International Adoptions

Question: International Adoptions? I have recently been considering adoption to add to my family and after having seen the Russian kids documentary, have been seriously considering adoption from Russia. However I would like more details and would appreciate advice from anyone whose gone through this process successfully. Are South African allowed to adopt from Russia or are there any laws against it? Also what is the approximate costs and which agencies are recommendable?Any and all advice would be sincerely appreciated. Thanks! :)

Answer: They are all spies.

Question: Can you carry over your adoption tax credit for international adoptions? We only pay about 5k in federal taxes each year - I know that it needs to be finalised before we can apply this tax credit. We are not looking to adopt a special needs child either.

Answer: Sorry, previous answer is incorrect. The adoption tax credit is a true credit for your taxes, meaning if you only pay about $5000/year in taxes, you can take this credit for about 3 years until it is used up. However, for the case of international adoption, the adoption must be completely finalized before the tax credit is taken, as you have already stated.

Question: What is wrong with the world when people are complaining about international adoptions? I've seen it all over this board. Makes me wish Lennon's vision could become a reality. People are acting like because children are from another country they don't have the same right to live. Financially speaking in the foster care and orphanage system , onthere are no 'desperately' in need children in the United States.. A child is a child wherever they're born. We are all members of the human species. In the United States we are lucky enough to have the funds to give our children the basic necessities until they are adopted or can support themselves, this is not the case for many countries, where many children's lives are literally saved through adoption., When a person saves a child from extreme poverty, or even death in many cases, and get looked down on for it, I think there is something very wrong in the world. Especially when those doing most of the talking are not adoptive parents, but only contributing to the increasing overpopulation concern. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;… Hmm, save a life, or give a child a better life.. hmm? Our children are safe in foster homes not the case for many other children. Yes, I didn't mean to look down on domestic adoptions I think they're great as well.

Answer: I agree with you about children and adoptions, however, I think the point that many people are trying to make is the celebrity adoption craze. I personally am quite frustrated with the celebrity popularity right now with international adoptions. For those of us who have gone through the adoption process, we understand the amount of time it takes to be approved, and bring a child home. These celebrities are able to go out and just bring a child home, often times not even having to abide by the adoption policies in that country. Take Madonna for example, she was not required to stay in the country with the child as others are required to do. That is simply not fair to the process. I do believe that when one opens their home for an adoption, it is a great thing to do - no matter who you are. I just worry that some of these celebrities do it more as a political statement or publicity stunt, rather out of love. Those are the wrong reasons to adopt. Just my 2 cents on the subject.

Question: Tell me about international adoptions for expats living in the place of adoption? My husband, son, and I recently moved to China where I teach English & 2nd grade at a private school. Someone told us that we should look into adoption while living here and that it often times is easier than living in the US. Has anyone ever done adoption this way? What is the process of adopting in China while living there? We are legal residents of China, and citizens of the USA. We will be here indefinitely. How do I go about finding more information out about adopting as a legal resident here?

Answer: Hello, My husband and I have lived in China for 6 years and are also here indefinitely. We adopted a little girl in May 2009. I actually work for a worldwide adoption agency that is registered in China as well. I am happy to help guide you through the process and answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to email me. You can use this yahoo address as a contact or my other email which is [email protected]. Kind regards-

Question: What are some agencies that handle international adoptions? I'm from America and I want to adopt a baby out of my country. To be specific, I want to adopt one from Pakistan. What is the best agency to handle this? Also, what are the requirements of adopting a baby. Thanks That really sucks, I wanted to adopt from Pakistan because a lot of children are abandoned there.

