Korea Adoption Factsheet, Page 2
KOREA ADOPTION PROCEDURES: South Korean authorities advised that the entire adoption process in Korea should be child-oriented rather than parent-oriented. This reflects the fact that there are many more interested prospective parents than there are children available for adoption.
The first step for a U.S. family is to apply to a U.S. adoption agency to conduct a home study of the prospective adoptive parents. This study can take from six months to one year. The home study examines the work, marital, financial, social, and medical history of the U.S. family. Family size, age, and income of the prospective parents are carefully considered. The prospective adoptive parent (s) should contact the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security (BCIS) nearest them to initiate the pre-processing of yet-to-be-identified child or specific child for an immigrant visa. It is important to contact BCIS very early in the process to ensure that the child you are trying to adopt will meet the requirements of U.S. immigration law to qualify for an immigrant visa.
Most Korean children adopted by U.S. citizens leave South Korea in the foster care of an U.S. adoption agency affiliated with one of the four South Korean government licensed adoption agencies. The adoptive parents in the United States then adopt the child. It is not necessary for the prospective adoptive parent (s) to travel to Korea. The adoption agency will process the case in Korea and arrange for escort and transportation of the child to the U.S.
After the child arrives in the U.S., the U.S. adoption agency follows up with the parents and child through a series of home visits at six-month intervals. The U.S. agency sends reports of the post-placement home visits to the South Korean adoption agency, which keeps the reports in the child’s permanent file. The U.S. family does not officially adopt the child until the child has been in the U.S. for one year. The U.S. adoption agency maintains a constant relationship with the child and family even after the final adoption, until the child becomes a naturalized U.S. citizen, usually two years after the child’s entry into the United States. The Korean adoption agencies’ files on adopted Korean children are maintained indefinitely. The children and their adoptive families are also encouraged to attend U.S. agency-sponsored get-togethers to maintain contact with other Korean adoptions in their community
A separate Korean regulation governs the adoption of abandoned children. This rule states that an abandoned child can only be adopted six months after the child has been registered with the Korean Children’s Fund (KCF), which maintains a central listing of all abandoned and missing children in order to help parents who are trying to locate them. Adoption of children over 18 months of age must be delayed for 12 months after registration with KCF. Attempts to obtain waivers of this waiting period have been unsuccessful to date and adoptive parents impacted by this procedural change have no recourse but to wait the additional time. This procedure does not apply to children who have been given up for adoption by a single parent or both parents.
U.S. adoption procedures: Comprehensive information regarding international adoptions by U.S. citizens is available through the State Department’s Office of Children’s Issues in the Bureau of Consular Affairs and through the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security (BCIS), and your local state’s agency or department that handles adoption.
Credits: U.S. Department of State
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