Hello again Health777,
The results of my research for information regarding international
adoption is as follows:
?Some countries, such as China and Vietnam, have relatively
well-established rules and procedures for foreign adopters to follow,
while others, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for example, expressly
forbid it. Some countries, notably many African nations, have extended
residency requirements that in effect rule out most international
adoptions.?
?The most common countries for international adoption by parents in
the United States for 2004 are China (7,033), Russia (5,878),
Guatemala (3,252), South Korea (1,708), Kazakhstan (824) and Ukraine
(772). Other less common countries include Bulgaria, Colombia,
Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Philippines, and Poland. These statistics can
vary from year to year as each country alters its rules; Romania,
Belarus and Cambodia were also important until government crackdowns
on adoptions to weed out abuse in the system cut off the flow. Vietnam
recently signed a treaty openings its doors for adoption.?
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_adoption
----------------------------------------
Below are some examples of adoption program country fees:
China $9,000
Ecuador $7,500
Guatemala $7,500
India $7,500
Korea $12,250
Mongolia $9,000
Philippines $7,500
Romania $7,500
Thailand $7,500
Vietnam $9,000
International Adoption
http://international.adoption.com/foreign/international-adoption-costs.html
----------------------------------------
Adoption policies for each country vary widely.
Items such as the age of the child, fees and expenses, and the amount
of travel time required in the child's birth country differs from
country to country. Each country sets its own rules, timelines,fees
and requirements surrounding adoption
Select a country for detailed information.
http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/country/country_369.html
Some Examples:
ETHIOPIA
?Ethiopia requires post placement reports on Ethiopian orphans at 3
months, 6 months, and one year after the adoption. Yearly reports
until the child turns 18 are also required.?
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ADOPTIVE PARENTS:
?The Ethiopian government prefers to place children with married
couples who have been married for at least five years. In general,
single persons under age 25 may not adopt, nor may openly gay or
lesbian individuals or couples. However, the Ethiopian government has
occasionally approved cases involving persons in all of these
categories. There is no statutory maximum age limit on the adoptive
parent. However, Ethiopian practice is to limit the age of the parent
to no more than 40 years greater than that of the adopted child.?
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS:
?There are no residency requirements for prospective adoptive parents.?
TIME FRAME:
?Adoption agencies will advise adoptive parents approximately how long
an adoption can take. Recent adoptions have taken between 6 and 24
months. Once the Ethiopian adoption process has been completed, it
normally takes about an hour to apply for an immigrant visa for an
adopted child for families working through approved adoption agencies.
Approved visas are typically picked up by the agencies the following
morning. It may take months for private adopters, depending on the
completeness of the application and the need for follow-up
investigations.?
ADOPTION FEES IN ETHIOPIA:
?Before the Adoption: Adoptive parents can expect to pay fees for
authentication of U.S. documents for use abroad and for translation
fees. All English-language documents submitted to the Ethiopian court
must be accompanied by a translation in Amharic.MOWA and the police
charge no fees for services creating dossiers on the parents and the
child, investigating whether the child is a bona fide orphan, meeting
in committee to review the case, and making their recommendations to
the court.?
?Courts charge no fees for services in accepting adoption petitions,
making judgments, and issuing decrees.?
Procedures, adoption authorities and additional information are available here:
http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/country/country_380.html
MEXICO
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ADOPTIVE PARENTS:
?Prospective adoptive parents may be married or single, male or
female. They must be over twenty-five years of age, possess good
moral character, and demonstrate the means to care for the physical
and educational needs of the child. The prospective adoptive parents
must be at least seventeen years older than the child. If the
prospective adoptive parents are married, however, only one parent
must meet the age requirement. If the child is over fourteen years of
age, he or she must consent to the adoption.?
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS:
?Mexican adoption procedures include a one to three week pre-adoption
trial period during which the child lives with the prospective
adoptive parents in Mexico . The adoption is not final until this
time, and the child cannot leave Mexico before it is complete.
Because of the large amount of paperwork in both the Mexican and U.S.
processes, DIF suggests that the adoptive parents be prepared to spend
at least three months in Mexico including the pre-adoption trial
period.?
TIME FRAME:
?The general time frame for adoptions in Mexico is from three to eight
months, but varies from state to state. Again, prospective adoptive
parents should check with the state where the adoption will take
place.?
