subject: What Does The Hague Agreement Do For My International Adoption? [print this page] International adoption is a unique way to expand your family but the time it takes to acquire a child and the fees involved differ from country to country. Each has their own set of requirements that must be met before an orphaned child is allowed to be adopted. In order to better streamline the procedures involved The Hague Convention Agreement was developed. This relatively new procedure was finalized with the United States in 2008 and is used by approximately 75 countries around the world.
What does The Hague Adoption Convention mean for you? In a nutshell, it means that both you and your adoptive child will receive better protection and a more streamlined adoption process. If the country you are adopting form is part of The Hague Convention, then there is already a standardized agreement in place with procedures set to follow. It is not illegal to adopt from a country that is not part of the agreement but it may be more difficult as the government may not be as involved in your case. In accordance with the American Government, here are some of the differences that will help you understand how The Hague Convention will affect you.
If you are adopting a child from a country that is part of The Hague Convention, the agency you go through must be government accredited. The laws of the Hague Convention also require that all adoption fees must be presented itemized and explained prior to the adoptive process starting. Adoptive parents must disclose their history, relationships with the agencies and other pertinent information. The home study that the adoptive parents complete must meet both State and Federal law and 10 hours of parental education must be completed. The adoptive parents are checked for adoptive eligibility prior to being matched with a child and the child themselves will be checked to ensure that they meet the adoption requirements set out by The Hague Convention. After a child has been found that matches the adoptive parents file, they will have two weeks to review the childs medical records. If the match is accepted on both sides, then the Visa paperwork is submitted prior to the court adoptive proceedings taking place. The records of the child are kept on file for 75 years.
If you are adopting a child from a country that is not part of the Hague Convention, you are likely to find that there will be a lack of information and assistance from the participating country. Although the American adoption agency themselves must be licensed, they are not required to be accredited. The fees will be disclosed as best as possible, but the country that you are adopting from will not have the same guidelines. This could lead to surprising fees and costs. The parent home study must meet State level requirements but the parental education course is left up to the discretion of the residing State and adoption agency. The eligibility of the parents will be determined when a suitable child has been found. The child must meet orphan status but no other verification is conducted. Medical records are not mandatory nor are any past information on the child or their family. The Visa application is submitted after the court and custody proceedings have taken place. There is no requirement for records to be kept after proceedings are finalized. Choosing to adopt from a country that follows The Hague Convention, subjects you to stricter guidelines but it also assures full disclosure. If you adopt from a country that is not part of The Hague Adoption Convention it is likely that you will encounter issues along the way due to lack of regulation.
