Considering International Adoption?

Some families start of their process with precise clarity on which country the Lord is leading them to. For others, the call to adopt is rooted in their understanding of the global need.

We encourage families to review the Quick Looks to see which programs they might be eligible for. Important factors to pay attention to include marriage length, age of parents, number of children in home, time of in-country travel and also the cost of the process. Another important factor would be the age and need level you feel like the Lord is calling you to.

Some of our programs are better suited for families pursuing sibling groups or older children, while others might be a good fit if the Lord is leading you to adopt a younger child.

In our years of serving and supporting adoptive families, we have learned that no two processes look exactly alike, and we celebrate how the Lord weaves the details together so uniquely for each family.

Serving families in all of the integral steps has offered us a better understanding of how long a child might spend waiting for their family. In surveying each of our programs, current trends suggest that the process can span from 12 months to 4 years. This covers the time between application to travel. There are a number of factors that contribute to that wide range, but most notably we see the biggest differences in (1) the country you choose and (2) the child you feel called to pursue.

Within the process, the matching phase often presents the greatest variability in timeframe. A family’s specific openness to factors such as age, gender, and level of special need dictates how much time they might spend waiting for a referral. Those who have more limitations within those factors typically spend more time in the matching phase than those who are open to older children, those of either gender, and those who have medical needs.

When considering the financial aspects of embarking on an international adoption process, it is so natural to rush to budgeting, number crunching, and maybe even some long division. We know that the fees associated with international adoption are often the reason families don’t move forward.

In our best efforts to prepare families for the financial sides of their process, Lifeline offers a projected breakdown of all fees involved. Regardless of international program, Lifeline’s agency fees remain the same. However, third party fees (fees paid to the Department of State and to the central authority in the country you’re adopting from) and travel fees will vary across different programs.

$14,550 agency fees

$13,000 to $20,000 third party fees

$7,000 to $15,000 travel fees

Overall, we most typically see that the entire process ranges from $35,000 to $45,000 for adoptive families. Our biggest encouragement is seeing how Lifeline families can be supported by one of our partner financial organizations. Through these entities, we have seen the Lord provide tremendously in the form of grants, scholarships, and adoption loans. 80% of the families we serve receive financial assistance throughout their processes. It is a blessing for us to see adoptive families tangibly supported by the Body of Christ

Lifeline believes finances should not stand in the way of the call to adopt a child. But we understand that fees associated with adoption can feel overwhelming. One of the ways we work to support our families throughout the process is connecting you with organizations who provide grants, loans, and scholarships.

There are so many resources available- especially for families who are adopting an older child, a child with special needs, and sibling groups. I encourage you to explore the Fund Your Adoption page for more information. Many of these organizations require families to complete a home study before applying. This leads many families to focus on fundraising first.

For ideas on how to fundraise and other helpful information on the financial side of adoption, check out our recent webinar.

There are so many factors to consider when determining which agency is best equipped to serve your family. Here are a few important points to evaluate.

Pick an agency that is Hague accredited.

This credential means that you are working with an agency that has been inspected, reviewed, approved and is monitored by agencies and groups that require legitimacy and ethical procedures.

Pick an agency that has a successful track record of completing adoptions.

The international adoption process is extremely complex and you do not want to be an agency’s “guinea pig” If an agency does not have a long, successful history of completing adoptions, and if they cannot offer you recent families for recommendation, consider crossing them off of your list.

Pick an agency that offers 24/7 support while you are in country.

What is the agency's contingency plan for prospective adoptive parent support if a “worst case scenario” happens? By support we are talking about emotional, medical, mediation with the US Embassy, DOS, etc.

Pick an agency that lists all known fees and cost (not just the agency fees).

Does the agency know the average cost of adoption within the specific country you are pursuing? What are the court costs, facilitation cost, documentation costs, translation costs, etc.? Are the fees for USCIS, etc. included? Are the specific fees charged by the agency reasonable in regards to the specific country's average?

We anticipate children coming home internationally will have some level of special need, even if it is only a developmental delay they sustained due to a lack of proper nutrition or loving care. The needs range from minor/correctible to more moderate and severe. Severity of needs depends on the country program and age of child that you are pursuing.

Following their adoption, one Lifeline family created a blog called No Hands But Ours. This is a wonderful resource that gives a realistic peek into the everyday lives of families who have children with medical needs. Additionally, we recommend families consult with International Adoption Clinics, pediatricians and other specialists when considering specific special needs.

We know making the decision to move forward can be the hardest step. We’d love to share the story of a Lifeline family as they stepped out in faith to pursue adoption of their daughter. We pray you find their story an encouragement as you consider where the Lord is leading your family.

The first “official” step in our process is to complete the online pre-application. This is a non-committal application that allows us to get to know your family better as you search for an agency that is the right fit for your family. You are able to select as many countries as you might be interested in.

We would also encourage you connect with a specialist at Lifeline, whether that’s through an in person meeting, an online webinar, or giving us a call!

Prepare your family for the process by reviewing our Adoption Policies and Procedures to assist in providing expectations and perspective for the process.