Should people that are deemed not qualified to adopt in the US be permitted to adopt children internationally?

Question

Should people that are deemed not qualified to adopt in the US be permitted to adopt children internationally?

Answer 1

I think that depends on the reason they're deemed not qualified.  If it's age or race (which does still happen) or sexual orientation (which is becoming rare), then yes.  If it's because of a felony record or something that could actually endanger the child, then no.

Answer 2

I agree with Kazi.  People who adopt internationally not only have to meet all of the US requirements for adoption, but they have to meet the requirements of the foreign country.

The only examples I can think of is that some foreign countries don't have age restrictions for adopting infants/toddlers, whereas some domestic agencies do.  

Also some domestic agencies don't allow homosexual or singles to adopt, but some foreign countries do.

But if someone is deemed "not qualified" to adopt domestically, they will also not be qualified to adopt internationally.

Again, do you have any examples of this happening?

Answer 3

People who are deemed not qualified to adopt in the US are NOT permitted to adopt children internationally.  I adopted my daughter from Russia and I had to qualify in my home state through exhaustive home studies, qualify in the foreign country (at both their federal & state level), and then pass through all of the INS/Homeland Security requirements to bring her into the country.  I had social workers visit my house.  I had to have letters of recommendation.  I had to have a psychological clearance.  I had to provide financial statements.  My fingerprints, as well as the fingerprints of everyone associated with my household, were cleared by the FBI, Homeland Security, my state, my city policy department, the child abuse registry, and the Dept. of Justice.  People who adopt internationally don't go through less scrutiny.  They go through MORE.

Answer 4

No. If they can't meet the American criteria why should they be able to adopt overseas? It all comes down to money, if you have lots of disposable income, you can do anything. It's a sad state of affairs when children are collected as possessions instead of being raised by someone who really cares.

Answer 5

It depends on the reasons they were not qualified

Answer 6

I'm not sure about the specifics of the situation you're referring to.  More details would be good, but I'll do my best.

No, they shouldn't...

Now..that said, any adoptive person or couple will HAVE to have a homestudy done by a social worker, the social worker will have to approve the person/couple, then the homestudy will go on to the state for their approval.  The dossier (packet of paperwork) also has to go to Immigration and be approved by them.  The person/couple will have to have their fingerprints taken and have criminal background checks performed by the state where they live AND by the FBI.

All these checks are before the dossier even leaves the US to the child's country of birth.  If there isn't approval at any point in this process, there won't be an adoption permitted.  

After all this, the dossier goes to the other country for their approval, too.

There is actually MUCH more oversight and approval needed - many more hoops to jump through - in international adoption than there are in domestic adoption.

So...no, people not qualified to adopt domestically shouldn't be allowed to adopt internationally, but I don't think it would happen anyway.

I hope this helps.

Answer 7

I would also be interested in any examples.

International programs have strict criteria about age of adoptive parents, marriages and criminal records. If you are unable to adopt in the US chances are you will be able to adopt to do abroad.

Answer 8

Most international programs have very strict criteria, so I doubt very much that anyone could adopt overseas if they don't qualify in the U.S.

Do you have any actual examples?