International Adoption

International Adoption is facilitated through liaison agencies or as an independent international adoption. Adoption Services will provide the necessary homestudy and post placement services. The total cost of this kind of adoption can range anywhere from $15,000 - $30,000. We work with agencies that place from countries in Central and South America, Eastern Europe, India, Philippines, Thailand, China, and Korea.

Common Q & A  

The added cost of international adoption is due to travel (often required), additional state fees, fees from the country you are adopting from, and fees from the international adoption agency you are working with. These costs all vary from each agency, and from the international program you select.

Adoption Services does not have any direct international programs. For this reason you need to find an international agency that has a program with the country you wish to adopt from. Currently, Adoption Services has partnerships with Adoption Associates, Inc., and Children Home Society and Family Services, for international adoptions. Adoption Services provides the homestudies and post-placement reports in accordance with the international agency requirements, and re-adoption reports for the state of Wisconsin .

International adoption is an adventure and does require some flexibility, as well as a well-rounded education in transcultural adoptions. Some adoptive parents may consider international adoption to be difficult because you are following a number of different regulations for a number of different agencies (both governmental and adoptive). Researching different agencies, programs, and cultures will be the best indicator of how an adoption from that country will play out.

• How long does international adoption usually take?

The length of time it takes you to have a child home with you is dependant on the country and type of program you are adopting from. Your international agency can give you a more specific time frame for each program that you inquire about. It has been the experience of Adoption Services that the average international adoption can take anywhere from nine to eighteen months, including homestudies, referral, and travel.

• How young are the children that you can adopt internationally?

The age of the children also depends on the country and program you choose. The youngest children that are available through international adoption are around three months. There are children of all ages (up to 16 years old) available for adoption, as well as children with special needs.

• What is a referral?

A referral is the term the agency uses to let you know you have been referred for a child. When you get the call that you have a referral, the agency will send you a letter and picture of the child that is waiting for you. As soon as you accept the referral, the process begins to quicken, and you are much closer to traveling to adopt your child.

Each country has different post-placement requirements. The post-placements usually consist of a visit to the home, and an assessment of the family's adjustment. Each country has specific questions that they want answered to ensure that the child is in a good home, developing on track, and healthy. Post-placements can last anywhere from six months after placement to three years after placement.

Re-adoption is the process of legally re-adopting your child in the United States . Re-adoption is important because it is the legal recognition of the parent/child relationship under the United States law. This also means you will no longer have to rely on the validity of the adoption laws of a foreign country. Re-adoption also ensures your child will have a valid US birth certificate from your state.

Adoption Services will work with any agency that you feel best fits the needs of your family. However, we strongly recommend our partnership agencies, as we have excellent working relations with these groups. We recommend:

Adoption Associates, Inc. with programs from Bulgaria, China, Guatemala, Russia, and Ukraine.

Children's Home Society and Family Services with programs from China, Guatemala, Colombia, India, Kazakhstan, Ethiopia, Korea, Moldova, and Russia.

There are a number of support groups revolved around international adoptions. They often provide fun cultural activities for children, as well as important parenting support from other adoptive parents. For a list of these groups and contact information, visit Support Services.