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International adoption is a
popular choice among Alberta families especially since there
are more children overseas who need homes and the process
is often faster than a domestic adoption. Adopting internationally
is, however, a complex process and families will require the
assistance of a licensed adoption agency, an international
adoption coordinator and Alberta's Children Services.
There are three types of
international adoptions available in Alberta:
Hague Convention Adoption
- refers to an adoption of a child who lives in a
country that has implemented the Hague Convention. In a Hague
adoption, the governments of both countries are fully involved
in all aspects of the adoption process through their own designated
Central Authorities. Click
here to review the process
Government Adoption
for Non-Hague Countries - refers to an adoption where
the child is in their government's care (or in the care of
a government authorized adoption agency) and there is an adoption
process established between the child's country and Alberta.
The adoption is processed by the child's country through government
channels or through licensed agencies. Click
here to review the process
Private International
Adoption - refers to the adoption of a child who
resides in a country that has not implemented The Hague Convention
on Intercountry Adoption. The child is not in the government's
care and the adoption is finalized in the child's country
as it cannot be finalized in Alberta (it can be finalized
if the adoptive parents obtain permanent residency status
for the child. Note: Immigration Regulations require that
a permanent resident visa be obtained before the child enters
Canada). Click here to review
the process
With the increase of child abduction and
trafficking around the world, many countries have signed the
Hague Convention in an effort to make international adoption
a safer and more secure process. The Hague Convention is an
international agreement which lays out guidelines to govern
adoption processes in these countries and to protect the best
interests of children. The Convention also has safeguards
in place to protect birth and adoptive families but its main
goal is to ensure that an international adoption is in the
best interests of a child and that his/her fundamental rights
are protected. More
information about the Hague Convention.
Canada has been a partner in the Hague Convention
since 1993 and all provinces and territories follow the Convention's
guidelines. Canadians can adopt from countries that have not
ratified the Hague Convention. These adoptions have similar
steps but lack the assurances of Hague Convention adoptions.
The expenses for international
adoptions are quite high and will vary based on the requirements
of the child's country of origin, agency programs, coordinator
fees and several other factors. On average, most international
adoptions cost anywhere from $18,000 to $50,000.
In Alberta, adoptive parents
are responsible for the following costs:
- the home assessment report fees and
parent training courses
- application and registration fees for
a licensed adoption agency
- translation and courier fees
- immigration fees
- the child's medical evaluations
- the agency fees in the child's country
- travel and accommodations
- legal fees and post placement reports
The Role of a Licensed
Adoption Agency
Due to Alberta legislation,
licensed adoption agencies in Alberta are only permitted to
do the work required in Alberta and families will need to
find an adoption coordinator to act as a 'link' to the country
from which you hope to adopt. The licensed adoption agency
in Alberta provides families with home study assessment services,
training, assistance with preparing the family's dossier,
post placement reports and support.
The Role of an Adoption
Coordinator
Alberta families often employ
the services of an adoption coordinator/representative. An
adoption coordinator ensures that the family's documents are
in order, they organize the trip to the child's country and
communicate with officials in the other country on the family's
behalf.
The
Role of Alberta Children and Youth Services
Tthe International Adoption Program from the Adoption and
Permanency Planning Unit of Alberta Children and Youth Services
is also involved in the process. The agency's roles include:
- providing information/procedures for
adopting from specific countries.
- reviewing home assessment reports completed
by licensed agencies and determining that the applicants
are suited to adopt.
- ensuring all documents are provided as
per the requirements of the country of origin (e.g. translated,
notarized, authenticated, verified).
- forwarding the adoption dossier to the
child's country of origin.
- agreeing to the adoptive match
- proposing the match to the adoptive family.
- ensuring that the child meets immigration
requirements and will be admissible to Canada.
- providing provincial acceptance of the
match for immigration purposes.
- finalizing the adoption order in Alberta
if the order cannot be finalized in the child's country.
