Don’t be afraid to ask questions when interviewing international adoption agencies. This is a HUGE decision! Here are seven questions to get you started:
1. How many years have you been working in international adoption?
2. Which countries do you work with and how many placements did you make last year from each country? How many years have you been placing children from each of these countries?
3. Do you have a complete description of all fees, including agency fees, translator fees, donations, and the various country fees?
4. If the country I apply to changes its rules and I become disqualified, can I switch to another country? If the country closes or the program changes significantly can I change programs?
5. Who will help me prepare my dossier?
6. If travel is involved, how long should I expect to be out of the country? Will my spouse and I both need to travel?
7. Do you subcontract with other agencies in countries where your agency is not certified?