To adopt a child from another country and bring that child to live in the United States, you must first be found eligible to adopt under U.S. federal and state law and the law of the country from which you intend to adopt.
The federal agency that determines a person’s eligibility to adopt is U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), part of the Department of Homeland Security. You may not bring an adopted child (or a child for whom you have gained legal custody for the purpose of immigration and adoption) into the United States until USCIS determines that you are eligible to adopt from another country. You must meet certain requirements to bring a foreign-born child whom you've adopted to the United States. Some of the basic requirements include the following:
In addition to qualifying to adopt under U.S. law, you must also meet your home state's requirements for prospective adoptive parents. Learn more about individual state requirements on the Child Welfare Information Gateway website.
Each country has its own requirements for adopting parents. These are explained in the Country Information section of this website.