Choosing a Country

Choosing a country for international adoption may be a dilemma to some interested parents. With the growing number of foreign countries opening their doors to American families, there are just too many choices to choose from. You may know where to start looking, but do you already know what you are looking for? The following guidelines may help you ease the burden of making such a difficult, yet lasting decision:

Your Personal Comfort. How open are you to someone who come from a different race and culture? Are you willing to share yourself with someone who has so many differences or would you rather care for someone who shares a common bond with you?
Your Child’s Comfort. Think about your friends and your community. How alienated will your child feel in their midst? Is there a language barrier between you and your child? How will he adapt to his new environment?
Age and Marital Status. Some countries prefer younger couples, while some lean towards those who were polished by time. There are countries who define a certain limit on the age gap between the parent and the child. Married couples are almost always eligible, while single parent adoption is not allowed by some countries.
Travel Policy. Most countries require the parents to visit the child before the adoption is finalized. One parent is required by some countries, while others require both to travel. In some cases, the child is escorted to the adoptive parent’s home country, while most require at least one parent to travel home with the child. The USCIS requires that both parents see the child personally for the adoption to be considered legal in the United States.
Specific Country Requirements. International Adoption requirements vary from country to country. More often than not, these documents are already included in your dossier. Fees also vary per country. However, some countries waive some of these when you are adopting a special need child.
Racial Preference. Try to visualize how your dream child will look like. Do you see Asian, African , or Caucasian features? This step will often define what area you should concentrate on.
Age Preference. Do you prefer an infant, a toddler, or a school-age child?
A Boy or a Girl? Would you be interested in adopting a boy, or would you rather prefer a girl? Some countries have more boys available for adoption, while some have more girls.
Try to ponder on these thoughts for a while. Your answers to these questions will help you narrow down your area of search. From then on, it is for you to decide which country will fit your needs best.