Adopting a child in Michigan is no simple matter, but you would face even a further complexity of rules and regulations if you were to pursue adoption of a child from another country. It is typically important not only that you complete the process carefully, but that you also comply with ongoing requirements and responsibilities to various parties.
Luckily, intercountry adoption is, according to the Department of State website, one of the department’s highest priorities. As such, the DOS online resource portal contains a list of country-specific information and links to adoption service providers. You would be far from alone during the process, as you would probably enlist help from state, federal and international authorities, advisers and services.
Briefly, there are several steps which you would complete when pursuing intercountry adoption, in varying order:
- Identification of the child’s country’s Hague Adoption Convention status
- Completion of forms
- Engagement with an adoption service provider
- Connection with support groups or advisers
Furthermore, you would probably need to take steps post-adoption to secure your child’s status as a United States citizen. These actions are often necessary in addition to other types of paperwork fundamentally important, but not legally essential, to your child’s integration into the society of the USA. For example, you may have to provide regular status reports to ASCs in addition to pursuing citizenship applications.
Your choice to adopt a child from another country would be a laudable one, but it would probably come with a variety of unique challenges. The better prepared you were for these hurdles, the more you would be able to focus on what is important: parenting your child. Please do not regard this article as specific legal advice. It is meant to inform and educate.