ADOPTION FEES IN MEXICO:
?DIF charges approximately $250.00 USD for adoption services but costs
vary state-by-state. Generally, the fees include all applicable
taxes. The DIF office also has its own lawyers and their services are
also included in that same fee. Using an attorney/agency for DIF
adoptions is optional for the prospective adoptive parents.?
Procedures, adoption authorities and additional information are available here:
http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/country/country_419.html
Intercountry Adoption
Country-Specific Adoption Flyers
For information on how to proceed with an adoption in a particular
country, please click on one of the links below:
Select a letter for the country about which you'd like information.
http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/country/country_369.html
----------------------------------------
RainbowKids.com
RainbowKids.com is a monthly on-line International Adoption magazine.
They have an enormous and constantly updated database of adoption
articles, as well as an extensive resource area.
http://www.rainbowkids.com/
Country Guidelines ? Select country for detailed information
http://www.rainbowkids.com/countries/
For example:
Ethiopia
http://www.rainbowkids.com/countries/CountryGuideLines.aspx?id=64
China
http://www.rainbowkids.com/countries/CountryGuideLines.aspx?id=62
Agency search tool (by country)
http://www.rainbowkids.com/Agencies/
Finances and Grants
http://www.rainbowkids.com/HTMLFiles.aspx?page=FinancesAndGrants
A wealth articles regarding International Adoption
http://library.adoption.com/information/International-Adoption/1/1.html
Links to photolisting web sites
http://www.familyhelper.net/arc/pho.html
Rainbowkids.com
One of the largest photo listing website for waiting children.
Search here:
http://www.rainbowkids.com/WC/
Find an adoption agency for a given country: use Agency Chooser,
www.familyhelper.net/ad/chooser.html
Descriptions of agency programs are at Adoption Agencies,
www.familyhelper.net/arc/agy.html
Here is the status (open, slow or closed) in fall 2006 of 24 countries
which have been popular for intercountry adoptions.
Open: China, Colombia, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Liberia,
Russia, Taiwan, U.S.
Open, but slow process: Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Moldova, Philippines,
Sierra Leone, Thailand, Vietnam
Closed/suspended: Belarus, Cambodia, Georgia, Guatemala, Romania,
South Korea, Ukraine
http://www.familyhelper.net/news/summary.html
Travel Safety Precautions
http://www.adoptiontravel.com/international/travel-safety.html
-------------------------------------
UK Resources
A brief overview of intercountry adoption processes and procedures is
provided in the leaflet Intercountry Adoption Procedures.
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/intercountryadoption/docs/IntercountryAdoptionProcedure.doc
Information on relevant immigration requirements is available in the
Home Office publication Intercountry Adoption and the Immigration
Rules.
http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/6353/11464/intercountryadoption1.pdf
FAQ
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/intercountryadoption/faq.shtml
Country Requiements
Advice on individual countries is available on the Department for
Education and Skills website.
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/intercountryadoption/countries.shtml
On this page, you will find contact details for local authorities ,
voluntary adoption agencies and other organisations associated with
intercountry adoption.
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/intercountryadoption/links.shtml
Who can apply and when
http://www.direct.gov.uk/Parents/AdoptionAndFostering/AdoptionAndFosteringArticles/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4018296&chk=z68AAl
Intercountry Adoption Centre
The website for the Intercountry Adoption Centre - a UK based
organisation that provides information and advice.
http://www.icacentre.org.uk/
Useful links
http://www.icacentre.org.uk/info/links.htm
Adoption > Intercountry FAQs
http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/adoption_intercountry_faqs
The British Association for Adoption & Fostering offers two low cost booklets.
Intercountry adoption (2006)
?Describes the intercountry adoption process and includes information
on the reasons it is sometimes used; some of the issues and
implications for families involved; and basic practical guidance on
procedures and rules surrounding intercountry adoption. It also
contains information on development issues and health matters and a
list of useful resources.?
£3.50 plus 40p Postage and packing.
