I don't plan on adopting internationally, but do you HAVE to go through an adoption agency to do so?

Question

I know a lot of international adoptions go through orphanages. What stops someone from just going directly to an orphanage while visiting a place like Russia or Haiti and adopting a child? Are there laws saying you must use an agency, or do people do it for translation/legal ease reasons?

Answer 1

That really depends on the country. Some, like Haiti and some african countries, allow independent adoptions and others, like China, will not allow independent adoptions. In either case, you will still need a homestudy done in your state, and pass all of the clearances for your country, get an I-171h for the child to enter the country, etc, so you can't really just adopt a kid while you're on vacation on a whim (not that I'm saying you suggested that, just saying its an involved process). I would personally advise using an agency though, if you did want to adopt, especially if its your first adoption, because it is easy to mess up the paperwork and fall victim to scams, or corruption. Also, with an agency you are better able to adopt a child who actually needs a home instead of someone trying to sell you a child for money. Not saying it doesn't happen with agencies unfortunately, you have to be vigilant, but it happens more often in independent adoption. Just make sure you are as well informed as possible either way, not just on the process but on other aspects such as ethics, adoptee feelings and grief, attachment, post institutional autism, regression, how to avoid corruption, etc.

Answer 2

I believe that yes you do need to go through an agency in a legal overseas addoption because you need visas for the child.

Answer 3

PLEASE DO NOT ADOPT! noone likes orphans please don't adopt when people find out they will just tell them "HAHAHA YOUR ADOPTED!"