How to Pay for an International Adoption Guide
During the past few years, the number of international adoptions has decreased in Canada. The main reason behind it was a high cost of adoption, strict country control, and availability of other options to parenthood. According to IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada), in 2016, there were only 793 adoptions, which was almost half of the total number since 2012, i.e., 1,379.
There are many countries that have imposed strict policies or a complete ban on international adoptions to encourage more adoptions from within the country. Some territories and provinces have suspended adoptions in Nepal, Liberia, Guatemala, Georgia, and Cambodia. You can also look at the list of countries on the government of Canada’s website that doesn’t allow international adoptions. Some of these countries are Kuwait, Kenya, Comoros, Bhutan, Argentina, Maldives, Paraguay, Russia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Saudi Arabia, and more.
Although, it is a very expensive decision to adopt a child internationally, there are a number of creative ways to pay for it. Some of them are as follows:
There are a number of organizations that offer adoption grant to people who wish to adopt from outside of their jurisdiction. You should extensively search for those organizations and pursue this option as it will enable you to secure some funds for future use. Abba Canada and Orphan’s Hope are two of the many organizations working in Canada that provide grants to parents who can’t conceive or are planning to extend their family through international adoption.
You can also seek donations from people by starting a fundraising campaign to cover your expenses to a certain extent. Set up a garage sale or sell unused items in your house. You can also carry out the silent auction by involving your family and close friends; however, you don’t have to ask for monetary donations.
Other possible ways to ask for donations include organizing a benefit dinner, arranging a photography session or car wash, seeking sponsors for a race, setting up bake sales, holding an online auction on CraigsList or eBay, or have a night out with parents in your neighborhood.
- Search for a Secondary Source of Income
If you make paintings or familiar with any other craft, make an art piece and sell it in the local market or online. You can also create a merchandise by designing t-shirts or other accessories for the adoption.
Create a Facebook page for a hand-made jewelry, sell an e-book, or offer tutoring services. Do whatever you possibly can to have a secondary source of income as it will turn out to be very useful in the long run. You can use all the profit from these activities toward the adoption.
- Look for Various Loan Options
Financial institutions and banks also offer various low-cost loan options. If you own a house, there are a number of equity loan options with the low-interest rate. Although, you should not consider this as a long-term option, it can definitely serve as a last resort.
Before taking any final decision, look for different packages and evaluate the options to find the best option that is in line with your financial goals. Also, consult a financial advisor before finalizing any decision as he or she can guide you in the right direction.
Maintaining a budget is one of the most crucial things you should do when taking this decision. Adopting a child is not an easy step. It includes thousands of dollars, especially if you are planning to adopt a child from another country. Therefore, having a budget is very important to keep track of all the expenses and processes.
It will also allow you to make arrangements for funds beforehand. Coordinate with adoption service department to ask about the steps and paperwork involved in the process and incorporate the same in your budget.
Carry out research to figure out the estimated fee associated with each process. Ask the adoption services about the cost you are required to incur. In addition to that, cut down on the unnecessary expenses. For example, if you are currently spending on takeaways, such as coffee or morning breakfast, start preparing these meals at home.
Try to save money wherever you can. Consider different options, such as carpooling, making breakfast at home, and even go for downsizing if you must. This will enable you to gather a considerable amount of funds to put aside for adoption.
Regardless of what your goal in life is, it is important to develop a habit of saving money. When you start a family life and wish to adopt in the future, you should start saving instantly. Open a bank account to keep a certain percentage of your income aside for adoption every month and don’t touch that money at all. Even if you get a bonus from work, put that in the account toward adoption.
Again, inter-country adoption is very expensive; it can even take over $30,000 to complete that process. Although, you may not have to make the lump sum payment, you still have to arrange money from time to time. Therefore, save as much as you can. If you already have savings in the form of investment, bonds, or cash, you can use it toward the cost of adoption.
The overall cost of adoption can be quite expensive, and it can be daunting and quite an overwhelming experience for parents. By breaking the overall cost into smaller chunks, you will be able to collect money faster and without extra pressure. It also becomes achievable because you are aware of how much money you will need in the next step.
The adoption process takes several years. In some cases, it can take 4 or 5 years before the process is complete. It gives you a lot of time to gather money and pay for each step.
- Look for Employee Adoption Program
There are a number of employers who have an adoption program in place to facilitate its employees. Make an inquiry to find out whether they are offering any program or not.
How to Adopt Internationally
For international adoption or inter-country adoption, you should comply with the laws of both the countries. There are two processes involved in this adoption: immigration or citizenship process and a process for adoption.
If you are considering international adoption, it is important to coordinate with your central authority of the territorial or provincial adoption. To qualify for the process, you must fulfill the requirements laid out by the Canadian territory or province where you live or the requirements of a country where you live. In addition to that, you should also meet the requirements of adoption authority of the country from where you wish to adopt.
The central authority guides you whether or not you are required to contact a licensed adoption agency, explain the requirements of international adoption, and explain the laws of the country where the child currently lives.
- Process for Immigration and Citizenship
To bring the adopted child into Canada, you must apply for his or her citizenship or permanent residency. In order to find out a better option, carry out a research to understand the difference between both the options. Some countries prefer the process to be completed in Canada. In that case, permanent residency is a better option.
Provinces and territories are responsible for the adoption process, whereas, the federal government only plays a role in the citizenship or immigration process of the adopted child.
The adoption process varies from one country to another, but some of the basic steps involved in the process are as follows:
- Adoption agency provides an information package to explain how the program works
- You are required to attend the information session to get a grip on the entire process
- You must also complete a home study
- Prepare a complete set of documentation and send it to the agency to get it authenticated by the Embassy and legalized and notarized by the External Affairs
- Also, send a complete set of documentation to the adoption authority in a country where the child lives
- Complete paperwork for immigration and sponsor a child to come to Canada
- Talk to your doctor to get the child immunized
- Get an offer of a child by the agency; it will also include a medical report from doctors in that country who are approved by the Canadian government
- Send those authorities an acceptance in writing
- You will get a notice for traveling from the adoption authorities in the country of origin
- Get a visa and do flight booking
- Travel to the country of origin to bring the child back to your home country
- Execute the final process to complete the adoption
- Complete the immigration process
- Once you bring the child back to your home country, you are required to go through the process of post-placement supervision with professional adoption practitioners. This will enable you to learn the do’s and don’ts
- Get the adoption order from a court along with the birth certificate
Keep in mind that it takes at least six months or a year to complete the international home study. After that, it will take a few more years to bring the child back home; the time duration depends on the country you choose to adopt from and how quickly your application is prepared by the agency.