Children adopted from abroad ? key health and developmental issues (2004)
Provides detailed information on the particular health needs and
developmental issues for children adopted from another country, and
includes a health assessment form ICA-UK for assessing the child?s
health once they are in the UK. £3.50 plus 40p postage.
http://www.baaf.org.uk/res/pubs/advice/intercountry.shtml
-----------------------
Here?s a list of adoption agencies worldwide
http://www.familyhelper.net/ad/chooser.html
-----------------------
Health Issues
Common Medical Problems Found in Children Adopted from Abroad
Below you will find discussions of the most common medical problems
found in children adopted from abroad.
www.orphandoctor.com/services/postadopteval/common.html
This page contains excerpts from a document regarding International
Adoption Medial Issues.
http://www.orphandoctor.com/medical/general/internationalissues.html
Or download here:
http://www.orphandoctor.com/medical/general/Infectious_diseases.ppt
Health Issues in Chinese Children
http://www.orphandoctor.com/medical/regional/china/index.html
Health Issues in Russian Children
http://www.orphandoctor.com/medical/regional/russia/index.html
Medical Issues Common to Ethiopian Adoptees
http://www.orphandoctor.com/medical/regional/ethiopia/index.html
Health & Medical Information
http://www.fwcc.org/healthinfo.htm
The following article describes what screening tests and evaluations
your child should have when you return home.
http://www.orphandoctor.com/services/postadopteval/tests_evals.html
Medical Issues in Internationally Adopted Children
Questions and unknowns are inherent to international adoption. Chief
among these unknowns is medical history ? both the child?s medical
history and the medical history of the child?s birthfamily.
Read more here:
http://international.adoption.com/foreign/medical-issues-in-internationally-adopted-children.html
Medical Issues in Adoption
Unique issues and concerns that you may want to keep in mind before,
during, and after the adoption is complete
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/medical_adopt.html
International Adoption: Opening Pandora's Box
http://www.adopting.org/dodds.html
Publication: Health Issues in Intercountry Adoption
http://www.familyhelper.net/ad/ahhealth.html
Genetic predispositions
http://encyclopedia.adoption.com/entry/genetic-predispositions/154/1.html
I hope the information provided is helpful!
Best regards,
Bobbie7 |
Request for Answer Clarification by
health777-ga
on
13 Nov 2006 10:36 PST
The answers to the following questions may be included in your
research results, but that would require each person, reading your
research results, to read all the valuable references you have
provided. I am hoping to avoid the readers this choir. Please list and
answer each of the below question so that you save the readers that
research, as many of them do not have your superior capacities? The
listed requirements of the question were: Include various countries
cost, the number of needed visits to the country before adoption,
availability of children, reliability of the agency or countries,
waiting time, provide references to articles about problem that occur,
ability of the adoptive parents to do testing such as personality, IQ,
genetic, DNA, health, background. of the child, pictures, etc. Also
include U.S. Adoption.
|
Clarification of Answer by
bobbie7-ga
on
13 Nov 2006 10:59 PST
Dear Health777,
"Include various countries"
Please let me know which countries you are most interested in and I
will provide the relevant details.
Thank you,
Sincerely, Bobbie7
|
Clarification of Answer by
bobbie7-ga
on
13 Nov 2006 14:27 PST
=============
United States
=============
How to adopt in the U.S.
SELECT an Agency
?You must work with an agency in the state where you live. Contact
several to ask about the type of children they place, any fees, how
they assess and prepare families, and how long it will take.
? You do not need an attorney at this point, but you may want to check
whether the agency is licensed by your state to provide adoption
services.?
COMPLETE a Homestudy
?A homestudy is a series of meetings between you and an agency social
worker. It is the approval process for adoption and prepares you for
parenting. You will need documents such as a birth certificate,
marriage license, child abuse clearance, and personal references. At
least one meeting will be at your home?.
SEARCH for a Child
?You begin the search for a child, teenager, or sibling group when
your homestudy is complete. Your agency will have children in its care
or your worker will search by networking with other child placing
agencies.?
EXCHANGE Information with Child's Agency
?Each time you locate a child who seems like the right match to all
parties involved, your worker and the child's worker exchange
information. Your homestudy is sent. If the child's worker is
interested in your family, you may receive a profile on the child.?
LEARN that You Have Been Selected for a Child
?You and several other families may be considered at the same time.
The child's worker makes the final decision on which family can best
meet the child's needs. ?
MEET and VISIT with the child
?The first meeting with the child is followed by several visits over a
few weeks or months. If the child lives in another state, the child's
agency will work with you to arrange for at least one or two visits.
Paperwork, such as the Interstate Compact or adoption assistance
agreement is completed.?
RECEIVE a Placement
?The placement date is when the child comes to live in your home. Your
agency will visit and work with you for several months in post
placement supervision. During this time you file a legal intent to
adopt petition.?
