| Eastern European adoptions law varies widely from | | | | adoptions take anywhere from nine months to a |
| country to country, with some making it much | | | | year. |
| simpler to complete the adoption process. Countries | | | | Meeting Adoptive Children |
| like Romania, Estonia, Lithuania, Armenia and Poland | | | | Most of the children available for adoption in Europe |
| have thousands of children in foster homes and have | | | | live in orphanages. There are a variety of adoptable |
| created ways for families in other countries to adopt | | | | children, but most countries set an age limit, such as |
| them. If you're considering a European adoption, start | | | | between 2 and 13 years old. Most countries allow |
| out by assessing the timeline and paperwork | | | | sibling adoptions or special needs adoptions go at a |
| requirements for several different countries. Then | | | | faster pace than others. |
| make sure your passport is in order, because you'll be | | | | Adopting a child from Europe generally requires a |
| traveling. | | | | single long trip by both parents for three to five |
| Find a Facilitator | | | | weeks, or two shorter trips of one to two weeks |
| The first step in adopting a child from Europe is to | | | | each. In countries where the international adoption |
| sign up with an organization that facilitates | | | | process is still evolving, adoption can open and close |
| international adoptions from the country you are | | | | and open again within a year. |
| considering. Because there are many hurdles, from | | | | Once you've received an invitation to the European |
| language barriers to endless government red tape, | | | | country, your caseworker will help you arrange travel. |
| you'll want someone who has done it successfully | | | | When you arrive in the country, you'll meet with an |
| over and over again. Ensure that they have a long | | | | in-country coordinator who will escort you around and |
| history of successful adoptions and be sure to get | | | | interpret for you. In most cases, you can then travel |
| recommendations from other parents who have used | | | | to the orphanage and meet the child you've been |
| the service. | | | | matched with or meet several available children. If |
| You'll need to fill out paperwork for your state and | | | | you decide to go through with the adoption, you'll |
| the US government, as well as paperwork for the | | | | complete paperwork and turn it into the various |
| country of the adoptive child. There will likely be | | | | government agencies. Many people return home at |
| times when paperwork will become outdated or | | | | this point until a court date is set, while others remain |
| forms will change, and you'll have to do it all over | | | | in the country. When the adoption is approved, you'll |
| again. Different European countries will have different | | | | get the necessary paperwork to apply for a visa |
| completion times; Kazakhstan has a reputation for | | | | with the child and make preparations to come home |
| being speedy (within three months), while Armenian | | | | together. |