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Where to start

What is the Immigrant Visa Process

Nov 7th, 2011
by Raz.
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Before you travel to the foreign county to bring back your baby, you need to get ready to file the immigration visa for your baby. Don’t assume that once the baby is your child, you can just bring him/her anywhere. To begin the immigrant visa process, prospective adoptive parents submit forms and documents to USCIS. After USCIS reviews the paperwork, a case is assigned to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where the child resides. All children adopted abroad require an immigrant visa interview at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate before coming to reside permanently in the United States.

The Embassy or Consulate schedules the final visa interview once all required documents have been provided. The Department of State is committed to processing immigrant visas for adopted children expeditiously. Keep in mind, however, that the time required to issue your child’s visa will depend on the specific circumstances in his or her country of residence.

Such visa application can take a long time, so start early and as soon as possible. It’s an exciting time to you and your spouse, but bringing your baby home is a long process and journey. Many loving parents waited months to get their baby home. The advice is plan ahead and start early.

 

Source: the Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. State Department

The cost of adopting is high

Jan 30th, 2011
by Raz.
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Many childless couples choose to adopt a baby. Many couples are considering international adoption. However, many prospective adoptive parents may be concerned about the financial costs of adopting an infant or child and their ability to meet these costs.It’s expensive to have a child, whether through birth or adoption. But adoption, especially international adoption add even more.

The total cost of adopting varies from $0 to more than $40,000, depending on a number of factors. The chart below outlines some general categories of adoption and costs associated with the services provided. The wide range reflects the multitude of factors that may affect costs, including the type of adoption, the type of placement agency or facilitator, and the child’s age and circumstances. The best way to find out the detailed costs, talk to the adoption agency. The chart below can offer some sample costs.

Range of Adoption Costs
Foster Care Adoptions $0 – $2,500
Licensed Private Agency Adoptions $5,000 – $40,000+
Independent Adoptions $8,000 – $40,000+
Facilitated/Unlicensed Adoptions $5,000 – $40,000+
Intercountry Adoptions $7,000 – $30,000

Source: Child Welfare Information Gateway

Adopted children searching for Birth Parents

Dec 31st, 2010
by Raz.
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This is a question that many adopted parents including experts have mixed opinions on. Should we tell them and encourage them to search their birth parents? If so, when and how. How can we encourage them to search for their birth parents if we don’t even know how and where ourselves. If you happened to have adopted your child from China, where do you start the search?

Normally adopted children don’t have the urge to start questioning until they reach adolescence. A time that’s challenging even with your birth children. Parents are often tempted to escape perhaps by abandoning their teenagers who are having toddler-like tantrums, but you and your family will benefit more if you remain calm, stand up for the values you have taught, and continue communication efforts.

For some adolescents, searching can be useful, while for many, the urgent activities and decisions of daily life are so pressing that they feel uninterested in or unable to confront such a heavy emotional undertaking. Waiting till they have reached adulthood when their lives will be more settled may be better for the latter group.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Don’t be afraid to ask for help with your adopted child

Nov 30th, 2010
by Raz.
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Many adopting parents feel strongly that it’s their duty to take good care of their adopted children. And they are afraid to ask for help when they need some. Parents, will sometimes all feel overwhelmed when it comes to child rearing. Especially if this is their first time being parents. Every parent needs help once in awhile. Adopted children just make things a little more complicated especially if the children were adopted older.

If you feel overwhelmed and see behavior problems, seek help. You can get help from organizations, support groups, other adopted parents, and grandparents. Talk to other parents and teachers.

Where and how do I start if I really want to adopt a baby?

Aug 12th, 2010
by Raz.
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If you have decided that you want to adopt, you need to figure out whether you want to adopt an infant or an older child. You also need to decide on where you would like to adopt the baby from.

The first thing you will want to do after making the decision to adopt is to educate yourself about adoption. Read books on how to adopt and search the government adoption gateways.

Requirements for adoptive parents vary depending on the type of adoption and agency involved. In the United States, because there are few infants available, agency criteria for prospective adoptive parents are often more restrictive for infant adoptions than for adoptions of older children.

Many adoption agencies even set age limit for the adoptive parents. In other words, you can’t be too old to adopt infants. In general, it is easier to adopt older children, whether in the US or abroad.

Source: The Department of Health and Human Services