How to Adopt Internationally: A Guide for Agency-Directed and Independent Adoptions (2000-2002 Edition)
by Jean Nelson-Erichsen, Heino R. Erichsen
Category: Intercountry adoption

Many potential adoptive parents seeking international adoption find the process to be extremely complex. This guide details the international adoption process, including organizing a home study and fulfilling state requirements as well as selecting a country from which to adopt, working through emigration and immigration agencies, and traveling abroad to meet the potential adoptee. Chapter 1 discusses motivations for adoption. Chapter 2 contains excerpts from two parents' journal regarding their international adoption. Chapter 3 gives an overview of the international adoption process. Chapters 4 through 15 present a 23-step approach to successful international adoptions. Sample forms and documents are included at the end of the chapter in which they are discussed. Topics include choosing the right agency, obtaining state approval, obtaining preliminary INS approval, applying to a foreign source, filing the orphan petition, making the adoption trip, meeting the potential adoptee, preparing for the trip home, dealing with health problems in developing countries, meeting requirements upon return to the U.S., and parenting the adopted child. The last half of the book is a compendium of the adoption laws and requirements for most countries participating in international adoption. For each country listed, the compendium includes a summary of adoption laws, the central authority in charge of adoption, address and phone number for the U.S. visa issuing post, and the number of orphans immigrated into the U.S. from that country. Appended are lists of resources and contacts, a glossary, and a bibliography of 109 resource materials. (KB)