Foreign Families - Additional Information for Families residing outside of the U.S.

       
Currently, Commonwealth Adoptions, Inc chooses to serve ONLY two types of families:

We WILL NOT respond to your inquiries or online applications if you don't belong to either of the above two groups. However, the information listed below may be helpful for you.

US Citizens Living Abroad
For US citizens living abroad, where at least one family member is a US Citizen, you are eligible to adopt from most source countries.  Although CAI has decided not to serve non-resident U.S. citizens, there are many adoption agencies in the U.S., which specialize in providing adoption services to U.S. families with a foreign residency.  Your best bet is to send a mass inquiry email to various adoption agencies and ask if they will provide the service or not.  There are also licensed American social workers abroad, who can prepare your international home study and handle your post adoption requirements.  The adoption agency you choose to sign up with should be able to provide you with a social worker referral.

Non-US Citizens Living Abroad or in the US
For non-US citizens, whether living abroad or in the US, you may only choose from a short list of source countries. Only a handful of adoption agencies in the U.S. are known to serve non-U.S. citizens.  Please try to contact the following agencies and find out if they can help you or not. Please note that CAI is not affiliated with any of these agencies and has no intention to make recommendations or endorsements.

1. Adoption Center of Washington
2. The Barker Foundation
3. Families Thru International Adoption
4. VIDA
5. Wasatch International Adoptions, Inc.
6. World Child

In order to proceed with an adoption, you must first receive authorization from your government authority to use a foreign adoption agency for your adoption. Once you have the approval, you will need to complete a Home Study by an approved social worker in your country, and meet any other requirements required by your country of citizenship.  When the home study is complete, your country should issue an approval document for your adoption.  Before any foreign adoption agency can help you to adopt, you will need to provide these two documents.

If you are citizens of the United Kingdom, you must apply to the DfES (Department for Education & Skills) for processing of your inter-country adoption. 
Their website is:
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/intercountryadoption/agencies.shtml

For Canadians and Australians, your Governments have put in place specific requirements that you must use an approved agency from within your country.  Additionally, each Provincial Government or State/Territorial Government may also have their own regulations to which you must adhere.  You may visit the following websites for further details.

Canadian websites:
http://www.sdc.gc.ca/en/hip/sd/08_interAdopt.shtml
http://www.interlog.com/~ladybug/canagen.htm

Australian Website:
http://www.immi.gov.au/migrants/family/child/102/sttaa-contacts.htm#d

For more information, you may also contact the central authority in charge of the adoption process for the country from which you are interested in adopting.
Some of the central authorities are listed here for your reference.  Look for their websites or addresses and then get in touch with them for further advice.

Russia – Ministry of Education
Kazakhstan – Ministry of Education
Ukraine – Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports
China – China Center for Adoption Affairs
Vietnam – Department of International Adoptions (in Ministry of Justice)
Colombia – ICBF
India – CARA