Important Questions
Grace International will always do our best to alleviate any concerns and answer any questions you might have during your international adoption journey.
How old are the children available for foreign adoption?
In Russia, the children are between the ages of 9 months and 10 years
In Guatemala, the children are newborn to 10 years
In Ukraine the children are 16 months to 10 years
Most children are brought home between 10 months and 3 1/2 years
Are the children healthy?
Yes, healthy children are available for adoption. Ukrainian & Russian medical reports read differently than Western medical reports. Often the terminology can be overwhelming to the prospective adoptive parents. We recommend all medical information, photos, and video tapes be reviewed by a physician who has experience with orphanage medical reports.
Special needs children are also available upon request.
Do I need to be an American citizen to adopt with Grace International?
One parent needs to be a U.S. citizen to adopt. If you are living outside of the U.S., Grace International can facilitate your adoption in the country in which you reside.
Are there requirements for the health of the adopting parents?
Yes. A physician's medical form, which is included in your dossier, lists all the requirements that Grace International will submit to the foreign country. Countries will not consider prospective parents with infectious disease. If you have further concerns, they can be addressed during your home study and your case will be reviewed on an individual basis.
How long will the international adoption process take?
Approximately 2-6 months upon submission of completed dossier.
Boys usually will take less time than girls.
What are the first steps in the adoption process?
- Complete and sign the application. Send the application to Grace International Adoption Agency with the application fee of $200.00. Send photos of your family & home with your application. An application can also be filled out on line.
- Initiate your home study.
- Initiate your USCIS paperwork.
Does Grace International conduct the home study?
Yes, we will do the home study for Louisiana residents. If you are not a Louisiana resident we can recommend a home study agency if needed.
Are there age restrictions on the prospective adoptive parent?
Generally the minimum age for adoption is 25 years with a maximum age of 50 years old.
Are there any restrictions on people who are divorced?
Married couples have to be married for more than one year and cannot be divorced more than twice.
Do we have to travel to pick up our child?
Yes, for Russia and Ukraine both parents are required to travel.
For Guatemala, only one parent is required to travel.
Are newborn infants available?
Yes, in Guatemala, the referral may be a newborn but it takes a few months for the adoption process to be completed. Russia and Ukraine have regulations regarding how long a child has to stay on a federal data base. This allows their own citizens time to adopt the child before the child is adopted internationally.
Will we know anything about the child's background?
Although we do provide all the medical information that is available about the child, it is probable that you will not know anything about the health of the birth parents or the child's family medical history.
Is the paperwork very difficult?
No. Although there is a lot of paperwork involved in the international adoption process, it is not difficult.
Will my child be a U.S. Citizen?
Yes, this happens as soon as your child is adopted. We do recommend that you re-adopt your child once you are back in the U.S and settled in. Grace International will guide you through this very easy process.