|
Parental Age
|
- Minimum age 27
- Preference for no more than 45 years between mother and child, but exceptions will be made for harder to place children or when it is in the best interest of the child
|
|
Length of Marriage
|
Minimum of 3 years marriage or cohabitation
|
|
Divorce
|
1 divorce each; although some agencies say that they have had referrals where one spouse has had two divorces
|
|
Children in Family
|
- Families with children are accepted, although childless couples are generally matched faster.
- Larger families should be open to older or special needs children.
- Families must wait one year after the birth or adoption of a child before submitting an application.
|
|
Single Applicant
|
Allowed, but generally only for older children or children with special needs
|
|
Sexual Orientation
|
Does not knowingly place with homosexuals.
|
|
Children Available
|
2 years to 15 years at time child arrives home to the US (currently there is a moratorium on applications for families wanting children under two years); boys and girls; many sibling groups
|
|
Race/Ethnicity
|
Asian
|
|
Gender
|
Slightly more boys than girls placed. A family may not make a gender preference unless adopting an older child or a child with special needs
|
|
Adopting more than one unrelated child at same time
|
Not allowed
|
|
Travel in Country
|
1 parent required; approximately 1 week; do not travel in groups.
|
|
Referral Method
|
Standard referral; assignments made by Philippine governmental agency, unless adopting a child with special needs. Parents can select the special needs child or older child from the special needs program and ask to be matched.
|
|
Wait for referral (after dossier submitted)
|
- Approximately 2–3 years
- Childless couples may get matched sooner
- Couples requesting a child with special needs have a much shorter wait
|
|
Wait after referral
|
4-6 months
|
|
Approximate Cost
|
$15,000- 20,000 + travel
|
|
Adequacy of medical reports
|
Medical reports and background information are usually fairly detailed.
|
|
Youngest Age Upon Arrival Home
|
2 years, but usually the youngest will be at least 3.
|
|
Orphanage/Foster Care
|
Foster care, group home, or orphanage
|
|
How children enter government care
|
Relinquishment or abandonment due to poverty and social stigma against unwed motherhood
|
|
Prevalence of FAS
|
Not enough placements to get a consensus from IA doctors interviewed.
|
|
Program
Stability
|
Stable
|
|
Number of children placed in the US 1999- 20010
|
2,776 |
|
Growing/Declining
|
Increasing slightly since early 2000’s
|
|
Post Adoption Reports
|
Reports prepared by home study agency at 2, 4 and 6 months.
|
|
Hague Treaty
|
Yes
|
|
Additional Information
|
- Must use a Hague accredited US adoption agency.
- The adoption is not completed in the Philippines; therefore, parents must adopt the child according to the laws of their state usually after a period of supervised custody of 6 months. The final adoption decree must be submitted to the Philippine governmental agency.
- Parents with Catholic or Christian background strongly preferred; Atheists likely will not get a placement. Often a church membership of at least 5 years is preferred.
- Most people in the Philippines speak English, which makes travel easier.
- Slight preference given to families of Filipino descent.
- The US State Department periodically issues travel warnings for travel to the Philippines. Go to www.travel.state.gov to check the status.
|
|
Useful Links
|
- The best source of information on adopting from the Philippines is the website for the Filipino Central Authority for adoption http://www.icab.gov.ph/ This site also has the most up to date list of US agencies placing children from the Philippines.
- US Department of State http://adoption.state.gov/ , type in the country name in the search box.
- If you come up with a question that can’t be answered elsewhere, try contacting the Consular’s Office of the address for the U.S. Embassy in The Philippines:
Embassy of the United States of America, Manila, Philippines
1201 Roxas Boulevard
Ermita, Metro Manila – 1000
Tel: (632) 528-6300
|
| Creating a Family Sponsors with Programs in the Philippines |
|
