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Intercountry Adoption : Where Do I Start?
Factsheet for Families

Author(s):  Child Welfare Information Gateway

Year Published:  2009

You are in section: Table of Contents Deciding If Intercountry Adoption Is Right for Your Family Deciding What Country Your Child Will Come From Finding an Adoption Services Provider Adopting Your Child Meeting Immigration and Citizenship Requirements Adjusting To Your New Family Additional Resources

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Introduction

The number of Americans adopting children from other countries grew dramatically from 1990, when 7,000 children received visas to come to the United States for adoption, through 2004, when 22,884 children received such visas. After peaking in 2004, these numbers began to decline, and the statistics for fiscal year 2008 show that 17,433 children were adopted through intercountry adoption that year.¹

Intercountry adoption continues to be an option for parents who choose to adopt. This factsheet provides an overview of the intercountry adoption process. Depending on your State, your adoption services provider, and the country from which you adopt, the steps in this adoption process may vary. For example, some families will first select an adoption services provider; their choice of country will then be limited to the countries with which that agency works. In every case you must meet the basic requirements of U.S. immigration law.

Table of Contents

Deciding if intercountry adoption is right for your family

Deciding what country your child will come from

Finding an adoption services provider

Adopting your child

Meeting immigration and citizenship requirements

Adjusting to your new family

Additional Resources

¹ Numbers courtesy of the U.S. Department of State: http://adoption.state.gov/news/total_chart.html. Back

You are in section: Table of Contents Deciding If Intercountry Adoption Is Right for Your Family Deciding What Country Your Child Will Come From Finding an Adoption Services Provider Adopting Your Child Meeting Immigration and Citizenship Requirements Adjusting To Your New Family Additional Resources

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This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway.

Updated on April 21, 2009