International Q & A

1. It’s a U.S. legal requirement

Under the Intercountry Adoption Act (IAA) and Universal Accreditation Act (UAA), every international adoption involving a U.S. citizen must have an accredited or approved “primary provider.”

• This rule applies whether you adopt from a Hague Convention country or a non-Hague country.

The primary provider must be accredited or approved by the U.S. Department of State (through IAAME or CEAS).

2. The primary provider oversees and takes responsibility for the entire adoption process

Their role is to make sure your adoption meets all U.S. and international legal, ethical, and procedural standards.
They are responsible for:

• Ensuring all services (home study, matching, documentation, legal steps, post-adoption reporting) are done ethically and legally.
• Supervising or coordinating with any other agencies, social workers, or foreign entities involved.
• Protecting you and the child by confirming that all requirements (consents, background checks, child eligibility) are met.
• Filing necessary documentation with the U.S. government (like USCIS, NVC, and the Department of State).

1. It protects the adoptive family and the child

International adoption involves multiple legal systems — your state, U.S. federal law, and the child’s country of origin.
The primary provider helps ensure:

• The adoption is legally valid in both countries.
• There’s no risk of child trafficking or fraud.
• Your adoption can be recognized for immigration and citizenship purposes in the U.S.

Without a primary provider, you risk:

• • Your case being rejected by USCIS or the U.S. Embassy.
  • The adoption not being finalized or recognized.
  • Potential loss of legal protections for the child or your family.

1. U.S. law still applies — kinship doesn’t automatically exempt you

Under the Intercountry Adoption Act (IAA) and Universal Accreditation Act (UAA), every intercountry adoption by a U.S. citizen must have an accredited or approved primary provider, unless the U.S. Department of State determines otherwise for a very narrow set of cases.

So — even if you’re adopting your niece, nephew, grandchild, or sibling — the same legal frameworkapplies because the adoption involves:

• Bringing a child from another country into the United States, and
• Intending for that child to immigrate and obtain citizenship.

2. Why it’s still required

Even with family connections, the U.S. government must verify:

• The child meets the immigration definition of an “orphan” (for non-Hague cases under USCIS Form I-600) or is eligible for intercountry adoption under the Hague Convention (Form I-800).
• The adoption was ethically and legally completed in the child’s country.
• There was no improper financial gain or coercion involved.
• The home study and placement supervision meet U.S. standards.

The primary provider ensures all of that is handled correctly — especially since family adoptions often involve personal arrangements that still must meet official standards.

1. U.S. law still applies — kinship doesn’t automatically exempt you

Under the Intercountry Adoption Act (IAA) and Universal Accreditation Act (UAA), every intercountry adoption by a U.S. citizen must have an accredited or approved primary provider, unless the U.S. Department of State determines otherwise for a very narrow set of cases.

So — even if you’re adopting your niece, nephew, grandchild, or sibling — the same legal frameworkapplies because the adoption involves:

• Bringing a child from another country into the United States, and
• Intending for that child to immigrate and obtain citizenship.

2. Why it’s still required

Even with family connections, the U.S. government must verify:

• The child meets the immigration definition of an “orphan” (for non-Hague cases under USCIS Form I-600) or is eligible for intercountry adoption under the Hague Convention (Form I-800).
• The adoption was ethically and legally completed in the child’s country.
• There was no improper financial gain or coercion involved.
• The home study and placement supervision meet U.S. standards.

The primary provider ensures all of that is handled correctly — especially since family adoptions often involve personal arrangements that still must meet official standards.

Yes! CAS is able to work with US Citizens living anywhere in the world for international adoptions from Armenia, Bulgaria, Ecuador, Ghana, and Haiti.

Each country sets its own eligibility rules (age, marital status, health, income, religion, etc.).
In addition, U.S. federal and state laws require you to:

• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Complete an approved home study.
• Pass background checks and fingerprinting as a part of the home study process.
• Meet your state’s adoption requirements even if the adoption will be finalized abroad.

Typical range: $25,000 – $60,000, including:

• Agency/primary provider fees
• Home study
• Travel costs
• Legal/document fees
• Post-placement reports

That’s a really common and understandable question — especially for families pursuing relative (kinship) international adoption.

It can feel confusing or unfair to have to pay the same kinds of fees when you’re adopting a child you already know and love. But here’s why fees are still required — and what they actually cover:

1. You’re not paying “for the child” — you’re paying for the legal, ethical, and immigration process

Even when you’re adopting a relative, the U.S. and the child’s country both treat the adoption as an intercountry legal process, not a private family matter.

The fees are for all the professional, legal, and governmental work needed to make sure:

• The adoption meets U.S. federal, state, and international law.
• The child’s adoption and immigration are valid and permanent.
• Your case is ethically sound and recognized by both countries.

So you’re paying for services and compliance — not the child.

Breakdown of what international adoption fees typically cover

Category	What It Includes	Why It’s Required Even for Relative Adoptions
Home Study	Evaluation by a licensed social worker, background checks, education	Required by U.S. and foreign governments to ensure you’re prepared and the placement is safe
Primary Provider Fees	Oversight, coordination with foreign officials, document review, case management	The agency must ensure your case meetsHague/U.S. law; they’re legally responsible for it
Dossier Preparation & Authentication	Document gathering, translation, notarization, legalization	Both governments must have certified paperwork to approve the adoption
Foreign Country Fees	Application fees, court costs, government processing fees, translation	Every country charges administrative fees, even for relatives
USCIS / Visa Fees	I-800A / I-800 filings, medical exam, visa issuance	Required for the child to legally immigrate and receive citizenship
Post-Adoption Reports	Follow-up visits and reports required by child’s country	Needed to keep the adoption in good standing internationally

 

3. The law doesn’t distinguish much between “relative” and “non-relative”The Hague Convention and U.S. inter-country adoption laws were written to protect all children, regardless of who’s adopting them.

