Inter-Country Adoptions
Any search for websites on 'Adoption' will bring up a host of agencies across the world ready to help arrange adoptions across international boundaries. It is increasingly difficult to bring a child into this country for the purposes of adoption, without having obtained an adoption order in the child's country of origin: numerous obstacles need to be negotiated, not least the Immigration Department.
The proper procedure is to apply for the adoption order in the child's country of origin, going through a legitimate adoption agency there, who will liaise with the appropriate UK Social Services office for preparation of a 'home study report'. Check first that the country is on the approved list, whose court orders will be recognised in the UK.
New arrangements relating to children who are not already the subject of a recognised adoption order, apply from 30 April 2001.
For more detail (and a lot of helpful advice) see the Department of Health website : www.doh.gov.uk/adoption/intercountry