Adoptions and Orphans

Posts Tagged ‘U.S. Department’

International adoption is a kind of adoption, through which a couple or an individual becomes the permanent and legal parent of a child, who is born in some other country. Generally, prospective parents must fulfill the legal adoption requirements of the child’s nation as well as country of their own.

The necessary requirements for beginning the international adoption process vary, depending up on the country of parent. For instance, in most of the countries, adoptive parents are required to get approval first, while in few, either state agency or private adoption agency approves the adoption. In case of the United States, the first stage of the process begins with selection of an international adoption agency. Each agency works with a particular group of countries, though few focus on only one country. Some countries permit independent adoption, which is least costly and the parent does not need to contact an agency to complete the whole process. However, adoption is a tough process for the first time adopting parents.

Country wise, the laws differs, and is dependent up on nation’s willingness and openness to international adoption. Few countries, like Korea and China have established procedures and rules for international adoption, while many African nations forbid it. Some of the African nations have extended residency requirements for the parents, which in fact rule out international adoptions. One of the examples is Malawi, where residency is required for adopting a child.

Some of the African nations like Ethiopia are very much open to international adoption. That is why Ethiopian Adoption has become a popular option for the American families. As per the U.S. Department of State, in the year 2005, 441 orphans’ visas were issued to Ethiopian children, while in 2006 the number of visas increased to 732.

Apart from China and korea, Philippines is an another Asian nation, which has flexible international adoption policy. According to U.S. State Department, Philippines adoption reached to the number 265 during 2007.

Hence, by looking at the statistics given below we can conclude that international adoption is on its increasing trend-

According to U.S. State Department, countries for international adoption by American parents for year 2007 include –

Guatemala – 4728, China – 5453,  Russia -2310, South Korea -939, Vietnam – 828, Kazakhstan – 540, Ukraine – 606, India – 416, Colombia – 310 and Liberia – 353. Recently, Vietnam signed treaty for openings the doors for adoption.

International adoption is a kind of adoption, through which a couple or an individual becomes the permanent and legal parent of a child, who is born in some other country. Generally, prospective parents must fulfill the legal adoption requirements of the child’s nation as well as country of their own.

The necessary requirements for beginning the international adoption process vary, depending up on the country of parent. For instance, in most of the countries, adoptive parents are required to get approval first, while in few, either state agency or private adoption agency approves the adoption. In case of the United States, the first stage of the process begins with selection of an international adoption agency. Each agency works with a particular group of countries, though few focus on only one country. Some countries permit independent adoption, which is least costly and the parent does not need to contact an agency to complete the whole process. However, adoption is a tough process for the first time adopting parents.

Country wise, the laws differs, and is dependent up on nation’s willingness and openness to international adoption. Few countries, like Korea and China have established procedures and rules for international adoption, while many African nations forbid it. Some of the African nations have extended residency requirements for the parents, which in fact rule out international adoptions. One of the examples is Malawi, where residency is required for adopting a child.

Some of the African nations like Ethiopia are very much open to international adoption. That is why Ethiopian Adoption has become a popular option for the American families. As per the U.S. Department of State, in the year 2005, 441 orphans’ visas were issued to Ethiopian children, while in 2006 the number of visas increased to 732.

Apart from China and korea, Philippines is an another Asian nation, which has flexible international adoption policy. According to U.S. State Department, Philippines adoption reached to the number 265 during 2007.

Hence, by looking at the statistics given below we can conclude that international adoption is on its increasing trend-

According to U.S. State Department, countries for international adoption by American parents for year 2007 include –

Guatemala – 4728, China – 5453,  Russia -2310, South Korea -939, Vietnam – 828, Kazakhstan – 540, Ukraine – 606, India – 416, Colombia – 310 and Liberia – 353. Recently, Vietnam signed treaty for openings the doors for adoption.

For a country as big and diversified as the US, adoption records are very important to keep.

What is adoption?

Adoption is the lawful act of permanently admitting a child with a parent or parents other than the birth mother or father. In accordance to an adoption order a parent or parents are liable to transfer parental responsibilities and rights over the child onto the adoptive parent or parents. Once an adoption is finalized, there is no authorized distinction between adopted children and those born to the parents. According to adoption records adoption has gained persistent standing in American society.

Who adopts

At present, studies say that in the United States 1 in 5 couples of childbearing age encounter grave problems in trying to conceive a baby. For these people, being able to boast the joy of being a parent becomes a goal which is hard to pin down. They seek an adoption as a substantial alternate to their inability to ever become birth parents. Having a child to love and care for is what brings joy to millions of infertile couples around the world. Adoption is also undertaken by individuals and couples who wish to give an orphan child the love and importance of a parent in their poignant lives.

Adoption in the United States

1992 was the end year National Adoption totals were collected in the USA, however adoption records from foster care homes and other non-government bodies allows us to get a rough estimate on the numbers. Back then 127,000 annual adoptions in the U.S was recorded. As of 2002, United States consisted of 1.5 million adopted, which was over 2% of all US Children. Adoptive parents have to pay virtually nothing to US$40,000 to adopt a child.

In recent years International Adoption through agencies has also become very popular in the United States. Amid 1971 and 2001, U.S. citizens adopted 265,677 children from other countries. The figure of children pending adoption decreased from 132,000 to 118,000 during 2000 to 2004.

In 2005 the U.S. Department of State declared that 22,728 visas were given to orphans coming into the United States, 7,906 being from China(Mainland), followed by Russia with 4,639 and Guatemala 3,783.

Adoption law vary from state to state, and federal laws also influence many procedures prior and after, connected with the adoption record process. It is important that placing and adopting parents, as well as those looking for family members are aware of legislations beforehand.