Process of Adopting Internationally: Some answers to your questions

A few people with whom we shared our decision to adopt have been asking "have you thought about adopting this way...or that" Having read some books, or hearing stories from people in the past or someone who knows someone who adopted, these questions are expected and fair. And while I have explained to those in the know a little bit about the process, how we arrived at this decision and the legalities involved, I thought the below link might give them a better idea of what I mean.

http://www.adoptiveparents.ca/on_intadoption2.shtml
 An impt pt in the above link to note is "You must have Ministry approval before you proceed with the adoption. It is an offence under the law to pursue an intercountry adoption without Ministry approval." 

 Which rules out any under-the-radar way of adopting one might have heard about in the past. And with something this important you dont want to do anything at all that may jeopardise your family once your baby is home. Now, with strict regulations and licensing you may adopt internationally ONLY through a licensed agency in each country (eg. India has given license to only around 3-4 agencies appx throughout Canada, and same for Russia.) Relative adoptions are treated a little differently, but since no relative has offered their baby to us (imagine the complications!) I won't discuss the legalities of that here.

In many ways it is because procedures were lax and people abused it on both ends, the orphanages who didnt make sure kids were truly abandoned/orphans before giving them to parents internationally because of the high fees they get from the international families compared to the domestic ones from whom they get 1/10th or less. And the other side where people abused and illtreated adopted kids or worse they were used in child trafficking. So, it is good that there is better regulation, but there are just too many children who deserve and need a home and lengthy and difficult processes can break even the strongest of resolves to go through with it. We can all do better.