International Adoption
Frequently Asked Questions
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Who can adopt?
Lutheran Family Services places children with families who can best meet the needs of each individual child. Both singles and couples, with and without children, have adopted through LFS.

How much does international adoption cost?
Fees range from $17,000 to $30,000 depending on the country you chose and, often, on the age and availability of the child you are seeking to adopt.

What do the fees include?
LFS is a non-profit organization. Your costs allow us to provide professionals dedicated to serving the needs of children and families. The agency fee pays for the application, home study, coordination of services and post-placement services. The foreign fee includes money to support the on-going care of the orphanage (food, clothing, staff, and medicine), a humanitarian donation, fees for authenticating or legalizing the dossier, adoption officials, the in-country representative and other staff members, and money to continue the adoption program.

Who are these waiting children?
LFS places infants, toddlers, older children, sibling groups, and children with special needs from many backgrounds and countries.

Do I need to choose the country I will adopt through before contacting LFS?
No. LFS staff will help you explore your options and answer your questions so you can make an informed decision that feels right to you.

What is a homestudy, and why do we need one?
A homestudy is a document written by a trained homestudy specialist describing the education and preparation you have undergone in order to complete an international adoption, as well as information about you and your family. Nebraska and U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) regulations require a homestudy for any adoption.

Why should we choose LFS?
Our connections with the Lutheran Adoption Network (LAN) enable us to provide you with all the benefits of a large agency with a small agency feel. LFS works with 4 placing agencies across the U.S. that specialize in international adoption. The placing agencies have country coordinators - the "behind the scenes" people - who assist your International Adoption Specialist with the adoption process. The International Adoption Specialist is your direct contact person who will conduct the homestudy, provide guidance and support in completing the dossier and the necessary paperwork for INS, give you program updates, prepare and distribute referral information, and make your travel arrangements. After you have accepted a referral, traveled to get your child and returned home, the International Adoption Specialist will complete the post-placement requirements.

What is an in-country representative and what do they do for us? How do we communicate with them?
An in-country representative is responsible for facilitating the adoption process in your child´s country-of-origin. This often includes overseeing or communicating with the orphanage, processing the dossier in-country, making and/or preparing child referral information, assisting with humanitarian aid for children, and assisting you while you are in the country. In general, you may communicate with an in-country representative through your International Adoption Specialist. He or she will be happy to forward questions by phone or e-mail to the in-country representative.

How are referrals made?
In most countries, the in-country representative or officials from that country match child referrals; country coordinators make other referrals. A few countries allow the adoptive parents to go to the country and choose the child.

What are the basic steps in completing an international adoption?
To adopt internationally, you must complete a homestudy, choose a country and complete the immigration and naturalization requirements for the country you have chosen. In most cases you will travel to the country to meet your child and complete the legal adoption process in that country. After you return, reports will be furnished to the country in which you adopted your child.

Do I have to travel to my child´s birth country?
In most instances, travel by at least one parent is required. LFS encourages parents to travel, regardless of the travel requirements of the country. It is a valuable experience to see your child´s birth country and experience its culture.

What are the paperwork requirements?
The Dossier is the collection of documents required by the foreign country. Documents vary by country and include the homestudy. The documents must be notarized and may need to be certified and authenticated. LFS will assist you with this process.

What are the foreign requirements for adoption?
The laws and regulations governing adoption differ from country to country and frequently change. Please refer to the individual descriptions of each country.

What information will we receive when the child is referred to us?
The information varies by country, but is generally limited. You will be given a description of the child, including age, medical status, height and weight and a brief social history. There is usually a picture of the child and sometimes a video.

How do I choose a country?
Your choice of country will be largely shaped by several factors:

• Your ability to meet the country's requirements
• The current availability of waiting children
• Cost and travel requirements
• Your interest in the culture and ethnicity