Adoption Agencies: International

Nearly everyone who is trying to adopt a child internationally will end up calling an adoption agency sometime or another. This is because adoption agencies have a good track record for finding and placing children. It is also because they know more about adoption and what needs to be than than the adopting family. Most people need help in the area of child adoption. They have a very hard time trying to do it all themselves.

The information below focuses on international adoption.  U.S. domestic adoption is dealt with in a different area of this website deals with .

We are Adoption Services, Inc.  We are a licensed non-profit adoption agency and able to assist adopting families residing in any state in the U.S.  We conduct both international and domestic child adoptions.

We are much more than just a child adoption agency.  We are also caring people who are doing everything within our power to assist pregnant women, birth parents, adopting families and children everywhere.  In fact, we have created one of the largest sources of information in the world, spanning the 9 websites you see at the top of this page, to provide information on everything from how to adopt a child, how to become a better parent, plus all kinds of information to assist you, pregnant women and birth parents with everything from financial and medical assistance programs to support groups. We do all this because we care.

If you feel that we can help you please contact us.  If for any reason you would like the help of some other child adoption agency, please read further down the page and you will be taken to lists of adoption agencies around the U.S. that can help you with an international child adoption.

                                                                               Thank You

                                                                               Dr Vince Berger

In looking for an international child adoption agency your guidelines and questions should be somewhat similar to those listed under domestic adoption agencies, but below are some unique questions to ask.

What kinds of children do they place?  Are they able to provide babies from only one country, or are they able to place children from more than one country?   What countries are they approved to work with and what countries do they recommend?  Have they done similar adoptions for people in your area?  Can they let you know who these people are so you may call them and use them as additional resources?

What is the relationship between them and the foreign source?  What range of services do they provide?  What will be the costs for their services?  What are their processing procedures?   How many interviews will they need to conduct with you?

Do they have any specific requirements regarding the age or health conditions of the adopting parents?  Does it matter to them how long you have been married or if you have other children?  Do your religious beliefs make any difference?  What kinds of services do they provide after the baby is placed with you?

In a foreign adoption the process usually proceeds something like the following:

You find a U.S. based agency that has contacts with other agencies or private sources in foreign countries. You register with the U.S. agency. If they are not in your state, then they should be in contact with a local agency in your state. Hopefully, this will be near your home.

The U.S. based agency does a home study for you if they are in your state. If they cannot, they will instruct you to arrange for a local agency in your state to do the home study for them.

The U.S. based agency with whom you are registered makes contact with the foreign agency or foreign referral source. They tell the foreign source of your wishes to adopt a child.

The foreign source identifies an adoptable child. They call your U.S. based agency.  The U.S. agency will provide you with all the information about the child. They can do this directly or they may also go through the local agency, the one that did your home study.

After you have looked over this information, you will have to decide whether you want to accept the referral or not.  The U.S. based agency helps the foreign agency to complete the paperwork and helps make arrangements for you to travel to the foreign country to receive and adopt your child.

For more specific information about international adoption, please visit InternationalAdoptionHelp.com.

For more information about domestic child adoption click on the link Domestic adoption.

Adoption Services has extensive experience with open and closed child adoption as well as variations of these two.  We are able to help you with an adoption regardless of the state in which you reside.

Remember that in every adoption, except a intra family adoption, you will need a Home Study.  Adoption Services is able to complete a Home Study for adopting persons who are residents of PA, NJ, NY, VA, WV, and FL.

If you need or want some specific personal advice contact your state child welfare agency or state adoption contact.  You can also call Dr. Vince Berger, a psychologist and adoption professional.

Please visit our home page to read about our commitment to assist adoptive parents like you as well as pregnant women and birth parents.