| International adoption processes are complex and | | | | You can talk to friends who have already gone |
| involve lengthy bureaucratic red tape. Adopting a child | | | | through the process of international adoption. You |
| from another country may take you at least six | | | | can also discuss the process with the agency and |
| months and perhaps several years. You should be | | | | decide on a schedule for the home study. The home |
| ready for an expensive and emotionally tedious | | | | study involves preparing all the necessary papers, |
| exercise, and many layers of bureaucratic formalities, | | | | organizing visits from social workers and attending |
| when you adopt a child from another country. The | | | | classes on international adoption. |
| money involved in the process may range from | | | | Once you get your final clearance for adoption, you |
| $8,000 to $30,000, but the process can be a lot | | | | can visit the child in his\her country and try to get to |
| smoother if you seek the help of an international | | | | know the son or daughter who will soon become |
| adoption agency. | | | | part of your family. Then you can file the papers for |
| If you already know a child that you would like to | | | | adoption in both countries and get the passport and |
| adopt, the first step is to fill out the Immigration and | | | | visa for your child ready. After the final referral, it |
| Naturalization Service (INS) forms with the help of | | | | doesn't take longer than three days to complete the |
| the adoption agency. But if you are randomly picking | | | | process, and soon you can welcome the new |
| a child from another country, you should be looking | | | | member into your family. |
| at the condition of the children, their ages and | | | | Not all people go through adoption agencies, but |
| genders and other details before filing the INS forms. | | | | choose children from adoption oriented camps held in |
| You can select a child from agency photos and | | | | the United States, or through a facilitator, or |
| profiles, and discuss the health conditions of the child | | | | independently. |
| with a pediatrician. | | | | |