Cost of Adoption?

Question

What is the average cost of international adoption? Does the cost depend on the country you choose to adopt from?

Answer 1

International adoption expenses can range anywhere from $15,000- $50,000 depending mainly on the country, although agency costs do vary as well. Most Int. adoptions costs tend to be between $20,000- $30,000 though. Some countries  require 2 separate trips, and several weeks in the country, so travel costs are part of the reason adopting from some countries can be more expensive.

There is also a federal tax credit of a little over $11,000 that most families are eligible for after the adoption is finalized.

Answer 2

Yes... it does depend on the country you choose to adopt from.  the cheapest countries that I found are Ethiopia and Haiti at around $20,000 where the most expensive as Russia and Nepal at around $50,000.  

A lot of factors depend on the costs... some countries require more travel time, which is raise the cost quite a bit.

Answer 3

Are you talking financial or emotional?

Financially not much but emotionally it could cost a child and their birth parents severe emotional damage.

The best thing to do is donate money to organizations trying to keep children with their bio-families and prevent harmful practices of using young girls as breeders. To keep a family together would cost as little as $50 per month in Guatemala for example as well as keep a rapist away from a young girl.

Answer 4

I don't think there is an "average" cost.  It can depend on the country, whether or not the child is special needs, etc.  Check with local agencies that specialize in intl. adoption and find out what their fees are, network with other AP's who have adopted internationally, do some research.  

And read up on issues that adoptees face, esp. TRA's.  That will go a long way in ensuring that the adoption is a successful one.  ;)

Answer 5

It can get pricey. You have to travel to get the child, be interviewed in legitamite adoptions and have the expense of the adoption and traveling back with the child. I would anticipate about $50K on average. This does all depend on the country as countries have different rules and stuff prior to the adoption being official and the plane trip cost will vary based on location.

Answer 6

To answer your question, yes there is a big difference in the financial cost of the adoption process, depending on the country program. Do your research.  It will also depend on the agency chosen.  Some agencies like to tack on some pretty big "program fees".  

There are a lot of other "costs" that happen in international adoption, not the least of which is the cultural adjustment international adoptees must confront.  It's up to the adoptive parents to address these cultural needs and that can't be underestimated.  

Good luck to you.

Answer 7

To you, or to the child?

The cost to the child is enormous.  A loss of family, of nationality, of culture...  of identity.  That's a pretty steep cost.