International adoption is a wonderful way of expanding your family and providing a caring, loving home to a child in need.  Many U.S. Citizens have turned to international adoption in the past few decades – U.S. Citizens adopted 22,728 children through international adoption in 2005. 
 

General Steps in International Adoption

There are several steps prospective adoptive parents can take to be better prepared for the adoption process.

1. Understand the Process

2. Agency or Attorney?

3. Selecting an Agency

4. Research

5. Be patient
    

1.  Understand the Process

Intercountry adoption may be a viable option for many families. However, the process can be complex, paperwork-intensive, and expensive. Like domestic adoptions, costs and waiting time vary significantly depending on the country and child chosen. Costs can range from a low of $12,000 to a high of $30,000, although most intercountry adoptions average between $15,000 and $25,000. The waiting time for intercountry adoption, including the home study and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS – formerly INS) approval process, can take from one to three years. Adoptions of children with special needs may have lower fees and shorter waiting periods.[1]

You can complete an intercountry adoption on your own or with the assistance of an adoption attorney or an adoption agency.  Whichever route you choose, you will need to have a homestudy performed.  A homestudy is when a homestudy provider (usually a licensed social worker) interviews the prospective adoptive parent(s) at their residence. You can use a separate homestudy agency or an individual licensed social worker in your state, depending on your state’s requirements.   You may be able to use your placement agency if they provide this service and are located close to your residence.  If not, they may be able to recommend a homestudy provider close to you. 

There are several resources you may want to consult during this “information gathering” time.  Consult adoptive parent support groups in your area and read literature on intercountry adoption.  Here are a few websites links to get you started.

• USCIS – Intercountry Adoption Overview

• U.S. Department of State – International Adoption Overview
  - Questions may be directed to the U.S. Department of State via e-mail at askci@state.gov
  - Hague-specific questions should be directed to adoptionusca@state.gov.

• The National Adoption Information Clearinghouse

• North American Council on Adoptable Children

• Comeunity

• Adoption on-line chat groups
   

 2. Agency or Attorney?

Agency –

If you choose to work with an agency you will need to find an experienced reputable adoption agency with intercountry programs.  All JCICS member agencies are non-profit (501(c)3), licensed in the state(s) where they operate, and subscribe to our Standards of Practice.  However, whether you choose to work with a JCICS member agency or another agency, we recommend the following procedures:

1. Contact several agencies.  You may prefer to work with a larger agency that has many different programs and is well known, or you may choose a smaller agency to receive one-on-one attention.  You may already have a specific country in mind so that may narrow your scope as well.  Attend information sessions hosted by agencies you are interested in, ask questions, and read the information they provide.

2. Talk to other adoptive parents.  Contact an Adoptive Parent Support Group in your area – find out what their experiences have been and learn from people who have gone through the process while realizing that every case is different. 

3. Investigate. Contact the State Licensing Specialist in the state where the agency operates and ask if the agency’s license is current and if there have been any major complaints lodged against them.  Also call the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been any major complaints lodged against the agency as well.

4. Once you decide on an agency, read all the material you receive.  Although it may seem like a lot of paperwork, it is important to understand what you are signing.  Please be aware that many times the fees are non-refundable so ask for a fee sheet upfront and read the fine print.

Attorney –

If you are interested in using an attorney, you may want to consult the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys.  Many times prospective adoptive parent(s) will contract an attorney because they have already identified a specific child to adopt or they are comfortable with the process but would like some assistance navigating the legal nuances of intercountry adoption.  As with an agency, make sure to research several attorneys, ask questions, contact references and make an educated decision.
 

3.  Selecting an Agency

JCICS was created so that there could be a distinct and comprehensive set of standards for practice for international adoption agencies.  Each of our agencies signs the JCICS Standards of Practice (available at www.jcics.org/Standards.htm) and agrees to abide by them. 

