• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

Facts on Foreign Adoption

October 22, 2010 by ds_15457 Leave a Comment

A foreign adoption, also known as an intercountry or international adoption, allows you to adopt a child from a different country. When done following proper procedures, the child becomes legally and permanently your child. Countries have their own set of guidelines and procedures, and you must follow the procedures established in both your country and the country of the adopted child.

Benefits

Expanding your adoption search to foreign countries means you have more options. You might have an easier time finding a child of the gender and age you prefer. Many children available for an intercountry adoption live in orphanages, so there is less chance of a birth parent changing her mind about giving the baby up for adoption. You also get the chance to travel to the child’s country of origin when you bring her home.

Disadvantages

A child adopted from a foreign country will not likely be a baby by the time the process is complete, and you have physical custody. The process often takes between 12 and 18 months so even if your baby is only a few months old when you choose him, he’ll be older when he comes home with you. You are also less likely to receive information on the child’s medical or family history. His birth mother may not have received prenatal care. A child who spend time in an orphanage could have developmental delays.

Process

Foreign adoptions are either completed through an agency or independently. Independent adoptions are usually supported by adoption facilitators or other services in the country. The process to adopt a child in a foreign country is similar to a domestic adoption. You complete an application, complete a home study and provide supporting documents. The country you choose affects the forms and additional steps required to complete the adoption. You also have to obtain an immigrant visa for your child.

Restrictions

The vast difference in adoption laws from one country to the next can lead to restrictions for adoptive parents. While a child might be eligible for adoption on her country’s laws, she might not be eligible for immigration into the United States. Likewise, the country you want to adopt from might have strict guidelines that you don’t meet. For example, some countries require a period of residency within the country, while others don’t allow single parents to adopt.

Cost

The cost for a foreign adoption varies depending on your specific situation. Each country’s adoption program charges different amounts. You also have fees for the application, home study and other procedural costs. At the conclusion of the adoption process, you incur travel expenses to get your child to your home. In total, the adoption could cost anywhere from $7,500 to $30,000, as of 2010.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Parenting

About ds_15457

Shelley Frost has been a freelance writer since 2007, specializing in parenting and education. Her work can be found on websites such as ModernMom.com and PreschoolRock.com. Frost holds a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education with a minor in reading from the University of Northern Iowa.

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search

ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

What To Expect When You Are No Longer Expecting

The world is full of advice for pregnant and … [Read More...] about What To Expect When You Are No Longer Expecting

Must Have

ToniBox

Meet Toniebox – A Loveable Storytime Friend For Your Kids

If you are looking for something to occupy your children … [Read More...] about Meet Toniebox – A Loveable Storytime Friend For Your Kids

Did you know?

can you get pregnant on birth control pill if you miss one day

Can You Get Pregnant on Birth Control Pill If You Miss One Day?

Best Way to Cook Boneless Shoulder Steak

The Best Way to Cook Boneless Shoulder Steak

fade hair color quickly

How to Fade Hair Color Quickly

toddler hair growth

Toddler Hair Growth

how much weight should a baby gain

How Much Weight Should a Baby Gain?

How Long Can Cupcakes Be Stored After Baking

How Long Can Cupcakes Be Stored After Baking?

early signs you are pregnant with twins

Early Signs You Are Pregnant With Twins

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2021 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.