What are the differences between independent, agency and Intercountry adoptions?
Independent adoption is when a birth parent places a child directly with prospective adoptive parent(s) for the purpose of adoption. Agency adoption is when a birth parent gives up and transfers his or her legal parental rights to a child to a licensed public or private adoption agency. The adoption agency becomes legally responsible for the care, custody and control of the child. The agency studies and approves adoptive applicants before placing a child in their home for adoption, then supervises the placement for six or more months before the court approves the adoption. Intercountry adoption is the adoption of foreign-born children for whom federal law makes a special immigration entry visa available. The adoption does not confer U.S. citizenship to the foreign-born child, and additional steps are necessary to fulfill requirements of federal immigration and naturalization laws.
