Part One of this blog talked about countries where societal reasons are often the prevalent ones for placing children for adoption. This blog, Part Two, will deal with why children might be available because of economic hardship or being orphaned. The term “orphan” is misleading in international adoption. The U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS, formerly the INS) defines an “orphan” as either one whose parents are dead, or whose “sole surviving parent” has relinquished custody. “Sole surviving parent” is also something of a misnomer. In some countries, if the couple is unmarried then the father is not … Continue reading →