If you live in North Carolina and wish to adopt, have you considered an international adoption? Adopting a child from another country can provide you with many benefits, including welcoming diversity and a new culture into your family.
Adoption.org lists the following countries as your best options for adopting a child:
- South Korea
- China
- India
- Colombia
- Haiti
South Korea
One of the biggest advantages to adopting a South Korean child is that this country has been placing children with Americans since 1955, with 276 such children placed in 2017. Adoptions generally take 12-19 months, and you can expect your child to be between 10 months and three years old at the time of placement. Costs range between $30,000-$50,000 and you will need to make two trips to South Korea.
China
China has been placing children with Americans since 1992. Over 80,000 Chinese children have been so placed since then, including 1,905 in 2017. Adoptable children range between the ages of seven months and 13 years, but unfortunately, most of them have mild to complex special needs. You can expect to wait 24 months for a child from the time you apply for one. Costs range between $35,000-$40,000 and you will need to make one trip to China.
India
As with Chinese adoptees, Indian adoptees generally have mild to complex special needs. Adoptable children range in age from six months to 14 years, with the average age at placement ranging between 24-36 months. Costs range between $25,000-$35,000 and you will need to make one trip to India.
Colombia
Whether you are single, married or half of a same-sex couple, Colombia welcomes your adoption application. Likewise is you seek to adopt siblings and/or school age children between 7-10 years old. Colombia placed 181 children with Americans in 2017, and the adoption process usually takes one to two years. Adoptable children range between 1-15 years old, and you can expect to pay $30,000-$45,000 in adoption costs, including one trip to Colombia.
Haiti
Haiti’s overwhelming poverty makes a large number of children eligible for adoption because it leaves many very young children orphans. Adoptable children typically are healthy and range in age from 2-9 years. The adoption process generally takes one to two years, and you can expect to pay between $35,000-$50,000 in adoption costs, including two trips to Haiti.
You should not interpret this information as legal advice, but it can help you decide which country to choose for your international adoption.
