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Each country has specific requirements that prospective adoptive parents must meet. They relate to the following categories: Income, age, gender (for single applicants), marital stability, and number of existing children in the home.
Top countries international adoption requirements:
| $30,000 plus additional $10,000 for each child already in the home | 30 to 55 | Not accepted | Stability of present marriage is considered | Up to 4 |
| No minimum requirement | Must be at least 16 | Accepted without restrictions | No requirements | No requirements |
| $21,000 | 25 to 42, no more than 15 years difference between parents | Not accepted | 1 divorce for each parent is acceptable | Up to 4 |
Steps in the international adoption process:
- Attend a general information meeting at a local adoption agency
- Complete and return preliminary paperwork (if you have chosen to work with this agency)
- Initial consultation with adoption counselor
- Attend adoption education classes
- Complete the "home study"
- Approve your home study
- Submit dossier to foreign government (through your adoption agency)
- Accept child referral from placement agency
- Travel to your child's country of origin for placement (note: two trips required with Russian adoption)
- Post-placement visits and follow-up support
- File for Social Security number and re-adoption
The process, trip duration, and estimated cost
The process varies by country so IAR again highly encourages prospective adoptive parents to work with an accredited adoption agency. Be prepared, as there is a great deal of paperwork to complete with international adoption (not taxing, just time-consuming). By working with an accredited adoption agency, they can guide you through the correct paperwork alleviating your time and avoiding any unwanted surprises. Also note, everyone agrees the most difficult part of international adoption is the waiting time. Again, by working with an accredited adoption agency, they can help manage your expectations.
| 7 to 36 months | Average of 12 days, 1 parent require, both strongly encouraged | $15,500 |
| Average of 5 months | Two trips required, one to accept the referral and one to complete | $16,000 to $22,000 |
| Average of 14 months | 3 business days, one or both parents may travel | |
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