FINALIZE Your Adoption
?Your child or teenager becomes a legal part of your family when you
attend a court session where a judge finalizes your adoption. You will
receive an amended birth certificate and a certificate of adoption.?
National Adoption Center
http://adopt.org/servlet/page?_pageid=56&_dad=portal30&_schema=PORTAL30&_type=site&_fsiteid=34&_fid=2466&_fnavbarid=3138&_fnavbarsiteid=34&_fedit=0&_fmode=2&_fdisplaymode=1&_fcalledfrom=1&_fdisplayurl=
Free Adoption Information Packets
Adoption Information Packets are for Families just getting started in
adoption and contain Frequently Asked Questions , an adoption
booklist, and a list of adoption agencies in your area. For a free
information packet sent to your E-mail address, fill out this form
http://adopt.org/wednesdayschild/home/check-for-case-not-studied.htm
|
Clarification of Answer by
bobbie7-ga
on
13 Nov 2006 14:46 PST
Adoption Costs and Fees
Domestic Public Agency Adoptions
Zero to $2,500
Domestic Private Agency Adoptions
$4,000 to $30,000+
Domestic Independent Adoptions
$8,000 to $30,000+
Estimates for Specific Adoption Costs
The figures listed below are general ranges; differences may be found
depending on:
? the type of adoption
? the area of the United States where the adoption occurs
? whether or not the agency charges a sliding-scale fee based on family income
? the country of origin of a foreign-born child the amount of State or
Federal subsidy available for a child with special needs
? Federal or State tax credits available for reimbursement of adoption expenses
? employer adoption benefits
? State reimbursement for non-recurring expenses for the adoption of a
child with special needs.
Domestic Adoption Costs
Low High
Agency Fees
Application Fee $100 $500
Homestudy and preparation services $700 $2,500
Post-placement supervision $200 $1,500
Parent physical (each parent $35 $150
Psychiatric evaluation $250 $400
Attorney Fees
Document preparation $500 $2,000
Petition and court representation
to finalize placement $2,500 $12,000
Advertising $500 $5,000
Birthparent expenses
Amount and type of expenses allowable for payment usually restricted
by state law and subject to review by the court.
Medical expenses (prenatal, birth/delivery, postnatal for mother;
perinatal care for child) $0 (insurance $10,000 - $20,000
(depending on difficulty of the delivery, etc.)
Living expenses (rent, food, clothing, transportation, etc
low $500 high $12,000
Legal Representation $500 $1,500
Counseling $500 $2,000
http://www.adopting.org/adoptions/learn-about-adoption-costs-and-fees-2.html
|
Request for Answer Clarification by
health777-ga
on
13 Nov 2006 19:10 PST
Information about U.S.,India, Thailand,and Mexico, especially, as requested.
|
Clarification of Answer by
bobbie7-ga
on
13 Nov 2006 19:44 PST
Dear Health777,
I'll be working on your question and will have additional information
prepared by tomorrow afternoon.
Sincerely,
Bobbie7
|
Clarification of Answer by
bobbie7-ga
on
14 Nov 2006 07:25 PST
General Information:
Travel
?While most foreign countries require you to travel to bring your
childhome, some countries will allow your child to be escorted to
America. If you have a choice about whether or not to travel to meet
your child, please consider traveling. Travel to the country of your
child?s birth gives you a priceless opportunity to become more
familiar with your child?s culture ? which will be very useful as you
try to give your child a sense of his cultural identity.?
Adoption.com
http://www.adoptiontravel.com/international/to-travel-or-not-to-travel.html
Medical Issues in Internationally Adopted Children
?Generally, children are placed for international adoption due to
abandonment, poverty, illness or death of parents, or severe family
dysfunction (such as alcoholism, drug abuse, child abuse, and/or child
neglect). All of these reasons bring the possibility of health
issues.?
Top Five Health Problems Seen in Children Placed for International Adoption
There are five health issues most commonly seen with internationally
adopted children:
Hepatitis;
HIV;
FASD (fetal alcohol spectrum disorder);
Reactive attachment disorder; and
Sensory integration dysfunction.
Adoption.ciom
http://international.adoption.com/foreign/medical-issues-in-internationally-adopted-children.html
Before adopting a child of any age, adoptive parents should gain as
much information as possible about a child's MEDICAL HISTORY and that
of his or her birthparents.
