International adoption involves the adoption of a child from another country. Michigan families considering this type of adoption should understand these types of adoptions require different procedures than ones within the U.S.
The individual country’s laws
When you make the decision to go through an international adoption you must abide by the rules of the child’s home country. You may not meet the requirements to adopt in certain countries, while you may be welcome to adopt in others.
Common guidelines for international adoptions include the following restrictions:
- Minimum and maximum parent ages
- Marital status
- Incomes
- Physical and mental health
Examine your motivations
Many celebrities have decided to adopt internationally. For this reason, adopting children from other countries may appear trendy or a way to display your wealth. These reasons should not tempt you to adopt. Unless you want to treat the child as your own and make a serious commitment for the rest of your life to the child, you should not consider international adoption.
Consider your preferences
When making the decision to adopt, many families have certain preferences in mind. You may consider the following common preferences when adopting internationally:
- Gender
- Age
- Siblings
- Medical history
Although you may have preferences, you should keep in mind that most children are not infants. The gender available may depend entirely upon the specific country you choose.
Paperwork
When you decide to adopt a child from another country, you must realize that you will need to fill out paperwork for both the U.S. and the child’s home country. Examples of common paperwork you must fill out include:
- References
- Background checks
- Medical clearances
- Permissions from both countries
- Applications for birth certificates
International adoption can test your patience. If you truly want to adopt a child from another country, you should prepare to prove it repeatedly throughout the process.