If you have ever considered adopting a child from a country outside of the United States, you are not alone. According to Pew Research Center, Americans adopted more than 5,000 children from other countries in 2016. Nonetheless, it is not always easy to know how to do it.
For many people who are interested in international adoption, the entire process may seem overwhelming at first. With this in mind, you may question where you should even begin and what the process looks like. If so, the information here can provide some guidance.
Adoptions go through Homeland Security
To begin the process of applying for international adoption, prospective parents must work with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. As the department responsible for overseeing intercountry adoptions, this is also the department that contains U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in general. After adoption, children must pass through USCIS immigration processing before entering into their new home country.
Countries and processes impact experience
When adopting a child in another country, you may immigrate him or her through Hague adoption, an orphan adoption or via a few select other immigrating adoptions. Your process will differ depending on which you go through. Additionally, U.S. laws are only part of the equation. What you can expect also depends on the laws of the child’s birth country as well as the laws in whatever country you are currently residing in if it is outside of the U.S.
Although there can be some unique complexities with international adoption, that does not mean it has to be unnecessarily difficult, nor should the fear of immigration problems prevent you from pursuing your parenting dreams, regardless of borders.