Problems With Foreign Adoption
International adoption provides potential parents with a wonderful opportunity to build a family. People choose foreign adoption for many different reasons. They might have a family tie or share a heritage with a certain country. They might have visited a country in the past and felt like helping the children. Also, after researching the various countries available, the adoptive family might choose the one that best matches the adoptive family's criteria. There are problems that will be faced throughout the process. The better prepared an adoptive family is when the problems arise, the better they'll be able to deal with each situation.
Process
The international adoption process begins with filling out large amounts of paperwork. Copies of birth certificates, marriage certificates and divorce certificates---if applicable---must be ordered. Background checks, fingerprints and passports also be necessary. Physicals for each member of the family will need to be scheduled. Some countries require certain immunizations for safety reasons as well as certain waiting periods between shots. The adoption process requires a lot of patience, and it can take years before the adoptive child arrives.
Changes in Countries' Requirements
Even if a parent is mid-process, a country's requirements can change. Some countries will "grandfather" the family in with the old requirements, but others won't. If the changes affect the ages of adoptive parents and they are now too old or too young, they might have to choose a new country and start over. They won't be reimbursed for the money they've already paid out. The changes can also cause the country's adoptions to be put on hold indefinitely. Parents can choose to wait out the changes or can switch to another country, essentially starting the process over.
Time Frame
Each foreign country has different requirements for the adoption process, which can cause a problem if an adoptive parent decides to switch from one country's adoption program to another, starting over with collecting new documents. The process of waiting essentially begins at square one. Some documents expire after a certain amount of months and will need to be reissued. This can add weeks to the process. New immunizations might be required for the new country, which starts that time line over.
Travel
Though a few countries will provide an escort to bring the adoptive child to the states, most families will be required to travel to the foreign country to pick up their child. Depending on the country, this visit can be anywhere from a few days to several weeks long. A few countries require two separate trips to handle foreign paperwork and court visits. This can cause a hardship for working parents. In some cases, one parent might be allowed to return home earlier than the other after making an appearance.
Adjustment
The problems don't stop after the child arrives home. A child adopted from a foreign country has to deal with a new country, a new house, unfamiliar faces, strange foods and smells, and in most cases an unfamiliar language to learn. He'll leave an orphanage full of noisy children. He will often grieve for those who are left behind. He might act out. Time and patience---and, if necessary, counseling---will help him adjust.
Tags: adoption process, adoptive family, foreign country, might have, adoptive child, child arrives, countries require