It is important to get familiar with the laws of international adoption if you wish to legally adopt a child who belongs to a different country. Potential adoptive parents of a foreign-born child must comply with three sets of laws; U.S. Federal adoption laws, adoption laws of the country of the child and laws of your country of residence.
Each country has its own set of laws regarding international adoptions. For instance, countries that have signed the Hague Convention have different rules than the countries who have not. Some have fixed rules and regulations, whereas other countries completely forbid it. In order to make the process less complicated, it is important to familiarize yourself with all the rules and regulations and go through the whole procedure systematically.
The U.S. has a separate process for the adoption of foreign orphans. A child qualifies as an orphan if both parents have either died, disappeared or abandoned the child. If the child is qualified as an orphan according to the U.S. Immigration Law, then the next step would be either to prove that you saw the child abroad in person before deciding to adopt or that you will adopt the child after the child’s arrival in the U.S. The prospective parent must establish that the child will be taken care of properly upon entrance in the U.S.
Your adoption agency may only assist you with filling out necessary forms but may not be able to represent you in front of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). International adoption processes may prove to be laborious. Hiring an experienced attorney might be in your best interests in getting the necessary representation and assistance with the process.
