| Adopting a child domestically is a hard task in itself, | | | | process, schedule your home evaluation study and |
| but when somebody decides to adopt a child | | | | submit the Immigration and Naturalization Service |
| internationally it becomes even harder. Adopting a | | | | (INS) forms. Another thing to do is to compare the |
| child internationally is a long process, it can drain you | | | | countries of the children that you want to adopt, |
| emotionally and it can be very expensive. It becomes | | | | most agencies have charts on their website that list |
| a lot less difficult and stressful if you find a great | | | | available children, by country, gender, age, living |
| adoption agency who will guide you every step of | | | | situation (foster care, orphanage), the waiting period, |
| the way. The best thing to do during the adoption | | | | parent requirements, travel requirements and |
| process is to keep be very patient a keep a level | | | | adoption fees. After you review all of this, the next |
| head. Before you dive into an international adoption, | | | | thing to do is to apply to the country of your choice. |
| you must be emotionally prepared and financially | | | | The next thing to do is to prepare for the home |
| prepared. Adopting a child internationally can be | | | | evaluation study which is one of the most important |
| paperwork intense and the processing can take | | | | steps in any adoption, regardless of whether it is |
| anywhere from six months to several years. | | | | domestic or international. The home study generally |
| It is a good idea to get in touch with somebody who | | | | consists of three parts, multiple visits from a social |
| has completed an adoption; this can include friends or | | | | worker, gathering of paperwork and attending |
| colleagues. You should ask him or her a lot of | | | | adoption classes. Consider the age, health and gender |
| questions about the whole adoption process. Ask | | | | of the child that you would like to adopt. Make your |
| them about their adoption agency choice and ask | | | | preferences clear to the adoption agency. |
| them why they chose the agency that they did and | | | | Choose a child from agency photos or videos. Have a |
| also ask them about the pros and cons of the | | | | pediatrician review the health status of the child |
| agency that they went to. Go online and make some | | | | before finalization. When the adoption process is |
| comparisons between the adoption agencies that you | | | | complete and the child goes into your custody, you |
| want to use and then narrow your list down to a | | | | must travel to the child's home country to pick him |
| few and then call them. You are looking for an | | | | or her up. When you go, take somebody that you |
| adoption agency that will help you and partner with | | | | trust, for safety reasons and peace of mind. |
| you, one that has a sense of warmth and trust and | | | | The international adoption process is much longer and |
| which is interested in a good outcome for you and | | | | much more costly then a traditional domestic |
| the child. | | | | adoption, if you're not prepared to go through what |
| Once you select the agency that you feel is best, | | | | is involved with adopting a child internationally then it |
| ask them for an information package and fill out the | | | | is best not to get involved. |
| application forms. Discuss the details of the application | | | | |