married
previously, etc. Knowing these |
 |
answers
may prevent you from spending time pursuing an adoption
from a country for which you do not qualify.
3. Find an agency that is working in the country from
which you wish to adopt from. There are many agencies
in the United States working in countries such as Thailand,
Vietnam, India, Guatemala, Brazil, etc. It is important
to work through an agency that has contacts in
the foreign |
 |
country
rather
than attempting an independent adoption. The agency will
be able to assist you with the legal work in the
birth country
and will under-stand how the system works. Rules and regula-
|
tions
often change with little or no notice in foreign countries.
The
agency will have a better opportunity to be aware of the
changes taking place.
4. Proceed with the home study. After you have chosen
someone for your home study, an agency working in the foreign
country, and you know the regulations in the country that
you will be adopting from, you are ready to proceed with
the home study.
5. After completion of the home study, you will file an
1-600A with the United States Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS). This form is filed with the USCIS office
serving your area. You can obtain the form by going to http://uscis.gov/graphics/ . The l-600A form, along with the I-600,
can also be obtained by calling 1-800-870-3676. You will get
an automated system that will eventually give you the opportunity
to order the forms. Order the I-600A and the I-600 forms
at the same time. The I-600A is preliminary information
about you and requires you to be fingerprinted.
The approval of this form can take anywhere from 60 to 90 days and is good for |
eighteen months.
If a child has not been placed with you within eighteen
months you must resubmit the form. Your
social worker will send your home study to the USCIS for approval. You will receive a I-171H
from the USCIS stating the approval of your I-6OOA. If you
have not received these letters in the appropriate amount
of time
|
 |
you should contact them to determine the status.
They will rarely contact you to tell you if there is a problem.
6. The agency you select for the foreign adoption will provide
you with information concerning the documents they need
and any special requirements for the home study. They
will also notify you when they have a placement for you
and provide any information on the child that is available.
Depending on the country you |
 |
are working in the information may be very limited. At that
time you will decide whether to accept the placement based
on the information provided. If
you accept the child you
will then file the I-600 which provides the USCIS with specific
information concerning your child. Your |
agency
will tell you if this form should be filed in the district
USCIS office or at the American Embassy in the child's birth
country.
7. When you are notified of the placement contact your social
worker. They will provide post placement services prior
to the adoption of the child in the United States. You should
adopt the child again in the United States even if you completed
an adoption in the birth country.
Good luck on your adoption journey! Remember your goal and
take the journey one step at a time. |
|
|
