Frequently Asked Questions about International Adoptions
What will I know about my Child?
Child referrals have medical records available, a family history, and a video or photographs.
How Long Will My International Adoption Take?
Generally speaking, from the time you begin to the time when you bring your children home, most international adoptions take from between 8-18 months. There will be a number of variables including country programs, how quickly you're able to complete your Homestudy, submitting your Dossier documents to us, your USCIS approval, etc.
How Much Does International Adoption Cost?
Fees will vary from country program to country program. Basically you’ll have three main areas, our agency fee, the country program fee, and expenses. Refer to our Country Programs for fee information for a specific country and Fees for the God’s Families Services Fee (God’s Families fee is constant at $4,500 regardless of your choice of program or the number of children you adopt at one time). Expenses will vary depending upon the country program, how many people travel, level of accommodations, etc. Complete adoption fees start at $15,730, including travel.
For ideas and suggestions on how to finance your adoption, see the Adoption Financial Resources within this site.
What Do Adoption Fees and Expenses Cover?
There are many people and services required to successfully complete your international adoption including government agencies, authentication fees for your documents going abroad, travel to and from your child's country, accommodations in-country, courier services and couriers, long distance communications, foreign representatives and agencies, social workers and humanitarian aid donations and projects provided to source country orphanages in addition to the God's Families staff. For more information see International Adoption Fees.
We work very hard at being responsible stewards while providing quality adoption services concerning your adoption. It is important that you understand all costs involved, not just those payable to our agency. We also appreciate that ALL families are on a budget and work very hard at providing the best services for the lowest amount possible.
Do We have to Pay the Whole Amount at One Time?
No. God's Families will phase your fees over the period of your adoption. You will receive a billing statement when we have completed a particular portion of your adoption and that fee will then become due for payment.
How Much Money do We Have to Make to Qualify?
The Immigration and Naturalization Service and the U.S. Department of Justice use federal poverty guidelines to qualify minimum income requirements for families adopting internationally. Please call for specific information: (949) 858-7621.
Why Should I Adopt Internationally?
We have included in our Why Adopt Internationally link many of the comments our adoptive parents have felt in being led to adopt an orphaned or abandoned child from abroad.
What Children are Available And Where do They Come from?
Most countries have both girls and boys available of various ages. The children available from most countries usually come from orphanages, and are often placed there due to economic hardship and birth out of marriage, with often a combination of these two. For other countries like China, it is cultural and government policies that cause many children to be available for adoption.
When you return your Application for your adoption, we will use this information to help us determine the type of child(ren) you desire. The potential is there for many of these children and will usually require some catching up to their American equivalents. Children will range from generally healthy to special needs.
How Much Choice Do I Have In the Selection of My Child?
As adoptive parents ourselves, we realize that selecting a child can be one of the hardest parts of the adoptive process. We welcome the many questions that come with this decision and will offer assistance and support.
How your child is identified will depend on the country program. Some countries will refer a child to you based upon information submitted in your Dossier application. Others will allow our agency to present available children in a particular region via photos, records, etc. Others will have you travel to the foreign country for your selection.
How Do I Choose a Country Program?
God’s Families offers many different programs to provide different choices and options for families. We choose our country programs and representatives carefully, with consideration for health of children, possibility of additional medical assessments, ease of process and stability with a particular foreign government, cost, and the country's attitude toward international adoption being just some of the qualifying criteria.
There will be fundamental requirements from each country that will help you decide, including age, marital status, etc. Also each country will be different with the child selection process itself, including whether the foreign government will refer the child, whether they allow you to select your child in their country or here in the US.
There will also be differing amounts of background and medical information, more girls available than boys or visa versa, general overall health (or risks), length of stay in country, overall cost, and your preference for a particular ethnic heritage. Refer to the "Programs" section for more information.
It is necessary to know what’s important and most comfortable for you and your family. There is no right or wrong choice. There will also be a spiritual side to your decision. Bringing a specific child from a specific country into a specific family requires FAITH and His direction. We have included in this site Encouragement and Assessing Your Readiness to assist you with your decision.
Do We Travel Abroad?
Yes, the foreign governments of most countries want both parents to first meet the child and then be present at the court hearing. It is possible for one parent to return home once the court hearing has been completed while the other parent exits the child. Some countries do allow the child to be escorted to the US.
We recommend that you use this time in country to sightsee and get to know your child's birthland and culture. This can be an invaluable experience to know your child better and someday answer the questions they'll have about their beginnings.
