Philippines Adoptions

More than 7,100 islands make up the Philippines archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam. The third largest English speaking country in the world (behind the U.S. and the U.K.), the Philippines has a rich history combining Asian, European, and American influences. Ceded by Spain to the U.S. in 1898 following the Spanish-American War, the Philippines attained their independence in 1946 after being occupied by the Japanese in World War II. Today, the population of the Philippines exceeds 76 million people. Filipinos are a freedom-loving people, as evidenced by two recent peaceful, bloodless revolutions against what were perceived as corrupt governmental regimes.

In 2002, Americans adopted 221 children from the Philippines. In the Philippines there are more boys available for international adoption than there are girls, primarily because girls are responsible for taking care of aged parents in Filipino society.

What's Involved in Adopting a Child From the Philippines?

The government offices responsible for international adoptions are the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Inter-Country Adoption Board (ICAB). The following list outlines the steps you must take to adopt a child from the Philippines:

• Application: You must submit an application to the ICAB through your adoption agency.
• Matching: The Inter-Country Adoption Placement Committee of the Philippines matches a child with you and then refers its proposal back to the ICAB for approval.
• Placement authority: The Inter-Country Adoption Board notifies your adoption agency of its matching decision. You will have 15 days to accept or reject the child referral. If you agree to the proposed match, the Board issues a Placement Authority within five days (this placement authority allows you to take custody of the child).
• Application for immigrant visa: The child must appear at the U.S. Embassy for an immigrant visa interview. The Inter-Country Adoption Board serves as a proxy for the adoptive parents. The ICAB also processes all the necessary documents and fees, including passport and medical exam.
• Child travels to the United States: You must arrive no later than thirty days after the immigrant visa has been issued to bring your child home to the U.S.
• Supervision of Trial Custody: Upon receiving custody of the child, you enter a six-month trial period where your adoption agency monitors the child's welfare.
• Petition for Adoption: You file an adoption petition with a court in the United States within 6 months after completing the trial custody period.
• Final Adoption Decree: You must submit the final U.S. adoption decree to ICAB within one month of issuance.

In a Nut Shell: The Low-Down on Adopting From the Philippines

• Children Available: Healthy children, between 11 and 20 months of age at the time of placement. Older and special needs children are also available for adoption from the Philippines.
• Parent Requirements: Married couples, single men, and single women may adopt from the Philippines. Parents must be at least 27 years old and at least 16 years older than the child to be adopted.
• Travel Requirements: One parent is required to travel, although both parents are strongly urged to make the trip. Trip length averages five to seven days.
• Time Frame: From your initial application until the time your bring your child home takes an average of 18 months.
• Number of Children Adopted by Americans in 2002: 221
• Additional Information: There are more boys available for adoption than girls in the Philippines. Some of the children available for adoption live in orphanages while others are in foster care.

Credits: Excerpted from "International Adoption Guidebook," by Mary Strickert