Independent International Adoption – Four Things to Know

International adoption remains an increasingly popular alternative for hopeful parents despite its complexity. When considering international adoption you can either choose an agency-initiated path or independent adoption, where you handle the details yourselves. Here are four facts to keep in mind when considering if independent international adoption is right for you and your family.

1: You are on your own.
In an independent international adoption, the heavy lifting is the sole responsibility of the parents since there is no agency offering guidance or expertise. Interested parents need to request a home study from a licensed adoption agency or a local social worker. After this step, you would work independently to acquire the required documents in your home country (for the U.S., the Citizenship and Immigration Service or USCIS, formerly the INS) and for the foreign judicial system where you are seeking to adopt a child.

You will also need to find a lawyer or agency in that country that will connect you with a child and then take the trip to obtain responsibility for the child and the corresponding documentation for the adoption, passport, and visa.

2: You have to work across cultures.
If you are interested in independent international adoption, you must be patient and flexible when navigating the legal system of another country. You need to become familiar with the regulations for the governmental and adoption agencies involved in the process. The key is to be informed and research the countries you are considering and their adoption practices to determine the best match for you.

3: There are more risks involved.
When dealing with an adoption outside the United States, there are more unknown factors and therefore more prospective dangers. If you are not working directly with a recognized licensed agency then you may face the possibility of working with a local lawyer or missionary who will find you a child but not be able to obtain the necessary documents needed for the international adoption to be considered legal.

Other possible hazards include potential – although unintended – involvement in the illegal adoption market, the falsification of the child’s medical and personal documents, a breach of the confidentiality of your medical and personal information, and the loss of money in an adoption scam.

4: The restrictions are tightening.
Many countries are keeping a closer watch on their international adoption policies. The result is that it has become harder to adopt a child abroad. In 2006, China was the most popular country for U.S. foreign adoptions. As a response to the increased interest, in May 2007, China imposed restrictive policies for the profile of potential adoptive families. The laws and regulations for independent international adoption are evolving so do your part to know what’s current in the countries where you are considering adoption.