Countries

Because you must meet the requirements of a particular country, you will want to begin by investigating which countries will accept you and what kinds of children are available. In addition, you will want to know what the wait is for a child, travel requirements, and the expenses associated with adopting from that country.

A country’s status can change quickly (whether or not it is allowing adoptions and its requirements for adoptive parents); getting up-to-date information is crucial. The agency or attorney working with you should be able to provide the information you need. You can also check the State Department Web site, which lists the laws, requirements, and procedures for adopting from different countries on the Internet.

The first variable you must consider is a country’s policies regarding who can adopt. Agencies may have few requirements, but the country from which you seek to adopt may impose restrictions related to your age; marital status, including number of years you have been married; number of previous divorces; your weight; number of children you have; and your health issues or use of certain medications, such as antidepressants. Some countries require both parents to be U.S. citizens. Find out whether you will be accepted before you set your heart on adopting a child from a particular country.

The ages of the children available may vary widely by country. Some countries, such as Russia, do not allow children to be adopted until they are at least six to eight months old. If you want a very young baby, you will want to choose a coun­try that has a policy of allowing children to be adopted without having to be on a registry or having artificial age requirements before being adopted.

Finding a reputable agency or facilitator to handle the adoption is crucial. If you can’t find such a person or entity for a particular country, you will be better off looking elsewhere. Without the help of a professional, you can wait for a long time before a child is assigned to you or until the adoption of your child is completed.