International Adoption FAQ
International Adoption Questions & Answers
Hand in Hand
Answers to the most common questions about international adoption — cost, eligibility, timelines, travel, the home study, and how Hand in Hand works. Updated 2026.
- Hague Accredited
- Nearly 10,000 Children Placed
About the Agency
Is Hand in Hand licensed?
Yes. Hand in Hand is a licensed, Hague-accredited international adoption agency. State licensing and Hague accreditation serve different purposes, and the services we can provide directly depend on where you live. See our service options and contact our team for current licensing details and arrangements for your state.
What is Hague accreditation and why does it matter?
The Hague Adoption Convention establishes safeguards for children, birth families, and adoptive families in intercountry adoption. Accreditation applies to adoption service providers and requires them to meet applicable standards. Your caseworker can explain how the Convention process applies to your chosen country. Learn about the Convention adoption process.
How long has Hand in Hand been operating?
Hand in Hand was founded in 1974 by MaryLee Lane. For more than five decades, the agency has guided families through international adoption. Read our story and meet the people behind our work.
Eligibility
Is there an age requirement to adopt internationally?
Age requirements depend on U.S. immigration rules, your state, and the child’s country. An unmarried U.S. citizen must generally be at least 25 to use the intercountry adoption process; the rules for married applicants differ. Country programs may also set minimum ages, maximum ages, or parent-child age differences. Review the official eligibility guidance and ask our team about your chosen program.
Are there religious requirements?
Hand in Hand imposes no religious requirements. However, some countries in our programs do have religious requirements. Please refer to the specific country page for details.
Are there income requirements?
Financial requirements depend on the immigration process, your household, and the child’s country. Your home study includes a review of your ability to support a child, and a country program may require additional financial documents. Ask your caseworker which current requirements apply to your family and chosen program.
Can a single person adopt internationally?
Yes, in many of our programs. Bulgaria and Brazil accept single applicants. Haiti accepts single heterosexual women. Hong Kong has limited eligibility for single women with child care experience. Requirements vary by country — contact us to discuss your situation.
Cost & Financial Help
How much does international adoption cost?
Costs vary by country, your state of residence, the services required, and travel. Request a current written fee estimate for your chosen program, including agency, home study, government, translation, in-country, and travel expenses. Ask which costs are included, which are paid separately, and when payments are due. Hand in Hand uses milestone-based billing rather than requiring every fee at the start.
Is financial assistance available?
Yes. Hand in Hand has assistance available on a case-by-case basis. An Adoption Finance Coach is available to help families explore adoption grants, the federal adoption tax credit, employer adoption benefits, and adoption loans. Contact us to connect with our Finance Coach.
The Process
How long does international adoption take?
International adoption can take several years. Timing depends on your country program, home study and dossier preparation, matching, and government processing. Country-page estimates are planning guides, not guaranteed completion dates. Contact the program director for current timelines and factors that may affect your case.
What is a home study?
A home study is a required assessment of your household, background, and readiness to adopt. It includes interviews, home visits, background checks, references, and required documents. Hand in Hand provides home study services where licensed and coordinates with an appropriate local provider for other families. Review our services and confirm arrangements for your state before starting.
What is a dossier?
A dossier is the complete package of legal and personal documents submitted to the foreign country — including your home study, financial documents, medical records, background checks, references, and more. Each country has specific dossier requirements. Hand in Hand prepares and translates your dossier.
What is the I-800A?
Form I-800A is the USCIS Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country. It is used to assess prospective parents’ eligibility and suitability for a Hague Convention adoption. It is separate from Form I-800, which concerns a specific child. Your caseworker helps coordinate the required steps. See the official explanation of adoption forms.
What medical information will we receive about our child?
The information available varies by child and country. Your caseworker will explain the medical and background records provided with a referral, known gaps, and how to request clarification. Consider having the available records reviewed by an independent physician experienced in international adoption before accepting a match. Records cannot guarantee a child’s future health or development.
Do we have any say in the child matching process?
Yes. You provide detailed information about the type of child you are open to adopting — age range, gender preferences, types of special needs you can accept. Hand in Hand and the foreign country use this information to identify a match. A referral is presented to you for review, and you make the final decision to accept or decline.
After Adoption
Will my child be a U.S. citizen?
Citizenship depends on the child’s immigration status, adoption finalization, age, and other legal requirements. Many children with a full and final adoption abroad acquire citizenship after entering the United States as permanent residents and living in a U.S. citizen parent’s legal and physical custody before age 18. Children whose adoptions must be finalized in the United States have additional steps. Review USCIS citizenship guidance and confirm the requirements and documentation for your child.
What post-adoption support does Hand in Hand offer?
Hand in Hand offers post-adoption coaching through experienced professionals — many of them adoptive parents — for challenges including attachment issues, unexpected diagnoses, behavioral issues, birth history searches, and more. Sessions are by video chat; $75 per session after a free consultation. We also maintain a lifelong community of Hand in Hand families.
Domestic vs. International Adoption
What is the difference between international adoption and domestic infant adoption?
International adoption involves adopting a child from another country through a Hague-accredited agency and the legal processes of both the United States and the child’s home country. Children available internationally are typically older, part of a sibling group, or have special needs — though programs vary by country. The process generally takes one to three years. Domestic infant adoption involves adopting a newborn born in the United States, typically through a birth mother who has chosen adoption for her child. Timelines, costs, and emotional journeys differ significantly between the two paths. Families interested in domestic infant adoption may wish to explore Heart to Heart Adoptions, a licensed nonprofit domestic infant adoption agency in Utah that works with birth mothers and adoptive families across the country.
Countries We Serve
We partner with select international programs focused on ethical adoption and child-centered care.
Adopt from Brazil
The #1 U.S. program in Brazil — specializing in siblings, older children, and families ready to keep brothers and sisters together.
Adopt from Bulgaria
A transparent, Hague-accredited process with shorter timelines for children over three and those with special needs.
Adopt from Haiti
A program with deep roots — Hand in Hand has guided Haitian adoptions since 1990, including relative adoptions.
Adopt from Hong Kong
Our newest program focuses on children with special placement needs. Finalization happens in the U.S. after you return home.
Adopt from Hungary
Hand in Hand’s newest country program. Contact us to learn about current openings and requirements.
Ready to Begin Your Journey?
We're here to answer your questions and help you take the next step with confidence.