International Adoption Maine: What Maine Families Need to Know

Maine families pursue international adoption for the same reasons families anywhere do — a desire to parent, limited local infant adoption options, and connection to a specific country through family heritage or missionary experience. What's different about doing it from Maine is a combination of geographic and infrastructure factors: few local agencies with international programs, the absence of Maine-specific guidance from most international adoption resources, and logistical challenges around home studies in rural areas.

This page covers how international adoption works at the federal level, what Maine-specific considerations apply, and what families here need to think about before committing to an international program.

The Hague Convention Framework

The United States is a party to the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, which means that adoptions from other Hague countries must follow a specific bilateral process. For families adopting from non-Hague countries, a different federal process applies — but both require U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approval before the child can enter the country.

Hague Convention process (I-800A/I-800):

1. Choose an Hague-accredited agency (required for all Hague country adoptions)
2. File Form I-800A (suitability determination) with USCIS
3. Complete a home study meeting Hague standards
4. Be matched with a child by the central authority of the sending country
5. File Form I-800 (individual child approval) with USCIS
6. Attend final adoption or guardianship proceedings in the sending country
7. Obtain immigrant visa for the child at a U.S. embassy
8. Child enters U.S. and adoption is re-finalized (or finalized) in Maine Probate Court if required

Non-Hague country process (I-600A/I-600): The process is similar but uses different USCIS forms and does not require a Hague-accredited agency. However, the number of non-Hague countries with active adoption programs has declined sharply over the past decade.

Current International Adoption Availability

International adoption volumes have declined dramatically worldwide since the 2000s. Countries including China, Russia, Guatemala, Ethiopia, and South Korea have closed or severely restricted their programs to U.S. families. The countries with currently open programs are fewer and typically involve longer processes and higher costs.

Families interested in international adoption should verify current program status directly with a licensed agency before investing time or money. Country programs change — sometimes quickly — based on bilateral diplomatic relationships and internal policy changes in the sending country.

The Maine Home Study for International Adoption

International adoption home studies must meet both Maine state requirements and the additional federal requirements set by USCIS. For Hague Convention adoptions, the home study must also comply with federal Hague regulations, which add requirements beyond Maine's domestic standards.

Key differences in the international adoption home study:

• Must be conducted by a licensed agency authorized to complete Hague-compliant home studies (not all Maine agencies have this accreditation)
• Must include a statement on the family's ability to parent a child of a different race, nationality, and cultural background
• Must address the family's preparedness for the health and developmental needs common to children from the specific sending country (institutional care history, prenatal exposure, malnutrition)
• Must be updated if more than 18 months old before the adoption is finalized

The physical home standards and background check requirements are the same as for domestic adoption, but the document checklist is longer and must be apostille-certified for submission to foreign authorities.

Maine Agencies With International Programs

Very few Maine-based agencies have active international adoption programs. Most Maine families pursuing international adoption work with nationally licensed agencies that are Hague-accredited and operate from other states but are permitted to serve Maine families. Examples include MAPS (Maine Adoption Placement Service, now merged with other organizations) and national agencies like WACAP, Adoptions From The Heart, and others.

When selecting an international agency, verify:

• Hague accreditation (required for all Hague country adoptions)
• Active program in your target country with recent placements
• Experience with Maine-specific Probate Court re-finalization requirements
• Clear fee structure and refund policy for failed placements

Maine families should also confirm that their chosen agency's home study staff are licensed to conduct home studies in Maine. If not, you may need a separate Maine-licensed agency to conduct the study and then have it incorporated into the international process.

Finalization in Maine

Depending on the country and type of adoption, you may need to re-finalize the adoption in Maine after the child enters the United States. Some countries grant a full adoption decree recognized by Maine; others grant guardianship that requires adoption finalization here.

When re-finalization is required, the process uses the same Probate Court filing as a domestic adoption. The key difference is that the required "consent" documents are replaced by the foreign adoption decree or guardianship order, and the home study will already be complete from the international process.

Cost of International Adoption for Maine Families

International adoption costs typically range from $25,000 to $50,000 or more, depending on the country, agency, and specific circumstances. This includes:

• Agency fees: $15,000 – $30,000
• Home study: $2,000 – $5,000 (Hague-compliant studies cost more)
• USCIS filing fees: $1,000 – $2,000
• Translation and apostille costs: $500 – $2,000
• Travel (usually two trips to the country): $5,000 – $15,000
• In-country legal fees: $2,000 – $8,000

The federal adoption tax credit applies to international adoption and can offset a significant portion of these costs. International adoptions of children with special needs may qualify for the full credit regardless of actual expenses.

Employer benefits are worth investigating before beginning. Maine employers including Unum provide up to $25,000 in adoption assistance that applies to international placements.

Is International Adoption Right for Maine Families?

For families genuinely committed to international adoption, it remains a viable path — but it requires more research, more cost, more travel, and more patience than domestic adoption. The declining number of active programs means many families who start exploring international adoption ultimately pivot to domestic routes.

If your primary interest is adopting an infant and you're open to domestic options, Maine's private and independent domestic adoption pathways may involve less uncertainty. If you have a specific country connection, language capability, or are specifically seeking to adopt an older child or sibling group, international adoption may be the right fit.

The Maine Adoption Process Guide focuses on domestic Maine adoption but includes a chapter on how international adoption interacts with Maine's Probate Court re-finalization requirements, the home study overlap, and the tax credit rules for international placements.

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