How to Choose a Country for International Adoption

Many countries are now open for international adoption. While this gives potential adoptive parents a number of choices, it can also make choosing a country difficult in the extreme. Knowing how to choose a country for international adoption can ease the stress of this important decision and help you on your way toward adopting a child.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Think about the child you want to adopt. Consider the age, race and gender that you imagine when you think of your future child. Look into which countries tend to place children who fit your picture of a potential adoptive child.
2. Look into requirements for different countries. Your age, income, health and other factors could keep you from adopting children from certain countries.
3. Consider the travel requirements for each country. Find out whether you would need to travel to your child's country and for how long. Some countries require two trips, a requirement some potential adoptive parents can't meet because of work or family obligations.
4. Consider how long you have to wait for a referral of a child from each country and how long it takes for the adoption to be completed. Many countries have increasingly lengthy wait times due to the popularity of their adoption programs. Decide whether you're willing to wait or if you'd rather choose a program with a faster processing time.
5. Based on the above criteria, you should have only a few countries left to consider. Talk to families who have adopted from these countries and to adoption professionals who have experience in these countries. Their experiences and expertise should help you decide which of the remaining countries is right for you.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't let finances be the only reason that you choose a certain country. Remember that grants and low-interest or no-interest loans are often available for families who are adopting.
• Most adoptive parents want to adopt infant girls. If you're in this group, you will likely wait longer for a referral of a child, regardless of what country you choose. Consider adopting a boy or an older girl so you can be matched with a child more quickly.