Any Agency listed in our Membership Directory is an agency in good standing with JCICS and has not been found guilty of violating our Standards of Practice.  While we do have a complaint and review process if ever a family contacts us with concerns about unethical practices by one of these agencies, we would never be able to guarantee that any agency listed in our membership is going to be the right fit for your family.  For this reason, it is always necessary to do as much research as you can so that you feel comfortable with the agency you choose.

As you start looking into specific agencies, here are some guidelines for selecting one to work with:

1)  Contact the Better Business Bureau in the agency’s region; ask if there have ever been any reports filed against their area.

2)  Contact the agency's state licensing office and make sure that their license is current (a list of who to call in each state can be found at The National Adoption Information Clearinghouse Website at http://www.childwelfare.gov/nad/index.cfm)

3)  Ask any agency you consider working with if you could obtain a list of families who have adopted through them.  These families are a wonderful resource to use for discussing their experience with the agency.  (However, please remember that most agencies would not knowingly give you contact information for any family who had a negative experience.) 

4)  Every agency should be upfront with you about each aspect of the adoption process.  Before you commit to one agency, ask for the following information:

1. A list of fees and fee schedule (although there are almost always un-planned-for expenses, there are many standard fees which they should be able to explain or estimate for you).  See below to download the JCICS Cost Comparison Worksheet which will help you to keep track of potential expenses that might occur with each agency.

2. All contracts that will be signed between your family and the agency.  Review these contracts carefully and consider the commitments (both financial and otherwise) outlined for both your family and the agency.

3. The agency’s refund policy.  This will is critical information for you to have in case anything change in the course of the adoption.  Remember that in addition to changes in circumstance for your family, there are instances where changes in country policies could impact your adoption.

4. A list of services that the agency will provide (including homestudies and post-placement services .  If the agency you have selected is not in your state, you will need to find someone near you who can conduct your homestudies and assist you in completing post-placement reports.  It is also important to ask the agency if they will provide translation, courier or notary services.  If you will be responsible for obtaining these services yourself, ask if they can recommend providers.   

5. Information on the country you are interested in adopting from.  Including details on the agency's contacts abroad.  If you will be traveling to the country to complete your adoption, you will want to know who you will be working with you once you arrive in-country.  The agency should be upfront with you in regards to the current status of adoptions from each country which you are considering.  This information is also available on the JCICS Country Information website.

JCICS strongly advises that parents obtain as much information as possible about the costs of adoption from any agency with which they are considering working.  In order to assist parents in anticipating some of these costs, JCICS has created a Cost Comparison Worksheet (Excel file) for Parents.  As you explore agencies and country programs, use this worksheet as a guide for determining the possible costs of your adoption.

Parents should be aware that the worksheet does not necessarily include all of the costs that an international adoption may incur.  It is also important to recognize that costs will vary from agency to agency and that there may also be distinct differences in expense depending on the country from which the family would like to adopt.  You are encouraged to explore multiple agencies and consider alternate countries as you fill out the worksheet and consider the cost of your adoption.
 

4.  Research

If you haven’t already, you will need to start thinking about the various countries you are interested in and where you would like to pursue an adoption.  You may have already decided on a country and chose an agency that has a strong program there, or you may be open to a number of options.  Talk with your agency or attorney to understand the differences in adopting from various regions.  Educate yourself on the culture, possible reasons for children to be institutionalized, and the medical concerns of that region.  You may need to do some “soul-searching” to decide how you feel about becoming an interracial family, adopting a special needs child, or adopting a sibling group.  In the end, this reflective time will help you manage your expectations of the adoption and welcome a child into your home.    
 

5. Be patient

The inter-country adoption process includes many variables, therefore it is impossible to predict an exact timeframe for when you will receive your child.  Sometimes, the foreign country may experience political unrest or change the laws governing adoption which would cause a delay in your process.  For ideas on how to make the wait for your child easier to bear, consult Coping and Difficulties and Delays As You Wait for Your Child.

Please consult our Frequently Asked Questions for more information on the adoption process.