Adopting internationally is overwhelming on several levels. One of the first things you must decide when you are thinking about international adoption is which country you wish to work with. Some are easier than others, and all have different requirements.
A lot of this is a personal choice. Many families wish to have a child that is of similar ethnicity, which will restrict the countries. Others do not care, and this will widen their net. According to adoption.org, popular countries for adoption include South Korea, Thailand, Ukraine and Ghana.
South Korea and Thailand
These countries are popular due to their relatively stable adoption processes. South Korea, in particular, has been popular with American families for decades. The requirements for adopting a baby from South Korea involve having a marriage for at least 3 years, having no more than 4 children and being between 29 and 49 years old.
Thailand also has a detailed and streamlined process, and they will provide you with lots of information about the child. They also have a comparatively quick process: most adoptions from Thailand take less than 2 years.
Ukraine and Ghana
Ukraine has a high level of poverty, and it will release children from the foster care system at the age of 16. The process for Ukraine can be extremely quick: many couples get a child in less than a year. Ghana is a good choice for its low requirements, but they will try to place a child within the country before sending them internationally.
Adoption countries have a variety of pros and cons. Due diligence will help guide you through this process.
