Want to adopt a child from overseas? Here’s what to know about international adoption
Thousands of children are adopted each year in the U.S., but some families choose to take in children from other countries.
In 2021, 1,785 children from other countries were adopted by families in the U.S., and more than half of those children came from Colombia, India, Ukraine, Bulgaria and South Korea, according data from the U.S. Department of State.
Giving a child a loving, permanent home can be a rewarding experience, but the international adoption process can be lengthy and expensive.
If you’re a prospective parent interested in adopting a child from another country, here’s what you need to know.
Eligibility requirements for adoptive parents
According to the U.S. Department of State, if you want to adopt a child a child from another country, you must:
Be a U.S. citizen.
Be at least 25 years old if you are unmarried.
Jointly adopt the child if you are married. Your spouse must be a U.S. citizen or in legal status in the U.S.
Meet certain requirements as a prospective adoptive parent, including criminal background checks, fingerprinting and a home study.
Home study for international adoption
A home study from an accredited agency must be completed as part of the international adoption application, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services,. The study evaluates prospective adoptive families based on:
Interviews with each adult in the household.
Information about each member of the household, such as birthdate, place of birth and marital status.
Family history.
Living accommodations.
Immigration status of parents.
Financial resources.
Physical, mental and emotional health of each member of the household.
Criminal history and history of abuse or violence.
Preparation and training for adoption.
How to apply for international adoption
Prospective parents can adopt children from countries that are members of The Hague Convention on Adoption, or from non-member countries.
The Hague Convention on Adoption is an “international agreement to establish safeguards so that intercountry adoptions take place in the best interests of the child,” according to the National Council For Adoption.
All prospective parents must file applications with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. To adopt from a country that is a member of the Hague Convention, you are required to submit Form I-800A. For a non-convention country, fill out Form I-600A.
The international adoption process generally takes around one to five years to complete, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
How much does international adoption cost?
The filing fee for international adoption applications is $775, an additional $85 fingerprinting fee is required for each member of your household, according to the State Department.
However, court costs, travel costs, home study, education for adoptive parents, legal fees, medical treatments for adopted children and translation fees can bring the cost to between $20,000-$50,000, according to U.S. News & World Report.
International adoption agencies in Charlotte
Since county departments of social services are not required to provide services for people who want to adopt internationally, private agencies that specialize in international placements can be a good resource for prospective parents, according to the N.C. Child Welfare Manual.
Here are a few international adoption agencies in the Charlotte area:
This story was originally published October 21, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
