Inter-country Adoption

Inter-country adoptions involve legal means and methods that allow United States citizens to assume responsibility for a child from another country. The child is subsequently brought to live with the parents in the United States. Adopting a child from another country is not that different from adopting a child from the United States, thanks to laws that have made it possible for the child to become an American citizen. In both cases, all parental rights and obligations are transferred from the birth parents to the new guardians. Between 1999 and 2013, there were 249,694 inter-country adoptions by United States citizens.

Legal Background

The goal of inter-country adoption is to allow children from other countries who are adopted by American parents to become U.S. citizens themselves. This is made possible through The Child Citizenship Act, which came into effect in the year 2000. The Child Citizenship Act made the process of obtaining citizenship for an adopted child from another country easier and more affordable. The adopted child is automatically granted citizenship if he or she is under the age of eighteen and if one or more of his or her parents are American citizens. The child must also be in legal and physical custody of the parents with the details of the adoption finalized. If the child is allowed into the United States as an immigrant for the purpose of permanently residing there, he or she may be automatically granted U.S. citizenship.

Affected Groups

Inter-country adoption is beneficial for all parties involved. Potential adoptive parents may include same-sex couples or heterosexual couples who are infertile, or incapable of having their own biological children. Other potential adoptive parents may be oriented towards social justice issues and interested in doing something proactive. Provided that they are deemed suitable to care for and raise a child, these people are able to experience parenthood through inter-country adoption. It is clear that a child can benefit immensely from growing up in a supportive home. When other avenues to achieving this, such as living with another family member or adoptive parents within their community, are not possible, inter-country adoption opens the door. A child who might have otherwise struggled as an orphan is given the opportunity to grow up in a nurturing, secure, and loving environment.

Challenges

It is the responsibility of parents to ensure that their adoptive children are legally allowed to reside in the United States. The Child Citizenship Act does not apply to those adoptive children who were over the age of 18 on the 27th of February, 2001. Many of those who did not qualify have lived in the United States for most of their lives as permanent residents; however, they do not have citizenship. This might be discovered when the adopted individual goes to apply for a job or passport, or when he or she registers to vote. If an adopted individual who does not have citizenship breaks the law, he or she may unfortunately face deportation. It remains important for both adoptive parents and their adult adoptive children to read and understand U.S. legislation on the topic of adoption, as it is possible for foreign-born adoptees to acquire citizenship.