Product Description

How to Adopt Internationally is organized around 23 easy-to-follow steps that lead readers through every phase of the international adoption process — from finding a reputable agency and organizing a home study to choosing a country to adopt from, working through emigration and immigration, traveling abroad, and adjusting to a new life with a child. The book includes detailed instructions for estimating the cost of an international adoption and also provides samples of almost all forms and documents parents will be required to fill out or provide including sample guidelines used to conduct a home study. The last half of the book provides up-to-date and in-depth information on the adoption laws and requirements for 68 child-placing countries including Russia, Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria, China, Korea, Guatemala, Chile, Mexico, and Colombia. This latest edition also includes Internet addresses for finding important updates regarding international adoption on the World Wide Web including sites for downloading INS forms, contacting Embassies and agencies overseas, finding country-specific adoptive parent support groups, up-to-date travel information, and much more. This is the most comprehensive and up-to-date guide to international adoption available anywhere.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #80677 in Books
• Published on: 2003-01-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

From Library Journal
Individuals desiring to adopt children from other countries will find this book extremely valuable. As parents of three adopted Colombian children and founders of the nonprofit adoption agency Los Ni$os International, Nelson-Erichsen and Erichsen well understand the adoption process on both personal and professional levels. They have broken down the international adoption process into 23 detailed, easy-to-follow steps, from selecting an agency to adapting to life with an adopted child. The adoption laws of 86 child-placing countries, samples of required documents, the approximate costs of international adoption, and the health concerns of Third World orphans are covered, and the web sites of foreign embassies and parent support groups are listed. The reader must keep in mind that this type of information changes constantly. Nevertheless, this is an outstanding source for public libraries and special libraries dealing with adoption.DMee-Lee Hom, Hunter Coll. Lib., New York
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The Midwest Book Review, March 2003
"...a truly first-rate guide filled from cover to cover with practical and sound advice..."

Adoptive Families, March 2003
"Easy to read and a guide in every sense of the word...."

Customer Reviews

Helpful Information
This is a very useful resource...I love that the book includes samples of all documents that you will encounter in an international adoption. Some of the information, though "updated & revised for 2003," is already outdated in 2008. However, an overall useful tool for prospective adoptive parents.

Thank you Jean Erichsen
Jean, I would first like to thank you for the years you have dedicated to not only the children, but the years of knowledge you have made available to so many other adoptive families like ours.

As we began the adoption of our Haitian son, we were very perplexed as to entire process. My wife had done the majority of research while we were looking for our child, but when we found him in a Haitian orphanage, our process seemed to take a difficult turn. As Haiti is not one of the top countries for international adoption, and apparently one of the most difficult; we were extremely limited as to finding an agency to assist us, and in the end, decided to proceed independently along with the help of a parent liason from the orphanage. With a background in engineering, and years of experience developing and running our business, we weren't faced with the fear that we would not be able to handle it. Instead, my concern came from the number of sources available that only painted a partial picture or gave limited guidance. Digging deeper into the myriad of information, I began to get overwhelmed with all the questions that naturally arise while adopting... that was, until we came across your book How to Adopt Internationally. I have to admit that with such a simple title, I was thinking this would be another book to add to the already growing pile that would offer some helpful tips, but provide even more confusion. I couldn't have been more wrong.

Jean, I want you to know that your book gave us the peace of mind and confidence that we could handle this process independently and successfully bring our child (now children) home. You have taken your years of knowledge and experience and so simply made it available in an easy to understand package. We can't thank you enough, and would recommend this book to anyone considering international adoption. Whether adopting through an agency or independently, this is a must read. Thank you again for your service. We wish you and your family many, many more years of changing lives.

Forever Grateful

Details, details, details
In international adoption, the devil is truly in the details. That's what sets the Erichsen's book apart from the others. The details on the process, the forms that must be collected, and the forms that must be submitted--both domestically and internationally--make this book invaluable. Whether you are working independently or with an agency, I found this book essential for understanding the process and getting through the paperwork.