International adoptions have gained a lot of publicity as more and more celebrities are adopting children from other countries. However, each country has their own rules and laws regarding how a couple from the United States can adopt. Here is a look at some of the various countries and the adoption requirements that they have.
Ethiopia. Ethiopia is the easiest country to adopt from. They have very little laws and regulations. In fact, sometimes all the is required is the parent to sign over the child if the parent is around. If not it is up to the adoption agency to sign over the child. There is still a process but it is only a small process that lasts maybe a month or two.
China. All Chinese adopts take at least a year. Sometimes you are required to submit papers in the Chinese courts. This will require that you travel back and forth to the country to do this.
South America. All countries in South America require that you live and stay in the country for a few weeks at a time. During this time you will complete paperwork and interviews with the adoption agency. You will also meet with the child. Depending on the country this could be a three week process or a seven week process.
India. India is very tight on adoptions. They rarely allow adoptions unless you live in India or are from India. There is relatively little known about India’s adoption policy because of the tight lipped nature of it.
Western Europe. This is a tough country to get adoptions from. Many of the countries require a lengthy process and even then it can be difficult because you are competition against others in that country to adopt.
