FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What countries can we adopt from through Lifelink?

• Lifelink places children from South Korea, China, the Philippines, Haiti (on hold) and Hong Kong. Lifelink also has a cooperative program to place children from Poland.

2. What if we want to adopt from a country that Lifelink does not serve?

• Lifelink is happy to work with you in completing your home study for your adoption from anywhere in the world, including the United States.

3. Can we choose the age or gender of our child?

• It depends on the country you wish to adopt from. Some countries allow you to choose the age and/or gender of your child while others do not. In addition, there may be more boys available for adoption from certain countries and more girls available from other countries. It is easier to adopt a boy from South Korea, for instance, while most children adopted from China are girls.

4. Who can adopt?

• While each country has its own requirements and come countries are more flexible than others, most people are able to adopt internationally. It is a matter of finding the country program that best fits your qualifications and needs. Some countries allow single women to adopt.

5. How long will it take?

• While timeframes will vary, most adoptions take 12 to 24 months from the time of initial application to when a child joins your family.

6. What is involved in the process?

• You will work with a Lifelink social worker to complete your home study and file with United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS). You will prepare a dossier for most countries and will also be licensed as foster parents for some countries if required.

7. Will we have to travel to the foreign country to adopt our child?

• Most countries require that you travel to their country to meet and then adopt your child. However, a few countries including South Korea allow for escorts to bring your child into the United States. Your adoption is then legally finalized through your local U.S. court after a waiting period.

8. Can I talk with families who have adopted through Lifelink?

• Of course. We encourage you to talk with families who have already adopted through Lifelink. Contact the references listed on this website or the office nearest you.

9. How do we get started?

• You may wish to attend a free informational meeting, held monthly at varying sites. Or you may wish to arrange a private meeting with a Lifelink staff person. There is no charge for this service. If you are ready to begin, download a Lifelink adoption application and other forms now, complete them and send them along with your $250 application fee to the Lifelink office nearest you. A social worker will be in touch with you soon to begin the process that will unite you with your new child. Forms may be downloaded from this site by click on How to Apply.