Thank you for your interest in adopting through
Hands Across The Water's
International Adoption Programs
We at Hands Across The Water (HATW) look forward to helping you build your family through adoption and sharing your adoption experience. HATW offers monthly information meetings to discuss details of our international adoption programs and the international adoption process. You are welcome to attend this meeting or meet with the Director, one-on-one, for a personal consultation regarding which adoption path to take. HATW is a licensed child placing agency located in Michigan. We look forward to working with families living in any U.S. state who are interested in adopting through one of our international adoption programs.
With international adoption, you are subject to all the rules and regulations imposed by this country, not to mention another country's often-changing procedures, regulations and policies. Hands Across The Water maintains close contact with in-country representatives of each of our programs to keep apprised of adoption within the country. This page will provide general information and a brief description of each of our programs.
General Information
Who Can Adopt?
Most countries have their own policies regarding the age and marital status of adoptive applicants. A number of countries are open to single people wishing to adopt. If you wish to adopt from a particular country but are unsure if you will meet their requirements or are unsure which country you could qualify for, please contact the Director. She will be more than happy to discuss your options with you.
Hands Across The Water only requires that adoptive applicants be at least 21 years of age and be able to financially handle the addition of a child into their family.
Choosing A Program
This is an excellent time to pursue an international adoption. There are currently many more children available in need of families than there are families. There are many options in international adoption as well. Hands Across The Water offers programs in countries and also works with other agencies that have programs in other countries. To help you determine which country may be right for your family, here are a few questions to consider:
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What age range child will you consider? |
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What known medical needs are you able to consider? |
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What financial and other resources do you bring to the adoption process? |
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How long are you willing to wait for the placement of a child? |
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Are you able to travel to bring your child home, or are you limited to programs in which the child can be escorted? |
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How long will you be able to stay in the country to adopt your child? Could one parent stay while the other returned home? |
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Can you be flexible? Are you able to accept the risks? |
How Long Does It Take?
Length of time varies from country to country. In all of Hands Across The Water's programs a referral could be received immediately or within ten months of completing your dossier. A "referral" is your child. A referral comes to you in the form of pictures and a medical report. In many cases you will also receive a video. "Completing your dossier" means your Pre-Placement Assessment (Home Study) is complete and you have gathered all the necessary documents which are then sent to the other country. After you have received a referral, you will travel immediately or within a few months to meet your child. Some programs require two travel trips, one at the beginning of the process and the second to complete the adoption and bring your child home. Some programs require one trip with a long stay throughout the adoption process. When this is the case, only one parent is required to stay the entire time. In some programs you will not travel for three to four months after receiving the referral and will then only stay a short time in the country to finalize the adoption. All these time frames are determined by the country.
In many countries there are children currently waiting for families and your referral would be received quickly. For example, if you would consider a child with a known medical or developmental need, you would be able to shorten your wait. If you are open to adopting a child of either sex, or are flexible regarding a child's age, you may receive a referral sooner. If you could consider a sibling group of two or more, your referral could be immediate.
The Adoption Process
International Processing
In order to bring a child from another country into the United States for the purpose of adoption, you need to comply with the laws, requirements, and regulations of the United States, your child's country, and Michigan. A general guideline of steps are:
- Attend an information meeting or meet with the Director for a one-on-one consultation.
- Send Hands Across The Water your completed application with the $250 application fee.
- Begin the Home Study process with HATW. Within ten days of receiving your application and application fee, HATW will contact you with further documents and information you will need to begin your home study. This packet of information will list the documents you will need to gather for the home study, and additional forms for you to sign. You will be given a login and password to access your personal page on our website, where you will have access to download documents you need to complete the home study. Once you return some of these forms (as described in the packet) and fees that are due, your assigned social worker will contact you to set up your first visit and to answer any of your questions. A Home Study consists of a minimum of four visits, all may be in your home or three will be in the office and one in your home. HATW views the home study as a learning process - we are learning about you, your family history, relationships, and parenting expectations - and you are learning about international adoption, adoptive parenting, transracial/cultural parenting, and adoption issues. You will be mailed an Expectant Parent Preparation binder that contains adoption information which is specific to your family and the type of adoption you are pursuing. HATW also has a 10 hour Expectant Parent Preparation requirement which needs to be completed prior to the completion of the home study. The Preparation requirement is consistent with the Hague Convention requirement. You will choose one program of the 3 approved programs to complete. HATW also offers monthly education classes and support groups which you are encouraged to attend, although this is not required. If you are not working with a HATW program, we will work together with your placing agency meeting the necessary requirements of that agency and program, in addition to Michigan law.