(?)
?Infant risks depend on medical factors in both the child and the
birthparents. Thus, maternal age, drug or alcohol use and genetic
issues are important factors. For the infant, gestational age,
birthweight, congenital anomalies and maternal stresses are the most
important factors.?
(?)
?There are also genetic tests for some conditions such as Huntington's
chorea. However, pre-adoption genetic testing is not generally
recommended unless there is a direct and immediate benefit to the
child, rather than to the adoptive parents.?
(?)
?Older children who are adopted may have physical, psychological,
educational or behavioral problems stemming from abuse, neglect,
inadequate medical care or multiple foster care moves.?
(?)
?Children adopted from other countries are often smaller than U.S.
babies, and their growth rates may not track expected growth rates for
a U.S. infant?
(?)
?The American Academy of Pediatrics has established guidelines for
tests that should be performed on children adopted from other
countries. Colloquially known by pediatricians as the "Red Book," The
American Academy of Pediatrics Report on Infectious Diseases has a
chapter on recommended tests for children adopted from other
countries.?
Encyclopedia of Adoption
http://encyclopedia.adoption.com/entry.php?title=MEDICAL%20PROBLEMS%20OF%20ADOPTED%20CHILDREN
?Medical information, photographs, and videotapes, when available,
should be reviewed by a medical professional to assess whether there
are any worrisome health conditions. Special attention should be paid
to growth, including height, weight, and head circumference, as it may
be the only clue to an undisclosed medical problem.?
(?)
Medical Tests
?After returning to the United States, children should be evaluated by
a medical practitioner within three weeks of arrival.
In addition to routine blood counts, all children should have blood
tests for syphilis, HIV-1, HIV-2, and hepatitis B. These tests should
be repeated even if they have previously been done abroad.
Children from China, Russia, Europe and Southeast Asia should have
blood testing for hepatitis C.
Since children are coming from regions of the world with higher rates
of tuberculosis, all children should have a tuberculin skin test
performed as well.
Because intestinal parasites are common in children, the stool of all
children should be examined to rule out this type of infection.
Your child?s health care provider may elect to do other laboratory
tests such as thyroid function tests, a blood lead test, or a
urinalysis, in addition to other individualized blood tests. In many
cases hearing and vision screening should be performed as well.?
Behavior
?After adoption, it is not uncommon for children who have been
institutionalized to persist with ?orphanage? behaviors that new
parents may find concerning. Behaviors such as rocking, head banging,
aggressive acts, over-friendliness, and clinginess may be observed.
Some children may have difficulty eating while others may hoard food.
Difficulties with sleep are also common.?
Duke University Health System
http://www.dukehealth.org/dr_clements/internationallyadoptedchildren
******************************************
Thailand
?Children Available: Healthy children, age 1 to 6 years are available
for international adoption from Thailand. Older children and special
needs children are also available for adoption.?
?Parent Requirements: Couples must be married at least three years and
be at least 25 years old. There may be no more than 40 years age
difference between the younger parent and the adopted child. Parents
must be at least 15 years older than the child to be adopted. No more
than one divorce is permitted per parent.?
?Travel Requirements: Both parents must travel to bring home their
child. The average trip lasts seven to eight days.?
?Time Frame: From the time you submit your initial application until
you bring your child home takes an average of 12 to 18 months.?
?Number of Children Adopted by Americans in 2004: 69?
?Additional Information: Some of the children available for
international adoption from Thailand are in foster care, others live
in orphanages. There are more boys than girls available for adoption
from Thailand. Childless couples and families who already have a
daughter must be open to adopting a child of either gender. If there
are already children in the family, the youngest child in the home
must be at least two years old at the time you apply to adopt from
Thailand. Post placement reports and supervision are required for six
months.?
Adoption.com
http://thailand.adoption.com/foreign/thailand-adoption-overview.html
?THAI ADOPTION PROCDURES : All adoptions in Thailand must be processed
through the Child Adoption Center of the Department of Public Welfare
(DPW), which is the sole governmental social welfare agency
responsible for adoption of Thai children. Four non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) are licensed to deal with DPW's Child Adoption
Center in cases where a child is to be placed abroad, but only three
of these NGOs process cases for prospective adoptive parents who
reside in the United States.
