Has anyone (from Australia) adopted a child privately while living overseas?

Question

I have read that if you adopt a child while living in Africa and then return to Australia that child may be allowed entry and citizenship as they are your child. I understand the only condition is that you must have been living overseas for at least 12 months. I'd love to hear from anyone with more information or who would like to share details of their own experience. My email is [e-mail].

Answer 1

You must be joking. There are horror stories about the amount of hoops you need to go through in regards to Australian citizens wanting to adopt overseas children. I've actually heard of stories were the wannabe parents have actually gotten sick the red tape to the degree were they've managed to bypass it by obtaining the child in question's passport (through a living relative of the orphan) and taken it to Australia only to find that DIAC will not allow the child to have an adoption visa because the appropriate paperwork has not been processed and because of that they can't get Medicare for the child, they have little rights as "parents" of the child, can't file for a Australian birth certificate which would recognise them as legally being the parents of the child not to mention all sorts of problems.

DIAC do state on their website that it is possible but you would have to be living overseas with the child for at least 12 months but it wouldn't be a recommended course of action.

http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets...

Hugh Jackman and his wife adopted children but were critical of the process saying it was difficult and campaigned for reform.