Adopting family member from USA (as a US citizen)

[amyJgray]

Hoping someone can give us any advice or even point us in the right direction of someone that can.

So my wife is from the USA and I (same sex couple) am from Scotland. We got married in March of this year and within the next few weeks (after 6 months wait for the spouse visa) she will be coming over here permanently!

A few weeks ago, my wife was approached by a family member living in the USA, she had stated she was pregnant (around 17 weeks) and was not planning on keeping the baby. She said that she wanted us to take them. We feel so drawn to adopt this baby, but of course we have no idea where to start or if it’s even possible!

With my wife being a US citizen but living here, everything I have found is if both parents are UK citizens. I have no idea where to even start looking!
We obviously need to go through extensive checks and get approved, get a social worker involved and adoption agency right? But what country? And how do we even begin?
Will there be enough time between getting that sorted and her giving birth? Or will the baby have to go into foster care or live with another family member until we are approved and can bring them over?

Everything is just so confusing right now and we have no clue where to start, so would your appreciate any information, links, lawyers or clarity you can give us.

I suggest you contact the IAC centre for international adoption.

I dont know how the adoption process works in the USA, but I suspect you may have to look at adopting the baby on the USA and the legalities of then bringing them over here.

IAC best placed to advise

Good luck.

You have to be assessed in your country of 'habitual residence'. That term is not defined legally, because so many aspects of your life have to be weighed up - not only where you have lived and for how long, but citizenships/permanent residencies, where you hold assets etc etc!

Legal adoptions in the USA are recognised by the UK (the list of countries is here www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1801/made).

I adopted while living in South Africa, and although the adoption was recognised, I had to apply for DD to be registered as a British citizen and supply various paperwork.

As I understand it, children adopted from a country on the recognised list through the IAC, i.e. while the parent(s) are living in the UK, are automatically entitled to British citizenship, and to be able to travel to and live in the UK. So you should be able to be assessed here, and an adoption agency in the USA will need to do whatever is needed in terms of making the baby legally available for adoption there.

Timeframes - no idea!