2  Feeling Confused about where to start?

Congratulations, you’ve made the first step by visiting our website! Considering adoption as an option for growing your family is the start of an amazing journey. Once you open your heart to the thought of adoption, there is much to learn about the process — myths to dispel and truths to be realized. 

What exactly is International adoption? It is the adoption of a foreign-born child, which almost always involves traveling to another country to get the child or picking the child up from the airport once the adoption has been arranged.

International adoption is often confusing and lots of contradictory information exists. A good child placement agency will help guide you through the process step by step until your child is home.

Several parties are involved in every international adoption, beginning with:

• You (the prospective parent),

• A licensed homestudy agency in your state,

• Immigration (USCIS),

• The child placement agency (responsible for the placement of the child in your home),

• The government of the foreign country from where you will adopt.

Each entity is governed by its own separate and often unique rules and regulations, making the process somewhat complex in the beginning.

Which do you choose first, a country, a child or an agency? 

This question is much like "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?"

Choose a Country:  Many people seeking to adopt are drawn to specific countries (often due to family ties, compassion for the struggles of the children in a particular country, cultural interest, etc), a particular ethnicity of child, or other varied reasons.  This often leads prospective parents to choose the country first.

Choose a Child: Some countries still allow adoption agencies to photo list children available for adoption although this is becoming a less preferred method for many countries. Some agencies will photo list children even if it is against the laws of that country. Be careful! There are even agencies who use children as "bait and switch" and several have been closed by the federal government. More exist so always check references closely. However, there are several reputable websites which offer photo listing services for agencies which pay for the service. A listing on the website does not mean that the listing agency is ethical or even that the child is available, but it does provide more opportunities for harder to place children an opportunity to be seen and known to prospective adoptive applicants. However, if you are drawn to a specific child photo listed on an agency's website or other photo listing site (such as precious.org, adopting.com, etc) then for the most part you must adopt that child through the agency who is featuring the child's profile. Many agencies feature waiting children on their private website.

To better assist us in finding families for waiting children, A Love Beyond Borders will occasionally profile available children in a safe and non-identifying manner on our website and several reputable photo listing sites.

Choose an Agency: Some prospective parents choose the agency first, based on research, location, or first hand recommendations of family or friends who previously adopted through that agency. All of these are good reasons to select an agency, but should not be the only reason. Remember that each adoption is unique and what went smoothly for one family may not mean a smooth process for a new family whose own adoption faces different challenges. A convenient location does not ensure quality or even convenience. Always check with the local Better Business Bureau (BBB) and with the agency’s state licensing division. They will be able to inform you of any lawsuits or complaints on file. Talk to as many prior clients as possible.

Once you narrow down your choice to a specific country, agency or child, you will need to formally begin the process. We recommend the following steps:

• Select a reputable homestudy agency in your state to begin the homestudy. Some agencies will also be able to do the child placement in the foreign country. Some families prefer to work with one agency, most find it easy and convenient to work with two agencies who work collaboratively.
• Contract with a reputable adoption agency which serves the country or child you have selected. They will do the actual adoption abroad.
• File your I600A with USCIS
• Begin work on your dossier for the foreign country
• Complete homestudy and receive USCIS approval (the I171H). Dossier completed too.
• Accept referral of a child.
• Begin the formal adoption process of the child.