Adoption Blog

Illegal Mexican adoptions

Raz — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:52:38 +0000

A very interesting story coming from Ireland made some waves a while ago . The Director of the Adoption Authority of Ireland has warned prospective adoptive parents not to enter into any private arrangements in Mexico.Mr. Geoffrey Shannon said while some particular states within Mexico allow private adoption, none sanction private inter-country adoption.The warning comes after Mexican police said they were planning to question 11 Irish couples following the discovery of an international child-smuggling ring. Seven babies were taken away from the couples after the arrest of three local women accused of buying them from their mothers. Another two babies were removed from a mother accused of selling them.

The babies, aged between two and two years and eight months, have been put into care. Local papers reported the birth mothers were paid 70 euros (approx $100) a week plus medical expenses while pregnant.The Irish couples are expected to be questioned in Guadalajara, the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco.

State attorney Jose Coronado said some of the Irish couples had the babies with them because they were told living with them “was part of the process they needed to go through to adopt”.

No formal accusations have been made against the Irish couples, and investigators said they wanted to determine if they were duped into thinking they were taking part in a lawful process.Mexico is a signatory to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption.

The Mexican authorities had stated there was only one system of intercountry adoption within Mexico: a public and statutorily regulated system. No children under five should be proposed for intercountry adoption, with the exception of children with special needs. And all documentation for intercountry adoption must be sent by the Irish authority to the Federal Central Authority.

What is the Immigrant Visa Process

Raz — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 22:19:36 +0000

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 adopted child’s eligibility to immigrate to the United States

Raz — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:33:56 +0000

Many American parents assume that once the child has been adopted from his or her country and brought back to the U.S., the child automatically becomes a U.S. citizen. There are a lot more paperwork involved. The adoption of a foreign-born child does not automatically guarantee the child’s eligibility to immigrate to the United States. It is imperative that all adoptive parents are aware of U.S. immigration law and legal regulatory procedures. For more information about immigration to the U.S., please visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website for more information.

International adoption is becoming more and more regulated and prospective parents need to learn as much as possible before beginning the adoption process. You don’t want to be hit with big surprises when you’re falling love with the child in a foreign country.

The Hague Adoption Convention generally forbids prospective adoptive parents from having any contact with the child’s birth parents, and/or the child’s legal guardians before the country of birth determines the child is adoptable according to Convention principles and refers the child for adoption to a family.

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

What is Intercountry adoption?

Raz — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 20:10:29 +0000

Intercountry adoption is the process by which you:

Adopt a child from a different country than your own through permanent legal means; and
Bring that child to your home country to live with you permanently.

Through intercountry adoption, the legal transfer of parental rights from birth parent(s) to another parent(s) takes place. Over the last decade, U.S. families have adopted on average approximately 20,000 children from foreign nations each year.

Many families in other countries adopt U.S. children. Intercountry adoption is governed by both the laws of the country in which the child lives and the country in which the adoptive parents live. Under U.S. law, there are two distinct intercountry adoption processes: the Hague Convention process and the non-Hague Convention process. Which process you will follow will depend on whether or not the other country involved is also a party to the Hague Convention.

Source: The State Department

The cost of adopting is high

Raz — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 01:33:54 +0000

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

Raz — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 22:52:43 +0000

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

Raz — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 03:59:32 +0000

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.

When do you need help with parenting

Raz — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 02:26:10 +0000

In recent years, there are more organizations and sources offering adopted parents in parenting. Usually it’s the parent who first notices something is not right. Or sometimes a family member might point out something is wrong with the adopted child. Don’t feel that you’re a bad parent if you feel overwhelmed in parenting. Being a parent is exciting and challenging enough.

Educate yourself as much as possible on child development stages. Sometimes children’s certain behaviors are part of the developing stage, sometime not. You may see behavior that is unusual or not characteristic of your child; sometimes it is the increasing degree of a certain behavior that is troubling. Asking for help is healthy, for you and the child.

Source: Child Welfare Information Gateway

Child development between ages 2 to 6

Raz — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 18:56:51 +0000

Now your child is well adapted to his or her new home and family. You have noticed many changes in your adopted child in the first two years. But you are going to see more changes during the pre-school years. Your child has learned to speak and will ask many questions. He will listen to more adult conversations more than you think. He or she will constantly ask questions. You, as the parent, should be prepared to answer them. Indifferent or uninterested in your child’s questions will result in negative emotions in your child later on.

If your child happens to ask you a question that you don’t know the answer, look it up with your child. Children between 2 and 5 years of age have fears, especially about being abandoned, getting lost, or no longer being loved by their parents. They also engage in “magical” thinking and do not distinguish reliably between reality and fantasy. They may be afraid of giants, monsters, witches, or wild animals.

Source: Child Welfare Information Gateway

Create tension-free environment makes a child feel secure

Raz — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 02:43:01 +0000

During a baby’s first year, the primary task is to develop a sense of trust in the world. As parents or a caretaker, your job is to provide an environment that is predictable and reliable. Infants accomplish this through attachment to their caretakers. That’s why adopting infants is much easier for establishing bonding between the baby and the parents. During their early months, children have an inborn capacity to “bond” to ensure their survival.

If you’re lucky enough to have adopted infants, this is the best time to interact with your baby through feeding, smiling, and cooing. Give him or her consistent attention and establish a sense of trust. Show your attention, affection, and love and create a tension-free environment for the baby. Respond to your baby’s cries. Hug and smile to your baby as much as you can to make him or her to feel content.

Source: Child Welfare Information Gateway