| One reason many adoptive parents opt for adopting | | | | with adopting an infant to proportions that may be |
| a child from a different country is the fact that, even | | | | out of the financial reach of the couple. |
| though any adoption runs the risk of some | | | | When taking into consideration what country to |
| uncertainty, it is often more predictable than | | | | adopt an infant from it is also a good idea to begin |
| domestic adoption. Meaning, the waiting period is | | | | researching adoption agencies to help with the |
| easier to determine and generally runs anywhere | | | | adoption process. Time must be taken to research all |
| from one to three years depending on the country. | | | | available adoption agencies to be sure the one |
| This is especially true in regards to adopting an infant, | | | | chosen is experienced, reputable and licensed with a |
| as there are younger children available for adoption in | | | | good license standing their respective state of |
| other countries than domestically. Some statistics | | | | licensure. The correct adoption agency should be |
| rate that in some countries almost 45% of children | | | | willing to help with every small step of the adoption |
| available for adoption were less than twelve months | | | | process, including: helping parents become adoptive |
| old. Conversely, in the United States, almost 42% of | | | | parents, aid in the paperwork, verify all legal matters |
| children available for adoption are between the ages | | | | of the adoption are handled properly and provide |
| of one and four years old. | | | | support after the infant is brought home. |
| Most of the countries that are open for international | | | | After choosing an agency prospective adoptive |
| infant adoption are the developing nations in Asia, | | | | parents will then need to go through a similar |
| Central and Eastern Europe, Africa, and Central and | | | | procedure as those opting for domestic adoption. |
| South America. Each country has different adoption | | | | They will need to have a complete home study |
| rules and prospective adoptive parents find it useful | | | | done, have interviews done and provide health |
| to educate themselves about these rules prior to | | | | documents. In addition to these requirements, they |
| choosing a country to adopt from. | | | | will also have to meet the eligibility requirements of |
| Couples will find the ages of infants available for | | | | the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. |
| adoption internationally will vary greatly depending on | | | | Finally, before being matched with an infant for |
| the country chosen. It is not uncommon to find the | | | | adoption adoptive parents will need to put together a |
| age variant to range from just a few months old to | | | | package of their personal documents. This package is |
| upwards of 16 years of age. Many of the countries | | | | called a dossier and will contain pertinent records |
| require that an attempt be made to place the child | | | | relating to identity, finances, marriage licenses, health |
| with a family in the country prior to placement with a | | | | statements, criminal background clearances, proof of |
| non-citizen couple. In addition, children below the age | | | | employment and personal references. |
| of four months are generally not allowed to be | | | | After completely the preliminary steps to adopting an |
| adopted internationally by the sending nation. | | | | infant from another country the adoptive parents |
| Most countries will require the adoptive parents to | | | | need now, only to wait to be matched. The process |
| make at least one, if not many visits to the country | | | | may seem drawn out, lengthy and at times confusing |
| itself prior to selecting them as potential parents for | | | | but the rewards adopting a child via intercountry |
| a child available for adoption. This must be taken into | | | | adoption will be endless. |
| consideration as it can often raise the costs involved | | | | |