If you or your family is considering adopting a child from overseas, you may have concerns and specific questions that pertain to international adoption. Like many adoptive families, you are surrounded by a multitude of choices and have to make a variety of decisions throughout the process. One of the first most common decisions to be made is knowing whether you would like to adopt from within the United States, your state, or from abroad.
International adoption opens a family to experience new cultures and broaden the family’s dynamic. It can also be encouraging for families to know they are able to offer a better life and more opportunity to a child in need and facing various obstacles overseas. International adoption can also carry some concerns due to unfamiliarity with foreign policies and regulations. Educating yourself on the child’s country of origin’s process and asking critical questions to a legal professional will help you alleviate any stress or concerns you may be experiencing.
What are Popular Adoption Countries?
The world is a vastly large place and the country options for adoption seem endless. Some families are individuals have a particular country of origin in mind while others are more open to availability or options that meet other criteria. If time is of the essence and you want a child sooner rather than later you may have more options than if you have a particular country in mind but must be willing to wait for a child to become available. Popular countries for international child adoption include China, Russia, South Korea and Ethiopia, amongst many others.
Is the International Adoption Process More Difficult Than Domestic?
In some ways, international adoption can be more complicated than domestic adoption, and in many other ways, it is simpler. International adoption requires specific visas for the child to be filed for and obtained before adoption can be filed. Foreign governments are also able to change laws and policies without notice or reasoning, which is outside the control of the adoptive family or the U.S. government. Like domestic adoptions, international adoptions also require a home study that must be completed in order for adoption to be finalized. An international adoption also tends to be more expensive than adopting a child from within the United States if cost is a concern for adoptive parents.
Get Help Your International Adoption
With decades of experience, Kansas Adoption Attorney Tom McDowell understands that the international adoption process can be complicated, and you likely have a plethora of questions and concerns. Tom McDowell has assisted numerous Kansas families to grow their family through international adoption. If you have questions regarding the adoption process you are undergoing in Kansas, our legal staff understands and is here to help. Contact McDowell Chartered Legal Services today at (316) 633-4322 to see how we can develop an international adoption plan that best suits you and your family’s needs.