- Decide on a country you wish to adopt from. Some people know before this point what country they are going to adopt from, but if you haven't decided, we can help you choose and guide you through the process for that country. A country choice must be made before a Home Study report can be written. CIS (Citizenship & Immigration Services) will require forms and fingerprinting for which they will charge a fee. HATW will guide you through this process and send the completed home study and other required documents to CIS. If you are working with another agency's program, we will send a notarized copy to that agency and any other agency documents required from us.
- Prepare the legal documents (dossier). The documents required by each country vary, but will include documents such as birth, marriage, and health certificates, financial status reports, local police clearance and INS approval. Yes, many of the documents you gathered for the Home Study you will need for the dossier. We will work with you in completing your dossier and having it certified and legalized. Depending on the country, your dossier will be translated before or after being sent to the foreign country to be filed in court or presented to government officials.
- Receive and accept a child referred to you. HATW makes every effort to obtain as much information about a child as we can. However, because many of the children have been abandoned, or because of a country's lack of medical resources, information regarding a child may be limited or not entirely accurate. Families must understand and accept this risk before they accept a referral. We encourage families to seek medical advice to help them interpret a child's medical information. In most programs you will receive a picture and written medical information. Some programs provide a video of the child.
- You will be notified when you need to travel to the country and enter your petition to adopt in court. If you travel to meet your child, your child may stay with you while you are in the country. As soon as the procedural and legal work is complete, you are the child's legal parent, and you can complete your immigration visa work with the U.S. Consulate and return with your child to the United States.
After Your Child Is Home
After your child is home, there are post-placement procedures and legal work that must be completed. Most countries require a minimum of three post-placement reports. These consist of, for each report, one visit by your social worker in your home. A report is compiled describing the child's adjustment, the parent's adjustment to parenting, child's development and health, adoption related concerns, and any resources or services obtained or needed. Post-placement supervision fees are due at the completion of the home study.
If the adoption was finalized in the foreign country, re-adoption in Michigan is not necessary unless the child has an IR4 visa. U.S. citizenship is now automatic in most cases. The agency will assist the family with filing for a U.S. passport, Social Security card, and a Michigan Delayed Registration of Foreign Birth.
If the adoption was not finalized in the foreign country, a petition to adopt will need to be filed. Michigan Adoption Code requires a supervisory period of six months before an adoption is finalized. Post-placement visits, as described above, will take place at least once every 90 days in the family's home. After six months, a petition to adopt can be filed and the child's adoption will be finalized.
How Much Does International Adoption Cost?
When you adopt internationally, your costs include: home study fee, HATW program fee, document fees, governmental seal fees, INS fees, international program fee, and travel and in-country stay expenses. Some of these fees can vary by country. The home study, HATW program, and international program fees are paid in increments as services are rendered. We suggest you inquire about the Federal Adoption Tax Credit, employer assistance programs and national adoption loan programs. HATW is open to discuss your specific financial needs and assist if at all possible.
Are You Ready?
What a silly question! Of course you are, and of course you're not!! International adoption is a big endeavor - it is scary, risky, intrusive, sometimes expensive, and absolutely wonderful. Your very first step, even before you fill out your application, is to contact a local international adoption support group. Within these groups are people with a wealth of information and assistance that they are eager to share. The best way to calm your fears is to talk to those who have been there. Hands Across The Water will assist you in finding a group in your area. And remember..."We've been there, and now we're here for you." If you are ready to begin the process, print the Application for Adoption Services and mail, along with the $250 Application Fee, to HATW (instructions are on the form).
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