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How to Do an International Adoption

How do I find out about adopting from another country?
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Updated November 14, 2018
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There are several ways to find basic information about adopting from a specific country. The first place to look for information on the process and advisability of adopting from any country is the US Department of State web page on country-specific information. This is by far the most reliable and complete source of basic information. Be wary of commercial sites if they’re trying to sell you something (like if you have to pay an application fee).

Pay particular attention to the section on the number of adoptees who go to the US. If there are very few international adoptions to the US, you need to be aware that you’re stepping off the well-trodden path and you should expect a bumpy ride.

If you have additional questions that aren’t answered by the US Department of State website, you can contact the Consular Section at the US Embassy in that country. You can find contact information at “List of US Embassies.”

Also, the radio show Creating a Family on June 18 discussed the status of international adoptions around the world. My guests were the CEO of the Joint Council on International Children’s Services and a US Department of State international adoption specialist. You can listen to the show at CreatingaFamily.com. Click on “Radio Show.”

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