Answer: You're going to have to choose another country. Pakistan does not allow adoptions, at all. The only middle eastern country that does is Lebanon and you have to be 40 years old to adopt from there. My husband and I had wanted to do mid east, but quickly found out that wasn't an option. It has to do with the fact that the Quaran does not mention adoption so they don't think it's allowed. There are several other countries to choose from though. Some good agencies I would recommend are Holt International, Hand In Hand, Bethany Christian Services, and Wide Horizons. A good site to use when choosing a country and an agency is www.rainbowkids.com

Question: When will international adoptions from Romania be allowed again? My husband and I desperately want to adopt a baby from Romania, as we have volunteered at a pediatric hospital there and fell in love with the kids. However, Romania has banned international adoptions for the past several years. Does anyone know if or when Romania is expected to open international adoption again? I made a video of my experience volunteering at a Romanian orphanage/pediatric hospital: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEf_3dZ7rbE

Answer: The Baby Swoop Era in Romania???!??!! Since when were Romanian mothers coerced? The reason so many people adopted from Romania is that the media showed horrific footage of the institutions on all the news channels and the whole world was quite rightly shocked and horrified. The children were EXTREMELY neglected and many still are. Those children who were in the orphanages in 1989 who didnt get adopted are mostly now living on the streets. I can't believe people would say its a good thing that children will be left in orphanages to be both physically and emotionally neglected, beaten and abused, tied up.....instead of being given a family to love them. Thats really sick. Most of the people who adopted from Romania did so because the children were in terrible conditions and they wanted to help. The children had been so badly neglected that most of them were developmentally delayed and many had severe emotional problems. Adopting a Romanian child was no picnic. Couples who were just desparate to be parents and wanted to go shopping for a baby would have found it far easier to adopt from elsewhere. You dont go through all the trauma and difficulty of mothering abused children just because you want a designer doll.

Question: What are the basic rules for international adoptions? Is the cost very high? ? What countries can you adopt from? Are the agents here or do you go directly to the countries? Anyone with experience? How much is it usually?

Answer: There is a huge variation between different international adoption programs. You need to look at each country program as a separate entity. It's difficult to make a lot of generalizations. There are many countries with international adoption programs. However, each country program has its own process, requirements, timeframe, cost, etc. Most international adoptive families use two agencies, one that is local which will do your homestudy and post-placement and the second is the agency that works with the country in question. If you live close to the office of the agency that does the international piece, they may also do the homestudies. Most of the time, however, two agencies are required. Cost-wise, international adoption programs can range from a few thousand dollars to tends of thousands of dollars. It may, or may not, be less expensive than domestic infant adoption. Most children adopted from overseas are infants/toddlers. However, most of the children available for adoption are school age or teenagers. Like foster care, there are many sibling groups available for adoption. Reputable international adoption agencies will not split sibling groups. It's important to research both the country program and the agency thoroughly. Beware of internet scams. Beware of illegal and unethical practices, like child trafficking, paying for babies, etc. This happens in international adoption and it falls to the adoptive parents to make sure that they aren't a party to this, even unknowingly. Ask the agency how children become available for adoption and how they come to the agency for adoption by Americans. Beware of agencies that say they have "Birthing centers" or things like that. Chances are, they are also quoting a nine month wait time for an infant. In case I didn't make my point here, do your homework! I could write another book about things I've learned as a parent to my children. To touch on some important parts: culture and racial/ethnic identity and pride is extremely important. It's up to the adoptive parents to make sure this is respected and acknowledged in the home. There are resources to help you, but the parents need to actually do the legwork and get it done. Like any adoption, don't expect children to arrive as "blank slates" or to be grateful for not growing up in an orphanage. Be aware that institutionalization of any kind will affect growth/development. Parent to the child,not to the age. Good luck to you.

Question: Do you think that DNA testing should be done for all international adoptions? Considering the corruption going on and being ignored by adoptive parents, do you think it would help stop the unethical/criminal activities? Do you think that adoptive parents as well need make sure that they are not buying a baby, especially in countries like Guatemala where it got out of control? Many of the organisations there had fake birth mothers meet adoptive parents.

Answer: YES! I would also take it a step further. If unethical or criminal activities are proved thru DNA testing, then in that country, all adoptions would be shut down. I think it would send a message loud and clear. There is a right and ethical way to adopt children internationally and we will not support or tolerate corruption in any shape or form where adoption is concerned. These are children's lives we are dealing with. ETA: Yes, I do believe it is the adoptive parents responsibility. I can only go by our past experience. We adopted a toddler and she is the spitting image of her father and sisters. The whole family was there grandfather, uncles, aunts, and cousins. Also there was a 5 hours trip involved with a translator to their village. That would be a lot to fake. Hiring fake First mothers is so underhanded that the organizations should be shut down immediately.