These are:
Holt Sahathai Foundation
850/33 Sukhumvit 71
Bangkok 10110
Mailing Address: P. O. Box Nana Nua 1478, Bangkok 10110
Tel. (66)(2) 381-8834
Thai Red Cross Foundation
Chulalongkorn Hospital
Corner of Rama IV Road and Rajdamri Road
Bangkok 10300
Tel. (66)(2) 252-8181 or (66)(2) 256-4178
Pattaya Orphanage
Pattaya City, Chonburi
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 15, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20151
Tel. (66)(38)422-745
For complete information and application forms, prospective adoptive
parents should contact one of the above agencies or DPW directly at:
Child Adoption Center
Department of Public Welfare
Rajvithee Home for Girls
Rajvithee Road
Bangkok 10400
Tel. (66)(2) 246-8651
PROCEDURES TO ADOPT A THAI CHILD :
1. Prospective adoptive parents obtain official DPW application forms
(these forms may be obtained from DPW or from one of the above NGOs).
These forms elicit biographic, health, and financial information about
the prospective adoptive parents.
2. Prospective adoptive parents engage an adoption agency or child
welfare organization licensed by their state of U.S. residence to
perform a home study (this agency must also be recognized by DPW--a
list of recognized agencies is available from DPW).
3. The licensed agency or organization in the U.S. assembles the
application forms for submission to DPW. The application must be
accompanied by the following:
? completed home study
? confirmation from a competent authority that after the adoption is
finalized under Thai law, it will also be legalized under the laws of
the applicants'' state of residence
? formal commitment by the licensed adoption agency in the U.S. to
supervise a pre-adoption placement of at least six months, during
which at least three bi-monthly progress reports will be provided to
DPW
? medical certificate verifying good physical health, mental
stability, and infertility (if applicable) for both prospective
adoptive parents
? birth certificates for both parents
? marriage certificate
? proof of termination of any previous marriages (death certificate of
spouse or divorce decree)
? proof of occupation and income (letter from employer)
? complete financial statement indicating all assets and liabilities
? recommendations from two responsible persons
? current license of the involved adoption agency
? photographs of both prospective adoptive parents (4 each), 4.5 cm x
6 cm, and of their children (if applicable)
? statement from BCIS or consular officer confirming that the child to
be adopted will be the beneficiary of an immigrant visa (NOTE: for
U.S. citizens who reside in Thailand, the Consular Section's visa unit
will provide a letter to this effect. For U.S. citizens who do not
reside in Thailand, evidence of an approved I-600A or I-600 petition
is sufficient.)
If the prospective parents reside in the U.S., all the above-listed
documents must be authenticated or "verified" by the Thai Embassy or
one of the Thai consulates in the U.S. All documents must be in
English or Thai, or must be accompanied by English or Thai
translations.
4. If the above documentation is acceptable, DPW (or one of the three
NGOs) matches the prospective adoptive parents with a child. The
prospective parents are provided with photos and information about the
background and health condition of the child (NOTE: DPW reserves the
right to review and investigate matches made by the NGOs).
5. The prospective adoptive parents must advise DPW whether they wish
to proceed with the adoption of the proposed child. The application
will then be given to the Child Adoption Board (CAB) for review. If
the Child Adoption Board agrees to the suitability of the prospective
adoptive parents for pre-adoption placement of the child, the case is
referred to the Minister of Labor and Social Welfare for official
authorization. (NOTE: Steps 4 and 5 together frequently take six
months to one year to complete).
6. When the pre-adoption placement is approved, a definite appointment
is made by DPW (or one of the NGOs) for the prospective parents to be
interviewed by the Child Adoption Board. The meeting with the Board is
essentially a formality.
7. DPW will issue documents necessary for the child's travel,
including a Thai passport. These documents will normally be issued on
the same day as the meeting with the Board. The parents will also
receive the child on the same day (NOTE: Occasionally issuance of
documents takes longer. DPW advises adoptive parents to plan to stay
in Thailand for approximately two weeks total).
At this point, the parents will be eligible to apply for an orphan
immigrant visa to the U.S. per instructions below. However, the Thai
adoption will not be complete until the following steps have occurred:
8. When the prospective adoptive parents have returned to the U.S.
with the child and at least three bi-monthly reports on the
pre-adoption placement have been submitted to DPW, DPW will refer the
case to the Child Adoption Board for approval of final adoption under
Thai law.
