[Christy33]

I am curious about international adoption. How does it work? Where do you go to find information about adopting international?Are these children living in orphanages or is it mother's that get pregnant and are looking for parents for their children? And when you say "we've got a match" what does that mean? How do they decide if your a match? Why do they do DNA. If anyone out there can answer my questions or push me in the right direction I'd appreciate it.
Thank you.
Christy.

[Colorbind love]

That's a lot of questions.

International adoption has 3 parts to it. First, just like domestic adoption, you do a homestudy with an agency licensed in your state to do international homestudies. After that is done, you choose a country, a placing agency (does not have to be the agency that did your homestudy but will cordinate with the homestudy agency if they are different) and what parameters you are willing to consider for a child.

When your homestudy is completed, you start the application for the agency and country you are wishing to adopt from. At this time, you start the 3rd leg of your process as well. This is US Immigration. You submit your 1600A to the US Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) along with the application fee and the fee for fingerprints. You get your fingerprints done and wait for what is called your I171H, which is your advanced approval for you to adopt from a foriegn country. This approval is wired to the embassy of whatever country you are planning to adopt via.

Now, as for your other questions, whether its orphans in orphanages or direct relinquishments, that depends on the country you are adopting from. Sometimes its only one, and sometimes it can be both options from the same country.

DNA is done for direct relinqiushments in Guatemala as a safeguard to assure that the young woman claiming to be the biological mother is actually the biological mother and the ONLY person legally able to relinquish that child for adoption.

I don't know any country where there is a pre-birth match. I do know that both Guatemala and Korea have direct relinquishment of newborns to adoption. Getting 'matched' means that you got the referral for a child and accepted it. Some people use that terminology rather than getting a referral, particularily in situations where they wait for a referral.

I think I answered all of your questions. To get started in International adoptions, you need to research the different countries currently open for US adoptions, what their requirements are, what parameters of children are available and what you are looking for, what the length typically is, costs, etc. Pick your country first and then research agencies that place from that country. Some agencies can have excellent programs in one nation and horrible programs in another. You'll want a top-notch, reputable and experienced agency for the country program you are interested in adopting with. Then, they walk you through the requirements and process until you get your child home.

[Christy33]

Thank you so much for taking time to answer all of my questions. I really appreciate it. Now it looks like I have alot of researching to do. Gosh where to begin. *S*
Christy.

[lisah32]

Good luck. It's a long process, but so worth it.

[Shoshana]

The "match" in Guatemalan adoptions refers to the DNA test. The mother and baby's DNA is compared as a safety mechanism to be sure that the mother who is placing the child for adoption really is the mother and not someone else.

[Colorbind love]

Thank you, Elizabeth. Obviously not a term I was familiar with since I haven't adopted from Guatemala! That actually makes sense.