Many families choose to pursue an international adoption because they feel they want to create a multi-cultural family through adopting a child in need. Country and state specific regulations for International adoptions are complex, and families must choose an adoption agency that has experience with adoption requirements for the country they are hoping to adopt a child from.

For Birth Parents

Birth mothers who wish to place their child with an overseas family have the option of placing the child with a military family who may be stationed in places such as Germany, Guam, Japan or Italy.

Many birth mothers that grew up in a military family want their child to have some of the same experiences they had. They want the child to grow up in a disciplined home that values respect and service. They also want their child to have the opportunity to live in various different countries and states, travel and receive an international education.  Many expectant mothers feel that this would be the greatest opportunity for their child, and there are many military families who are hoping to create a family through adoption.

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How to Choose an Adoptive Family

For Adoptive Families

Many families decide to complete an international adoption in order to create a family. Many families have a great desire to adopt from a country where there are many children in need. Other families may want to adopt a child that has the same ethnic heritage as they do. Other families do not feel comfortable interacting with the birth parents, and so they choose international over domestic adoption. Some countries have less strict requirements in regards to marriage and age than many domestic adoption agencies, so families that do not meet the age or marriage standards set by domestic agencies will choose to adopt internationally.

International adoptions can be complicated to navigate because each country that is open to American citizens adopting has different regulations that the family and the international adoption agency must comply with.  International Adoption regulations have become much more complicated since the United States ratified the Hague Convention Treaty, which is a set of international guidelines to prevent child trafficking or abduction and to protect the interests of the child. The treaty creates an organization in each country so that adoptive families have the information they need to complete a successful adoption. 75 countries have joined the Hague Convention and an adoption agency must meet strict regulations in order to become a Hague-accredited agency to facilitate adoptions in Hague Convention countries.   

International adoption costs vary so much because the cost is largely dependent upon how many times you have to travel to that country and how long you must stay there in order for the adoption to be finalized. China adoptions usually required you to stay in the country for 10 days, while adoptions in the Ukraine may take more than 6 weeks to finalize.  Each country has specific requirements so it is essential that adoptive families choose an International adoption agency that is reliable, ethical and knowledgeable about the country that the family wishes to adopt a child from. 

Each family should dedicate time to researching each country that they are interested in adopting from. They should also be aware of certain lifestyle choices of the population and the orphanage situations in these countries, as they may affect the child’s mental and physical health. Many times a child’s biological mother or father’s medical and social history will be unknown.  Adoptive families need to prepare themselves for the unique needs that are required when adopting a child that has been raised in an orphanage. 
The International adoption experience can be confusing at times because of the large amount of paperwork and the country-specific adoption laws, but adoptive families know that it is completely worth the trials once they arrive home as a family.

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The Cost of Adopting

American Adoptions' Advantages