International adoption varies even more widely than domestic adoption. There are many countries which place children for adoption in other countries (primarily in the U.S., but also in Europe and Australia). Countries differ in the children available for adoption, the criteria set for adopting parents the fees involved, and the adoption process and timetable.
Countries vary in the age and gender of children available, whether sibling groups are available, whether the children have been in orphanages or foster care, caregiver ratio and caregiving style, what medical care and education the children have had, and whether any medical or social history is available about the birthparents.
Countries differ in the kinds of families they will place their children into. Many have standards for parental age, health, marital status, education and other factors.
Regarding adoption costs, it is important to remember that a country is not “charging” a certain amount per child. Adoption fees cover many things, only one of which is the country fee (sometimes called the program fee). Program fees do vary a lot from country to country. As might be expected, they are often higher in countries where children are in foster care as opposed to orphanages, since those countries often incur higher costs in caring for the children. Program fees also cover the costs of the placing agency, whether governmental or otherwise, for salaries of counselors and caseworkers, interpreters and translators, office equipment, etc. However, it is true that most program fees include a “donation” to their orphanages or foster care programs. In reputable agencies this money usually is used to benefit the children left behind who will not be adopted, but it’s not exactly a “voluntary” donation.
Countries vary in the length of time it takes to be matched with a child and in the time it takes for the child to be ready to travel once matched. In the interim the child must get travel papers, a US visa with a physical by a doctor from the US embassy, and often an “exit visa”, depending on the country. In some countries a court process is completed in that country. This may require adopting parents to stay in the country anywhere from five days to five weeks or more. A couple of countries even require two visits—one for the adoptive parent to see the child personally before the court paperwork is filed, another a few weeks later to complete the process and pick up the child. In a few countries, although physical custody is given to the adoptive parents, legal custody resides with the US agency until the adoption is finalized in the US. This means there is no need to go through a court process in the foreign country. In these countries, an escort may be arranged and the adoptive family does not have to travel outside the U.S.
Please see related blogs:
Is International Adoption for You? Part 1
Is International Adoption for You? Part 2
Getting Started in International Adoption
International Waiting Children
For more information, see:
Types of International Adoption