- Who decide if a person(s) is allowed to adopt?
- Is there anyone who are not allowed to adopt?
- Is there an age limit when it comes to international adoption?
- Do I need to be a homeowner to qualify for international adoption?
- How much does the international adoption process cost?
- Do we have the option to choose the sex of our child?
- Do we have to make a certain amount of money inorder to adopt a child?
- My partner and I are looking to adopt a child from another country. Can couples who are not married allowed to adopt?
- Can birthmothers come back and claim the child after adoption?
- How long is the international adoption process?
- Is there any financial assistance program offered to people wanting to adopt a child from another country?
- I am a U.S. Citizen but I live overseas, can I still adopt?
- I am not a U.S. Citizen but I am interested in adopting a U.S. child, is that possible?
- Will my child be an American citizen after adoption?
- Do I need to re-adopt in the United States?
- Is it possible to adopt more than one child?
Who decide if a person(s) is allowed to adopt?
There are lots of factors involved when adopting a child from another country. There is no single authority who decides the outcome of the international adoption. You can check our Country Guidelines to learn more about the requirements of individual countries.
Is there anyone who are not allowed to adopt?
As long as the person has not been convicted or accused of child abuse/neglect that person is allowed to adopt.
Is there an age limit when it comes to international adoption?
Most of the time the answer is NO. However there are countries with strict age criteria such as South Korea (age limit is 45 years old) or Colombia.
Do I need to be a homeowner to qualify for international adoption?
No. Home ownership is not a major factor in international adoption.
How much does the international adoption process cost?
Each country has different fees. The cost of an international adoption ranges from $10,000 to $25,000. Keep in mind that all of the required fees are not due at one time. Most families save their money for a year before going through the international adoption process.
Do we have the option to choose the sex of our child?
Most of the time the your are able to choose the sex of your child. However, there are times where your only choice depends on the number of waiting children to choose from. If you already have a child, some countries will only allow you to adopt a child of the opposite sex.
Do we have to make a certain amount of money inorder to adopt a child?
There are some international adoption program that requires a person to have an income of at least $30,000.00 a year. The U.S. government requires families to have a minum income of $25,000.00. Most of the time, it all depends on how you manage your finances.
My partner and I are looking to adopt a child from another country. Can couples who are not married allowed to adopt?
Most of the time, the answer is NO. In some countries, it is a taboo for a couple to live together when they are not married. Contact the agency for more information on this question.
Can birthmothers come back and claim the child after adoption?
No. Every child who is in an international adoption program has been through a legal "termination of rights". All countries, when a child enters their program, attempt to find the birthparents, or else the birthparents formally terminate their rights.
How long is the international adoption process?
On average, it takes 4 to 7 months for the whole process to be completed. However, it is important to immediately start with your Home Study and file with the USCIS. Request form I 600A , fill it out, attach copies of your birth, marriage, divorce certificates, plus the fee ($405.00) and send it in. USCIS tells you this orphan petition will take 30-60 days.
Is there any financial assistance program offered to people wanting to adopt a child from another country?
There are lots of financial assistance program being offered out there. Please visit the 'Financial Assistance' section of our site to learn more about it.
I am a U.S. Citizen but I live overseas, can I still adopt?
Yes, you can. For US citizens living abroad (i.e. U.S. military living in other countries) where at least one family member is a US Citizen, you are eligible to adopt from most source countries.
I am not a U.S. Citizen but I am interested in adopting a U.S. child, is that possible?
Yes, it is. We can help you to adopt a child from the United States even if none of the parents is a U.S. citizen.
Will my child be an American citizen after adoption?
Yes. Child Citizenship Act states that children adopted from foreign countries automatically becomes American citizen upon their arrival in the United States.
Do I need to re-adopt in the United States?
In some cases, it is desirable or necessary to re-adopt after your return to the United States. For most, re-adoption is completed to establish U. S. paperwork for your child, but does not affect the legality of the initial adoption. In some states re-adoption is necessary to obtain a U. S. birth certificate for your child. We strongly encourage all parents to re-adopt when returning home.
Is it possible to adopt more than one child?
Yes. A lot of countries allows adoption of more than one child.



