[Tejuana]

As naive as this may sound, I have to ask. Is the cost for International adoption considerably higher than a domestic adoption (excluding travel costs)? I'm just starting to research international adoption and what fees I'm finding on websites seem to run in a very wide range. Any comments would be appreciated!

[sak9645]

for domestic adoption vary widely. On one hand, you can adopt through your state for almost nothing, and your child may even be eligible for a subsidy. On the other hand, via private and agency-assisted adoptions, people sometimes incur $40,000 or more in expenses, especially if they have some "fall-throughs," where the woman planning to place her child has second thoughts after he/she is born, and decides to parent.

Fees for international adoption tend to vary by country. One of the cheapest countries for adoption is Ethiopia, where some people have managed to adopt for $10,000. On the other hand, it is common for adoptions from Guatemala to cost $25,000 or more, mainly because of the fee schedules of the Guatemalan attorneys who help to identify adoptable babies and manage the adoption process.

Remember to compare "apples to apples" when looking at various agency fees on the Internet. Some agencies may be quoting fees that include the homestudy, assistance with dossier preparation, and overseas finalization costs, while others may not, for example.

Sharon

[StevenCarlene]

My wife and I live on an Air Force Base in Japan and have been looking at a few local agencies around Tokyo. Here are the costs we have been quoted

Home Study - $1,000
Medical - $2,000 to $10,000
Transportation- Anything above $200 we are responsible for

edit: This is from a lone sister who facilitates adoptions here. We're waiting for the initial paperwork to see if this is for real. She was recommended to use by a few people here at the base we live.