How do I adopt a child from a foreign country?

Intercountry adoption is an option for many parents who choose to adopt. The U.S. Department of State is responsible for overseeing intercountry adoption to and from the United States, and its website provides relevant resources on how to adopt, who can adopt , and country-specific information .

In intercountry adoption, prospective adoptive parents are required to follow the laws in their state, the laws of the child's country of origin, the policies and regulations of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services , and, if the child's country of origin is a party to the Hague Adoption Convention, Hague Convention regulations .

The publication Intercountry Adoption: What Do I Need to Know? from Child Welfare Information Gateway, a service of the Children's Bureau, offers an overview of the requirements, decisions, and steps to assist in the process, as well as a list of resources.

You may also find lists of state-licensed private agencies with intercountry adoption programs through a search of Information Gateway's National Foster Care & Adoption Directory .