Adoption

American citizens are seeking to adopt children in ever increasing numbers. With the reduction in children available for adoption in the United States, more and more U.S. citizens have adopted children from other countries. This year, thousands of children came to the United States from foreign countries, either adopted abroad by U.S. citizens or as potential adoptees. This brochure provides both information and guidance to U.S. citizens seeking information about international adoptions.

International adoption is essentially a private legal matter between a private individual (or couple) who wishes to adopt, and a foreign court, which operates under that country's laws and regulations. U.S. authorities cannot intervene on behalf of prospective parents with the courts in the country where the adoption takes place. However, the Department of State does provide extensive information about the adoption processes in various countries and the U.S. legal requirements to bring a child adopted abroad to the United States.

Issues in the Bureau of Consular Affairs provides brochures describing the adoption process in numerous countries. Adoption information is also available on our automated facsimile system and Internet. In addition, we provide recorded information on international adoption for several countries on a twenty-four hour basis through recorded telephone messages at 1-888-407-4747 and at http://travel.state.gov.