9. The adoptive parents have to register their adoption under Thai law
within six months of notification of finalization by the Board. This
can be done at the Thai Embassy or Consulates in the U.S. ?
U.S. Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/country/country_337.html
How old are the children available from Thailand?
?Infants referred from Thailand are usually around nine months to 2
years old. Children with special needs are 1 to 15 years old. Children
1?3 or 6 and older, without special needs, are also available.
Children 3?5 without special needs are available, but you may need to
wait longer.?
What does "special needs" mean?
?"Special needs" is a broad term that encompasses very mild to severe
medical and/or developmental concerns.?
?Adoption fees are often reduced by $1,000 to $4,000 for children with
special needs, and financial assistance is available. Chronic upper
respiratory and ear infections, mild premature birth weight, lice,
scabies, anemia and delays related to institutional living are common
to children referred from Thailand and are not considered special
needs.?
Do I have to travel to Thailand?
?Both parents must travel to Thailand to bring their child home.
You?re responsible for the cost of your travel, the cost of bringing
your child home and an additional $400 (approximately) for the
processing expenses in Thailand. You?ll stay in Thailand from seven to
10 days.?
WACAP http://www.wacap.org/International-thailand-faq.asp
Guidelines for Adoptions in Thailand by Citizens of the UK
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/intercountryadoption/docs/THAILANDfactsheet.DOC
The Royal Thai Embassy offers guidelines for intercountry adoption of Thai child.
http://www.thaiembdc.org/consular/con_info/adoptn/g_adoptn.html
=======================
Mexico
?In 2004, U.S. citizens adopted approximately 89 children from Mexico.?
?Children available for adoption include boys and girls, ages 4 months
and older, sibling groups, and children with special needs. These
children reside in orphanages.?
?Travel required: Yes, one trip of approximately one to three weeks;
both parents (if married) must travel.?
Singles accepted: Yes
? Efforts are first made to place children with relatives or Mexican
applicants. Mexican adoption procedure includes a six-month trial
period during which the child lives with the adoptive parents to
assure mutual benefit. The adoption is not final until after this
time, and the child cannot leave Mexico before it is complete.
However, in the case of a foreign adoption, the trial period may be
waived at the judge''s discretion. If the judge does not approve a
waiver, the adoptive parents must live in Mexico for six months to
care for the child.?
Adoption.com
http://mexico.adoption.com/
?The process for legally adopting a child in the Republic of Mexico is
long and sometimes difficult. Unscrupulous agents who obtain children
outside the legal network sometimes approach couples. Adoptive
children who enter the U.S. without an immigrant visa may later
encounter problems with U.S. citizenship, schools, Social Security,
etc., and risk being deported back to the Republic of Mexico even if
they have legal U.S. parents under Mexican law.?
?ADOPTION AUTHORITY MEXICO: The State System for the Full Development
of the Family (Desarrollo Integral de la Familia, or DIF) is a
government institution in each Mexican state that handles family
matters. The DIF acts as the legal representative for abandoned
children and provides foster care for abused or orphaned minors.
Children who are abandoned or orphaned can be given up for adoption by
the DIF. The DIF and the Mexican Foreign Relations are assigned
responsibility to study each child?s eligibility for intercountry
adoption and arrange adoptions. The DIF determines whether a family
would be suitable for a particular child by ensuring that a home study
has been done. The DIF makes every effort to place children with
relatives or Mexican citizens living in Mexico before placing children
for inter-country adoption.?
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ADOPTIVE PARENTS: Prospective adoptive
parents may be married or single, male or female. They must be over
twenty-five years of age, possess good moral character, and
demonstrate the means to care for the physical and educational needs
of the child. The prospective adoptive parents must be at least
seventeen years older than the child. If the prospective adoptive
parents are married, however, only one parent must meet the age
requirement. If the child is over fourteen years of age, he or she
must consent to the adoption.?
?RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS: Mexican adoption procedures include a one to
three week pre-adoption trial period during which the child lives with
the prospective adoptive parents in Mexico . The adoption is not
final until this time, and the child cannot leave Mexico before it is
complete. Because of the large amount of paperwork in both the
Mexican and U.S. processes, DIF suggests that the adoptive parents be
prepared to spend at least three months in Mexico including the
pre-adoption trial period.?
?TIME FRAME: The general time frame for adoptions in Mexico is from
three to eight months, but varies from state to state. Again,
prospective adoptive parents should check with the state where the
adoption will take place?