Referral Travel Agencies
We have referral travel agencies that provide our families with the lowest cost and discounted airfares. Our foreign representatives will assist you in country with arrangements and referrals for travel, lodging, guides, sightseeing, food, etc.
How do We Make Travel Arrangements? Will We Be on Our Own When We Arrive?
God's Families can provide assistance to you with travel arrangements and has travel agencies willing to make all arrangements, often at discounted rates. When you travel to your child's country you will always be met by one of our representatives at the airport. Our representatives will also arrange accommodations while in-country including escorts to meet you at the airport, hotels or apartments, food, restaurants, car and driver, translators, etc..
You'll also be provided with a cultural briefing before traveling with recommendations concerning protocol, lodging, health preparations, food, clothing money, and any other considerations that may effect your stay while in your child's country.
What Are the Risks Involved?
Although it is difficult to assess all the risks, international adoption can be subject to delays and moratoriums without notice, changes in laws and regulations and other events that are obviously beyond our control. We will do everything we can to ensure your adoption proceeds smoothly thus minimizing your risk. We at God's Families work very hard at keeping abreast of all changes and interface regularity with our representatives, foreign government officials and the US State Dept. and US Embassies abroad. By also having several country programs available at any time also provides extra opportunities for our families.
Will The Birth Family Have the Right to Take My Child Away After I Have Adopted Internationally?
No, they will not. International adoptions are final and your adoption decree issued the foreign country will not only be legally binding in that country but also in the United States as well.
I Won't Be Able to Communicate With a Foreign Child...
Assuming the child is old enough to have language skills, most children assimilate languages very quickly often within 3-6 months. Also keep in mind that language in general is 85% non-verbal. Receptive language is usually the first developed (hearing/understanding) with expressive language (speaking) following.
Do We Need a Lawyer With Us?
No. International adoption takes place within the laws and regulations of the foreign government and court. Your adoption will proceed in that country under all requirements and guidelines of that country. As for the US portion of your adoption, this is governed federally by the USCIS (initially, your I-600a approval) and your local state government (your Homestudy agency, with the social worker being qualified by your state Social or Human Services Department).
If you choose to re-adopt your child once you have returned with them from the foreign country (this is not required unless both parents did not travel to the foreign country), you can retain an attorney to assist you through this process or in most states you can also represent yourself. This is typically a short and simple procedure. This process replaces the need for the foreign birth certificate and provides you with a birth certificate or delayed registration of birth from your state or regional government.
I Don't Know If The Child Will Feel Like Mine
Second choice does not mean second best...
Parenthood and entitlement to these children, adoptive or otherwise, is not a matter of biology. It is a matter of commitment to giving love and receiving love, to dedication, understanding, love, patience, flexibility, open communication, tolerance, and consistency to a particular child.
I Want My Child to Be Perfect.
Just as in all types of families, available children come in a variety of shapes, sizes, conditions and backgrounds. The health and well being of a child is always a concern for prospective adoptive parents, and God's Families will do whatever we can to help meet the desires of the parent, including disclosure of medical and developmental files, referrals to international adoption specialists and professionals, etc.
Keep in mind, however, that the perfect child (or parent) does not exist. These children will need extra commitment from you in that they endured orphanages, loss of family, culture, even language and familiar foods and smells. Some children have also endured situations or conditions that were not treatable with the limited technology and resources available in their homeland. We ask families to keep an honest and open mind while assessing their level of commitment.
Will I Have Information about Cultural Awareness?
You'll be provided with a cultural briefing before traveling abroad with recommendations concerning protocol, health preparations, clothing, food, money, and other considerations that may affect your stay while in your child's country.
What Age Children are Available?
We have infants and children from a variety of programs available to you in various age ranges, boys, girls, sibling groups, and non-related groups.
When you return your Application for your adoption, we will use this information to help us determine the type of child(ren) you desire.
I Don't Live in California, Can I Still Work With God's Families?
God's Families provides international placement services for all states, as well as Americans living abroad. However, if you live outside the Southern California area, you will need a local adoptive service to prepare your Homestudy for you. God 's Families can recommend an agency within your state if requested.
What If I Want to Move to Another State Before I Bring My Child Home?
Contact God's Families for information. If you have completed your Homestudy and received your USCIS approval you will need to get a Homestudy update and contact the USCIS of your address change.
