5. International Adoption

International adoption is the legal process through which a citizen of one country adopts a child from a different country utilizing the legal system of the country where the child resides. If you decide to proceed with an international adoption, you have a choice to proceed privately or through an adoption agency. Due to the legal complexities of the international adoption process, the vast majority of international adoptions are accomplished through agencies.

In an international adoption, you must satisfy the adoption requirements of the country of the adoptive child’s origin as well as the requirements of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Countries vary significantly with regard to the age of children waiting to be adopted and the quality of the medical care provided to those children. In addition, there is considerable variation among the countries with respect to the required characteristics of adoptive parents as they relate to the adoptive parents’ age, marital status and health history. Costs for an international adoption can range from $10,000 to $30,000, not including travel expenses.