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Studies
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International Adoptions |
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Each country has requirements that prospective adoptive parents must meet, usually regarding age, income, number of existing children in the home, some indicator of marital stability (number of divorces, years married) and, in the case of single applicants, gender. While these details of limitations and restrictions are interesting and can sometimes bring a smile, they serve as a reminder that those seeking to adopt internationally should make themselves aware of the laws and regulations, and include them in the decision-making process. |
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of International Adoptions In the U.S., those hoping to adopt generally have three basic options, when adopting from another country: |
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| Private
Adoption Agency These licensed agencies can have a non-profit, not-for-profit or for-profit legal and tax status, and can be either general in their scope, or can develop an expertise and focus in a certain type of adoption, such as international adoptions, the adoption of foster children, or the adoption of children with special needs or those with a certain ethnic background. |
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United
States Citizenship & Immigration Service (USCIS) It is necessary
to file a petition for approval to adopt a foreign orphan. The petition,
called the I 600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan
Petitions should be filed with your nearest CIS office. If you are
resident in the United States, this petition must be approved before
an adopted child can immigrate to the United States. To file your
I 600A, you will need to provide your fingerprints on form FD-258
and your approved home study. Married couples must submit proof
that at least one applicant is a U.S. citizen, proof of their marriage(s),
and documentation of any previous divorce(s). Single adopters must
also submit proof of their U.S. citizenship and of any previous
marriages or divorces. CIS will determine if you can properly care
for an adopted child. Upon approval from CIS, you will be sent Form
I-71H, "Notice of Favorable Determination." |
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Obtaining
an Apostille or Authentication/Certification |
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Post-Placement
Report |
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Seattle (206) 452-2007 Office Location: 10116 - 116th Street East, Suite 201 |
Puyallup, WA 98373 |
Adopting
internationally requires that we observe the laws of the country
where we live and the country from which we hope to adopt. In addition,
you are required to follow all regulations of the U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration Service (USCIS, formerly INS), the U.S. State Department.
A
Post-Placement report is a written report that prepared for the
country/court in an adoption case by an adoption social worker who
makes a series of personal visits to the home of the adoptive parents.
The
purpose of these post-placement visits is to observe how well the
child and the prospective adoptive parents are bonding to each other
and how the child is fitting into the family. This
report will also contain a recommendation by the caseworker, based
on the social worker's personal observations and interactions with
the child and the members of the adoptive family, concerning whether
or not the caseworker thinks it would be in the "best interests
of the child" for the proposed adoption of this child by these
adoptive parents to take place. In almost all cases, the country/court
will follow the recommendation that the social worker makes in the
Post Placement Report, and in most all cases, this recommendation
will be that the adoption be allowed to take place.