How Much Does International Adoption Cost – Process & Fees

Ballpark Estimate: $20,000 to $40,000

If you want to adopt a child today, you may want to explore the range of options that exist outside of the United States. There are many children around the world who are in need of stable homes and families. And as many adoptive parents will attest, raising a child born in another nation here in the U.S. can be a very unique and fulfilling experience.

Following the Trend

The U.S. Department of State’s latest data shows that more than 20,000 orphans born in other countries were given immigrant visas to come here in 2006. This statistic is reflective of a growing trend in America of international adoptions. This practice may be even more popular lately as a result of the celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Madonna who have welcomed children from other nations into their own families in a very open and public way.

Do Your Homework

While looking abroad can be a wonderful way to find a child to raise as your own, it is important to understand that there are some limitations, too, that go along with the concept of adopting internationally. First of all, not all countries even allow children to be adopted by parents who live in the United States, and even those who do allow it may have stringent guidelines. Further, the rules can vary greatly from place to place, making it necessary to do your homework. Experts in foreign adoption recommend that anyone considering this route be prepared to do some serious research and find the best cultural fit and situation for your specific family and needs.

Differences Between Domestic and International Adoptions

If you are considering adopting a child but are torn between whether to try to find one born in the United States or whether to look to one with roots continents away, there are some real similarities and differences to weigh.

Timeframe

First, the time the length of time the process will take can be in the same range in either case. Many adoptions today in the United States can take a year or two to complete (although there are some that can take longer). When adopting internationally, anywhere from six to eighteen months is often the norm. Of course the circumstances can vary in both scenarios and how the process plays out can be very different from country to country.

Age

The age of child that you will get can be very different with a domestic option than with one that happens abroad. For instance, in the U.S. through a private adoption you can usually get a newborn baby. But in looking abroad, the children are typically already born and living in an orphanage. Further, some countries have a set amount of time a child must remain without being adopted in their own nation before they are available for international adoption. Only then can the lengthy paperwork begin. As a result of these factors, in international adoptions the children are often at least several months to several years old. The age difference can be a significant factor because babies and young children who have spent time in an institution without a consistent and loving caregiver can face attachment issues that may need to be addressed, either immediately or down the road.

If you want to adopt a child today, you may want to explore the range of options that exist outside of the United States. There are many children around the world who are in need of stable homes and families. And as many adoptive parents will attest, raising a child born in another nation here in the U.S. can be a very unique and fulfilling experience.

Following the Trend

The U.S. Department of State’s latest data shows that more than 20,000 orphans born in other countries were given immigrant visas to come here in 2006. This statistic is reflective of a growing trend in America of international adoptions. This practice may be even more popular lately as a result of the celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Madonna who have welcomed children from other nations into their own families in a very open and public way.

Do Your Homework

While looking abroad can be a wonderful way to find a child to raise as your own, it is important to understand that there are some limitations, too, that go along with the concept of adopting internationally. First of all, not all countries even allow children to be adopted by parents who live in the United States, and even those who do allow it may have stringent guidelines. Further, the rules can vary greatly from place to place, making it necessary to do your homework. Experts in foreign adoption recommend that anyone considering this route be prepared to do some serious research and find the best cultural fit and situation for your specific family and needs.

Differences Between Domestic and International Adoptions

If you are considering adopting a child but are torn between whether to try to find one born in the United States or whether to look to one with roots continents away, there are some real similarities and differences to weigh.

Timeframe

First, the time the length of time the process will take can be in the same range in either case. Many adoptions today in the United States can take a year or two to complete (although there are some that can take longer). When adopting internationally, anywhere from six to eighteen months is often the norm. Of course the circumstances can vary in both scenarios and how the process plays out can be very different from country to country.

Age

The age of child that you will get can be very different with a domestic option than with one that happens abroad. For instance, in the U.S. through a private adoption you can usually get a newborn baby. But in looking abroad, the children are typically already born and living in an orphanage. Further, some countries have a set amount of time a child must remain without being adopted in their own nation before they are available for international adoption. Only then can the lengthy paperwork begin. As a result of these factors, in international adoptions the children are often at least several months to several years old. The age difference can be a significant factor because babies and young children who have spent time in an institution without a consistent and loving caregiver can face attachment issues that may need to be addressed, either immediately or down the road.

An Overview of the Cost

If you are seriously considering an international adoption, it’s likely you’ll want to know what it costs. The price can range a great deal, depending on what country you select, the extent of the legal work that will be involved, and the travel you will need to complete the process.

Generally when figuring out what you will spend, there are several categories you should consider to help you to determine the big picture.

Agency Costs

You will need know the standard agency costs (which can include dossier and immigration expenses and sometimes even a donation to the foreign orphanage). This can be anywhere from $7,000 to $30,000 or more, according to some of the experts. The large variation hinges on the type of agency, whether they offer any type of sliding scale, and how available and eager they are to place babies in that country.

Foreign Country Fees

Some countries will tack on additional fees adoptive parents are responsible for. This can include foster care for the child while the process occurs, foreign attorney fees, passport, Visa and medical examinations. To give you an idea of what this can entail, the country fee for Hong Kong starts at about $1,500, while the country expense of adopting a baby from Haiti is $9,000, and if you want a baby from Guatemala, you’d better be prepared to come up with $19,000 for the government expenses you’ll entail. Most other country fees fall somewhere within this $1,500 to $19,000 cost span.

U.S. Expenses

It’s also important to note that the United States also charges its own fees to bring a baby in, which can run you an additional $3,000 or so for a variety of immigration and visa-related costs.

Travel Costs

Finally, you will need to plan for travel and accommodations to the country to meet the residency requirements and to bring the child home. In some cases, parents also have the option to pay an escort to bring the child to the U.S. With so many different circumstances to consider, what you will spend is difficult to estimate, depending on what country you select and the type of travel and accommodations you will need and the length of stay required.

You can assume you will need to spend a minimum of $1,000 or $2,000 on travel and this possibly could even go up to $5,000 or even much more.

Different Scenarios

What you will spend for an international adoption can depend on so many factors, but a few examples of typically overall costs are as follows:

  • Adopting a baby from China can cost from $20,000 to $25,000
  • A baby from Guatemala can cost $25,000 to $30,000
  • Bringing a Russian baby home can cost in the range of $30,000 to $40,000

So you can expect to spend an average of $20,000 to $40,000 when you factor in all of the details in order to bring an international baby home, but there are much more — and much less– expensive options.

Protect Yourself

While many successful international adoptions take place all of the time, there are of course also stories of people who have taken financial risks in the process and lost money. Experts warn that you should only work with reputable agencies, so always check on how established an agency is and check references as best you can.

You should also be aware that sometimes countries can suddenly decide to stop international adoptions. If you are already in the midst of the process, you could lose the money you’ve invested and can also be unable to adopt a child you were counting on. The good news is that in such a case, your agency will often be aware in advance of impending changes and can help you switch gears without losing too much time or money. But it helps to be flexible and be prepared to meet some roadblocks throughout the adoption process.

Resources for More Information

Since the process of international adoption is very complicated, the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues can serve as a valuable resource to help you navigate your way. You can visit their website to find out more about current information, issues and concerns. This office serves as the central authority in the U.S. for the Hague Adoption Convention, which is an important agreement that protects children and their families around the world against the risks of unregulated adoptions.

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