[stephtrosclair]

I want to adopt a child from Africa. i am planning a two year mission trip to Mozambique in 2011 and want to adopt after my two years are finished.

I was wondering if it would be less expensive to try to adopt while I'm still in Africa vs. coming back to the US and going through an agency.

If so, could someone please explain the process to me.

Thank you!

[sak9645]

Remember that international adoption has two components -- adoption and immigration.

With adoption, you must comply with the laws of the child's country of citizenship. Country laws vary dramatically, and it is wise to work with an agency that truly understands them, or you can wind up spending a lot of time and money and not getting a child.

Most countries have some basic requirements, such as a homestudy that is done in your home jurisdiction, proof of good health, proof of adequate finances, proof of no criminal record, etc., and you will need to obtain these documents in the U.S. But some countries have residency requirements, special paperwork requirements, and so on. Unless you adopt from a country with a very stable and organized adoption process -- and there are relatively few such processes in the African countries -- you may find lots of inconsistent information, requests for bribes to "handle" things for you, long delays, and so on.

With immigration, you must comply with the laws of the USCIS. Many children who are in orphanages and foster homes, or living with very poor parents who wish to make an adoption plan do NOT qualify for immigration, under U.S. law. You have to be really careful, or you could wind up adopting a child who will not qualify for an adoption visa. If the child does not qualify for an adoption visa, you will have to live overseas for at least two years with him/her and then apply for a regular dependent visa. Again, a good agency will know which children are eligible for immigration and which are not.

All in all, you are better off adopting through a U.S. agency, unless you are determined to adopt from a country that American agencies do not serve. And if you choose a country that American agencies do not serve, ask yourself why. It may well be that the adoption system is so poorly regulated and organized that it is very difficult to do a legal and ethical adoption, with paperwork that will hold up under the scrutiny of U.S. immigration authorities.

Sharon