- forwarding post-adoption reports to the
child's country of origin.
Choosing the citizenship process or the
immigration process
According to Citizenship and Immigration
Canada's web site, as of December 23, 2007, anyone adopted
by a Canadian citizen after February 14th, 1977 can apply
for a grant of Canadian citizenship without first becoming
a permanent resident. Some new adoptions, however, will still
need to use the immigration process. The following explains
the two processes and will assist you in deciding which to
pursue.
The Citizenship
Process:
You can apply for citizenship for an adopted person if:
- at least one adoptive parent is,
or was, a Canadian citizen when the adoption took place
- the adoption severs (or severed)
all ties with the adopted person’s legal parents
- the adoption was or will be completed
outside Canada (except for Quebec)
The adopted person does not meet the
requirements for the citizenship process if:
- neither parent was a Canadian citizen
when the adoption took place
- the adoption took place before
February 15, 1977
- the adoption did not fully sever
all ties with the child’s legal parents
- the adoption will be completed
in Canada, or
- a probationary period is to be
completed in Canada before a final adoption order is issued
from the child’s birth country.
More information on how to apply for Citizenship
can be found here: How
to apply for Citizenship
More information on what happens after you apply for Citizenship
can be found here: After
applying for Citizenship.
The Immigration Process:
You can use the immigration process
to apply for permanent resident status for the adopted child
if:
- the adopted child is going to Canada
to live right after the adoption takes place, or
- one or both parents are Canadian citizens
or permanent residents.
The adopted person does not meet the requirements
for the immigration process if:
- the adopted person is not going to Canada
to live right after the adoption takes place
- you are an adult adoptee living outside
Canada and not returning to Canada to live right after your
application is approved.
More information on Immigration can be found
here: How
to Apply for Imimgration, After
Applying for Immigration, Arriving
in Canada with Your Child
For more information regarding
immigration issues, contact Citizenship and Immigration Toll
Free at: 1-888-242-2100
Like Canada, there are children of all ages
waiting to be adopted from overseas. Most children waiting
to be adopted are available due to poverty and lack of family
services. Many children are abandoned by their biological
families or made orphans due to war and/or disease.
Prospective adoptive families pursuing international
adoption must be aware that these children are considered
special needs. Why? In most cases, these children have had
traumatic early life experiences, health problems, poor pre-natal
and/or postnatal care, or malnutrition. These special needs
could arise due to such situations:
- the child has lived in an orphanage
where there were many children and few caregivers. This
leads to attachment problems and disorders.
- there is little or no background on
their biological families or their own early life experiences
- they had to fend for themselves “on
the street” and their past independence may make it
difficult for them to adjust to life in a family environment
- they suffered physical or emotional
deprivation, leading to long-term problems despite receiving
loving care in their adoptive homes.
Adopting a Child of Another Culture
or Race
With an international adoption, the child
is often a different race and/or culture from their adoptive
family. An inter-racial adoption raises a number of issues
that adoptive parents should be prepared for ahead of time.
An Asian child adopted by a Caucasian couple
will be recognizably different and might have more difficulty
'fitting in' than a child from Russia or the Ukraine. Adoptive
parents are now being encouraged to learn about the child's
country and culture so that they can teach their child about
his/her heritage and incorporate parts of the child's culture
into their family life and identity. Honouring the child's
heritage will instill a sense of pride in the child and help
them in the teenage years with their sense of identity.
Some adoptive families also face the reality
of racism and attitudes from others (even relatives, friends
and colleagues) towards those who are culturally or racially
different. Adoptive families must also be prepared for inappropriate
inquiries from others (often inquisitive strangers) about
the child's origins and adoption. Many adoption agencies offer
seminars and training courses that can prepare families for
such situations and issues. There are also support groups
for families that have adopted internationally. These groups
are wonderful supports for not only parents but as well, their
children, who find friendship with other adoptees possibly
from their country of origin.
Click
here for the International Adoption processes for Albertans
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