| International adoption remains an increasingly popular | | | | 3: There are more risks involved. |
| alternative for hopeful parents despite its complexity. | | | | When dealing with an adoption outside the United |
| When considering international adoption you can | | | | States, there are more unknown factors and |
| either choose an agency-initiated path or independent | | | | therefore more prospective dangers. If you are not |
| adoption, where you handle the details yourselves. | | | | working directly with a recognized licensed agency |
| Here are four facts to keep in mind when considering | | | | then you may face the possibility of working with a |
| if independent international adoption is right for you | | | | local lawyer or missionary who will find you a child but |
| and your family. | | | | not be able to obtain the necessary documents |
| 1: You are on your own. | | | | needed for the international adoption to be |
| In an independent international adoption, the heavy | | | | considered legal. |
| lifting is the sole responsibility of the parents since | | | | Other possible hazards include potential - although |
| there is no agency offering guidance or expertise. | | | | unintended - involvement in the illegal adoption |
| Interested parents need to request a home study | | | | market, the falsification of the child's medical and |
| from a licensed adoption agency or a local social | | | | personal documents, a breach of the confidentiality |
| worker. After this step, you would work | | | | of your medical and personal information, and the loss |
| independently to acquire the required documents in | | | | of money in an adoption scam. |
| your home country (for the U.S., the Citizenship and | | | | 4: The restrictions are tightening. |
| Immigration Service or USCIS, formerly the INS) and | | | | Many countries are keeping a closer watch on their |
| for the foreign judicial system where you are seeking | | | | international adoption policies. The result is that it has |
| to adopt a child. | | | | become harder to adopt a child abroad. In 2006, |
| You will also need to find a lawyer or agency in that | | | | China was the most popular country for U.S. foreign |
| country that will connect you with a child and then | | | | adoptions. As a response to the increased interest, in |
| take the trip to obtain responsibility for the child and | | | | May 2007, China imposed restrictive policies for the |
| the corresponding documentation for the adoption, | | | | profile of potential adoptive families. The laws and |
| passport, and visa. | | | | regulations for independent international adoption are |
| 2: You have to work across cultures. | | | | evolving so do your part to know what's current in |
| If you are interested in independent international | | | | the countries where you are considering adoption. |
| adoption, you must be patient and flexible when | | | | Your parenting style is likely to impact the way your |
| navigating the legal system of another country. You | | | | child grows up. Being responsive to your children, and |
| need to become familiar with the regulations for the | | | | at the same time, setting clear rules and limits, is |
| governmental and adoption agencies involved in the | | | | crucial for you as a parent. Read article on top four |
| process. The key is to be informed and research the | | | | parenting styles are likely to impact the way your |
| countries you are considering and their adoption | | | | child grows up. |
| practices to determine the best match for you. | | | | |