Question: Are there any statistics about international adoptions where children are adopted abroad FROM the USA? Yes, Gershom. Yes, Gershom. Yes, Gershom. did not mean to duplicate-my comp is weird today

Answer: I have heard rumor of a trend that German citizens were coming here to adopt biracial and African American children, but I cannot find any data online to back this up. I have also never dealt with this at the agency I work in. I have seen couples from other countries signed up at the agency I work at waiting to adopt, but they are usually Canadian.

Question: How are international adoptions assessed? In the UK when someone applies to become either a foster carer or an adoptive parent, there is a rigorous application process, a long assessment, looking at parenting ability, relationships, history, family structure, other children in the household and so on... If the applicant is part of a relationship, the assessment is done on BOTH people in that partnership. If one person is not part of the adoption, then it doesnt go ahead. Is this the case with adoption assessments outside the UK In the case of the adoption of David Banda by Mr and Mrs Richie, it is often said that Madonna adopted him, but surely as a married woman, the couple have both adopted him? If not, how does that work within the dynamics of a familiy stucture? Now that the couple are to split, what will happen to David, the changes that poor child has had to endure are far too much surely? 1- Richie apparently said that he didnt want to adopt,, Ciccone was the one who wanted it 2 - I dont agree that the child is better off than when he started, he has been stripped of his cultural and ethnic identity and now his adoptive parents by their split

Answer: I adopted internationally (I live in the US). We had to complete the same homestudy process that foster parents and domestic adoptive parents must pass, plus additional requirements from the US Immigration department and our children's country of birth. It sounds similar to how you say the process is *supposed* to be working in the UK. I do not think we would have been approved if one of us (me or DH) had not been in favor of adopting. However, as I've mentioned in previous answers, your answers to questions like "do you want to adopt" and "why do you want to adopt" are self-reported without anyone checking up on what you say -- so it would be easy enough to lie and say "I want this" instead of "she wants this and I'm just going along with it." It wouldn't be right to do so, but it would be easy enough. In Madonna's particular case, I do not have all of the facts, but it appears that "rules were bent" because she's famous. If they were willing to bend the residency requirement rule, what other rules were bent? It also annoys me because it makes the rest of us (rule-following APs) look guilty of playing fast-and-loose with the rules, just by association. In either case, my bet is that *legally* David Banda is considered to be equally adopted by each of them, so he will be treated in the same way their biological child, Rocco, is treated. Such a shame though. I hate to see marriages break up, and when there are children (and especially adopted children) involved, it's just all the sadder.

Question: Why do some people resort to international adoptions? Don't get me wrong. I know that there are LOTS of children around the world who need good homes and I am glad that there are families who are willing and able to take them in. However, I have noticed that a lot of American couples make it a point to adopt children from other countries. Why is that? After all, there are plenty of children here in the US who also need good homes. (This is especially true of older children and minorities.) Soleil Noir: I understand that, but I have seen plenty of white couples adopt Asian babies, and of course, the Asian babies look nothing like them.

Answer: Well with what I have seen there is a huge problem here in the USA with getting a child. See the standards here are much much higher then from another country to adopt. I do know from what a friends of mine had to go through to get a child from the USA. See here there are laws that can make it to where the parents to be have to wait how ever long the state laws are to really say that the child is theirs. Then we all cant forget about Gay couples. Its hard to become a parent through adoption cause of being gay. My cousin in law is gay and he had adopted two kids that are crack babies. They have so many health issues and it was one of the fastest ways to get children for him and his partner. You also have to look at the fact that once a child has left the country it will be even harder to find the child so it will be a even better chance for the adopting parents to keep the child. You must have to really be in the family's shoes to really understand that waiting up to 5 years for a child in the USA to the 1 year wait from another country is going to be the easy way. Us amaricans normally take the fast route to everything. If I had to adopt then I rather wait for a child from here then another country cause of the bigger chance of knowing who the real parents are later in the childs life. I really hope you get the answer you need from other people here cause I know that it is a important issue with allot of couple gay or straight.