Even if you’re the child’s aunt, uncle, or grandparent, the same standards apply:

• The child must be legally free for adoption.
• The process must be supervised by a primary provider.
• Every step must be documented, verified, and approved before immigration.

Those legal steps generate the same workload and oversight as a non-relative case.

• Delays due to paperwork, visas, or country-specific processes
• Legal changes in the child’s country
• Emotional adjustment and attachment challenges
• Ethical concerns or potential fraud in non-accredited cases

As CAS is a licensed, accredited primary provider, we help protect you from most of these risks.

Yes. Countries can suspend intercountry adoptions temporarily or permanently due to legal reforms, corruption concerns, or diplomatic changes.
The U.S. Department of State maintains an up-to-date list of countries with active or suspended programs. Currently, CAS has active programs in 5 countries.

Timelines vary widely — from 18 months to 3+ years, depending on:

• The child’s country
• In country delays
• USCIS
• Speed of adoptive family’s home study process and documentation submission
• Required documentation and clearances
• Availability of children eligible for adoption

No, in almost all cases you cannot independently identify a specific child for adoption from a Hague Convention country.

Here’s why — and what limited exceptions exist:

1.The Hague Convention prohibits “pre-identifying” a child

The Hague Adoption Convention was created to prevent child trafficking, coercion, and unethical placements.
Under this system:

• Prospective adoptive parents cannot choose or “find” a child on their own in a Hague country.
• Instead, adoptions must occur through the Central Authority of that country (the government agency overseeing adoptions).
• The child must be “determined eligible for intercountry adoption” before any family is matched.

So the process must start with you being approved as adoptive parents, not with a specific child being identified first.

2. The matching process is controlled by the child’s country

Once you’re approved (via your I-800A and home study), your primary provider sends your dossier to the child’s country’s Central Authority.
That authority — not you or your agency — decides:

• Which child is eligible for inter-country adoption, and
• Which approved family is best matched to that child.

This ensures the child’s best interests, not the parents’ preferences, drive the match.

3. Why this rule exists

The Hague Convention’s principles are built around child protection.
It prevents:

• Birth family exploitation or coercion.
• Private arrangements or “shopping” for children.
• Adoptions that bypass child welfare authorities.

Even if your intentions are good, identifying a child outside official channels can invalidate your case or result in denied visas under U.S. immigration law.

4.The one limited exception: relative (kinship) adoption

If the child is your biological relative, you may pursue adoption, but Hague rules still apply:

• You must work through a U.S.-accredited primary provider.
• The child’s Central Authority must approve the adoption before any placement occurs.
• The match can’t be made privately — it must still go through official channels.

The U.S. and the foreign country both must confirm that:

• The child is legally eligible for adoption, and
• The adoption serves the child’s best interests, not just family convenience.

5. What happens if you try to identify a child yourself

If you identify a child independently (for example, through a friend, church, or orphanage contact) in a Hague country:

• The U.S. government will likely refuse to process the case under the Hague process.
• The child may not be eligible for an adoption visa.
• You may have to start over through proper channels.

It’s possible, but adopting a healthy infant internationally is now quite rare due to changes in international law, ethics, and child welfare priorities.

Here’s a clear breakdown of why and what your realistic options are:

1. The global goal has shifted toward keeping children in their birth countries

Most countries — especially those under the Hague Adoption Convention — now prioritize:

1. Reuniting children with birth families,
2. Placing children domestically (within their own country), and
3. International adoption only as a last resort.

That means most children eligible for international adoption today are:

• Older (often age 3+), or
• Have medical or developmental needs, or
• Are part of a sibling group.

Healthy newborns and infants are almost always placed domestically now.

2. Why healthy babies are rarely available

Under Hague Convention rules, a child can only be adopted internationally after:

• The child is officially declared eligible for intercountry adoption by the country’s Central Authority(government), and
• No domestic placement (with birth family or in-country adoptive family) could be found.

This process takes time — by the time a child is legally free for intercountry adoption, they are usually toddler age or older.

hat you can do if your goal is to adopt a young, healthy child

You have a few potential paths:

1. Domestic adoption (U.S.) – newborn placements are far more common and legal; private or agency adoptions can result in infant placements.
2. “Minor needs” adoption programs – many children listed as “special needs” have manageable or correctable conditions (e.g., cleft lip, low birth weight, mild delays).
3. Be open to toddlers – children under age 4 are sometimes available internationally if you’re open to mild needs or longer timelines. The Ghana program could be a great fit for you!

4.Be cautious of unethical offers

If any organization or facilitator promises a “healthy infant, quick placement” overseas:
That’s a red flag.
Only U.S.-accredited primary providers may facilitate intercountry adoptions.
Engaging in independent or unregulated arrangements can result in:

• Denied visas,
• Invalid adoptions, or
• Potential trafficking investigations.