?ADOPTION FEES IN MEXICO: DIF charges approximately $250.00 USD for
adoption services but costs vary state-by-state. Generally, the fees
include all applicable taxes. The DIF office also has its own lawyers
and their services are also included in that same fee. Using an
attorney/agency for DIF adoptions is optional for the prospective
adoptive parents.?
?ADOPTION PROCEDURES IN MEXICO: Prospective adoptive parents should
contact DIF in the state where the adoption will take place because
procedures can vary by state.?
U.S. Department of State
http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/country/country_419.html
=======================
India
?Children Available: Healthy children, both girls and boys, age 18
months to 7 years. More girls are available than boys. Special needs
and older children are also available for adoption from India.?
?Parent Requirements: Married couples, single women, and single men
may adopt from India (single men can only adopt sons). Parents must be
between 28 and 40 years old. Couples must be married at least 2 years.
Couples must have no more than two children at home; single parents
must have no more than one child at home.?
?Travel Requirements: Travel is optional, and escorts are available
for adopted children. (However, travel to the country of your child?s
birth is strongly recommended.) If the child is over three years old,
the parents are required to travel to India.?
?Time Frame: From the time of initial application until you bring your
child home averages 13 months.?
?Number of Children Adopted by Americans in 2004: 406 ?
?Additional Information: The children available for adoption from
India live in orphanages. Post placement reports and supervision are
required for five years.?
Adoption.com
The International Adoption Guidebook by Mary Strickert
http://india.adoption.com/
?Under Indian law, foreign prospective adoptive parents considering
adoption of a child from India are required to use an adoption agency
that is ?enlisted? with the Indian Central Adoption Resource Agency
(CARA). Further details on enlisted agencies, including a link to the
CARA web site, appear later in this flyer.?
?In addition, it is important to note that Indian law does not permit
foreigners to adopt Indian children, but rather, to receive
guardianship (custody) that allows the prospective adoptive parents to
depart India with the child and later adopt him/her in the parents?
home country.?
?ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR PROSPECTIVE GUARDIANS: Couples with a
composite age of 90 or less, or single persons up to age 45 can adopt;
parents should be at least 21 years older than the child; in no case
can a prospective adoptive parent be less than 30 or more than 55.?
?RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS: There are no residency requirements in order
to obtain legal custody of an Indian orphan.?
?TIME FRAME: Once prospective adoptive parents have received approval
from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to adopt abroad
(approval of their I-600A petition) and arrive in India, they should
anticipate needing 2-3 months to complete all formalities in India,
barring any particularly unusual delays. If all goes very smoothly,
the processing time may be shorter.?
?ADOPTION FEES IN INDIA: The CARA web site (see above) sets out the
fees for processing an intercountry adoption case, which is currently
approximately $3500 or the rupee equivalent.?
?ADOPTION & GUARDIANSHIP PROCEDURES: Adoptions per se are not
possible for non-citizens of India. The procedures below describe how
non-citizens may obtain legal custody of orphans in India for purposes
of subsequent adoption abroad.
All persons or organizations contemplating guardianship/adoption of an
Indian child should visit the CARA web site and also review the
recently revised ?Guidelines for Adoption from India 2006? released by
CARA in March 2006, updating the 1995 guidelines.
Indian law only allows Hindus, Sikhs, Jains & Buddhists to complete
full adoptions of Indian children. However, Under the Guardian and
Wards Act of 1890, foreigners may petition an Indian District Court
(or Family Court in larger urban areas) for legal custody of a child
to be taken abroad for adoption.?
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR ADOPTION/GUARDIANSHIP IN INDIA: All
prospective adoptive parents must provide the following documents to
the Indian District Court when applying for guardianship of an Indian
child:
1. Approved I-600A,
2. Birth certificate for the child
3. Abandonment certificate for the child from an approved adoption agency,
4. No Objection Certificate from CARA,
5. Child?s Indian Passport.
http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/country/country_398.html
Adopting a child from India
http://www.wacap.org/International-india-adoptingfrom.asp
UK India
http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:KdxrbyHgDk8J:www.dfes.gov.uk/adoption/pdfs/india.pdf+Adopting+a+Child+from+India+site:www.dfes.gov.uk&hl=en&gl=cl&ct=clnk&cd=3
=======================
I hope this information is satisfactory
Sincerely,
Bobbie7
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