Question: What does it take to be "paper ready" for international adoptions?

Answer: There are several steps adopting parents must take in order to be "paper ready". First, the adopting parents must arrange to have a homestudy performed by a social worker and/or agency licensed in the state in which they reside. Second, parents must file form I-600A with USCIS (formerly INS) as the first step in receiving approval to classify the child you will adopt as a member of your immediate family for immigration purposes. {You may complete the I-600A prior to knowing what child you wish to adopt.} Finally, parents will prepare their "dossier". The dossier is an accumulation of documents required to complete an adoption. You really need to know where you wish to adopt from first. Different countries require different paperwork/documents. Good luck!

Question: Aurora International Adoptions - anyone adopt from them? What was your experience? We want to adopt from Kyrgyzstan, but there are very few agencies that offer this program. Any advice on this one in particular would be appreciated.

Answer: The same as any other agencies..lots of paper works that almost make u give up..but have courage and faith..prayers are powerful..just pray ..the papers are not fun ..

Question: Why do people hate international adoptions? Is it your fear of foreigners or immigrants?

Answer: I don't hate international adoptions. I hate seeing children from other countries and cultures losing those cultures, languages, everything they were born INTO just so that somebody else can drag them home and become a parent. If the child's rights were paramount, why not move to the child's country and raise them there? Oh, but that would be asking too much. Better to make the child give up everything and assimilate, right? Right.

Question: What are the typical expenses for giving birth vs domestic infant adoption vs international infant adoptions?

Answer: Are you including emotional and physical pain or just dollar amts. A good friend had her hips broken during an emergency delivery of her twins last year and is still in therapy. Lost count on how much its costing her with the medical bills but with not being able to work for a year that alone cost her over $100,000. If you include the toll it takes on nmoms or an adoptee, than giving birth and placing a child is far more expensive regardless of complications and/or not costing anything to get pregnant in the first place (opposed to an Ap shilling out a few bucks for someone elses child).

Question: What is the process for international adoption from Russia? Can a single woman adopt a child from Russia or do they have to be married. I am interested in pursuing this in the next few years and would be greatful to know anything about the Russian adoption process, costs associated with it, how the adoption went, and how the child is adjusting to life in the US. Any information is welcome. Would love to hear espically from parents who have recently done international adoptions. Thanks so much!!!

Answer: Check out this website for information on adoptions from all sorts of countries. I know a family that is currently working with them to adopt a baby girl from China.

Question: What do you think about multicultural/international adoptions? For example: Caucasion parent(s) and a Guatemalan or Chinese child

Answer: I wouldn't forbid it, but I don't think it should be encouraged. Especially international, as it comes up fairly often that the birth parents didn't actually consent to the adoption. Adopting a child of a different race should only be done if no suitable parents of the same race can be found. It shouldn't be done for the glory of the adoptive parents ("Look at me! See how open minded, generous and unracist I am!"). That's the impression I get from celebrities (and a few others) that do this.

Question: Is it OK to send a letter to friends/families asking for donations to help with our international adoption? International adoptions cost around $20,000 and we have already paid for most of it. However, we still need to raise around$6,000. The donations would be tax deductible through our agency.

Answer: Why don't you have something like a baby shower? Have a bunch of people over, maybe have special drinks or something for sale, or a raffle. Good luck saving this little one, I respect you for that.

Question: You get to change one thing in International Adoptions. What is it and why? Thank you for your time.

Answer: When a nmother claims/proves that her child has been kidnapped that a thorough investigation is done and her child is returned. No excuses nor long drawn out court processes. Kidnapping should never be tolerated nor supported whether the Aps knew directly or just heard it was happening but chose to ignore it. A centralized DNA bank will help speed up this process.

Question: celebrity or famous international adoptions? can any one tell me about some international adoptions out side the US, other than madonna and angelina jolie

Answer: My husband and I have two adopted daughters from China. We're not "celebrity status" but we're Mom and Dad now. www.gwcadopt.org