International Adoption Massachusetts: Agencies, Hague Requirements, and Readoption

International adoption has declined significantly over the past two decades. The number of children entering the U.S. through intercountry adoption peaked at nearly 23,000 in 2004 and fell to fewer than 2,000 by 2024. Most sending countries have either closed their programs entirely or restricted placements to specific family types. For Massachusetts families considering international adoption, understanding which countries are currently open, what compliance requirements apply, and whether readoption is necessary is the starting point.

The Hague Convention Framework

The United States is a signatory to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. The Hague Convention applies to adoptions from other Convention countries and is designed to prevent child trafficking, ensure voluntary relinquishment, and establish a regulated system of intercountry adoption.

For Massachusetts families adopting from a Hague Convention country, the requirements include:

• Working with a Hague-accredited adoption service provider (ASP) that is also licensed by the Massachusetts EEC
• Completing a home study conducted by a Hague-accredited social worker
• Submitting a Form I-800A (Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country) to USCIS before being matched with a specific child
• Completing a Form I-800 (Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee) after a child is identified

For adoptions from non-Hague countries, a different process applies: the Orphan Process using Form I-600A/I-600, which has its own requirements for verifying the child's orphan status.

Which Countries Are Currently Open

Most of the historically significant sending countries — China, Russia, South Korea, Ethiopia, Guatemala — have either closed their programs to U.S. families or severely restricted them. As of 2025, the countries with active intercountry adoption programs accessible to U.S. families include (subject to change):

• Colombia — Active Hague program, with extended wait times
• India — Open to U.S. families through CARA (Central Adoption Resource Authority) for older children and sibling groups
• Bulgaria, Poland, Ukraine — Limited programs for older children with special needs
• Haiti — Complicated status; restricted since 2023 due to political instability
• South Africa — Open to U.S. families with specific requirements

The State Department's website at travel.state.gov maintains current country-by-country status. This changes frequently; any information about specific country programs should be verified directly before investing in a home study.

Massachusetts-Licensed Agencies for International Adoption

A Massachusetts EEC license alone does not authorize an agency to facilitate international adoption — the agency must also hold Hague accreditation from the Department of State (or approval as a non-accredited provider for specific non-Hague cases).

Agencies in Massachusetts that have historically offered international programs alongside domestic services:

Wide Horizons for Children (Waltham) — One of the longest-established international adoption agencies in Massachusetts. Their international programs have varied over time based on country availability.

Jewish Family and Children's Service (Waltham) — Provides home study and post-placement services for international adoptions arranged through Hague-accredited agencies.

Because the international adoption landscape shifts frequently, verify any agency's current country programs directly before starting the home study process. A home study completed for an international adoption has additional requirements compared to domestic home studies — Hague-specific training, specific USCIS documentation, and in some cases biometric requirements — and must be completed by a Hague-accredited social worker.

The Massachusetts Home Study for International Adoption

Massachusetts home studies for international adoption must comply with both 110 CMR 7.100 (state requirements) and Hague Convention standards. The key additional elements for international adoption home studies include:

• Documentation of completion of Hague-required education (typically 10 hours of pre-adoption training)
• Financial documentation more extensive than domestic requirements
• Medical examinations for all household members
• Confirmation of USCIS approval (I-800A or I-600A) before the home study is submitted to a foreign authority in most countries

Home study costs for international adoption typically run $3,000 to $6,000 in Massachusetts — somewhat higher than domestic home studies due to the additional requirements.

Readoption in Massachusetts Probate Court

When a Massachusetts family completes an intercountry adoption abroad, the foreign decree is generally recognized under Massachusetts law — the child enters the U.S. as a U.S. citizen under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 if the adoption was finalized abroad and both parents traveled or one parent was present.

Despite the legal recognition of the foreign decree, readoption in a Massachusetts Probate and Family Court is strongly recommended. Readoption provides:

A Massachusetts birth certificate. The amended birth certificate issued after readoption lists the adoptive parents as parents and is a Massachusetts government document, useful for school enrollment, passport applications, and other identity purposes.

Extra legal security. A Massachusetts court decree adds a layer of legal protection that makes the adoption's validity unambiguous under state law.

Name formalization. If the adoptive parents wish to change the child's name, the readoption proceeding is the most efficient way to do so in Massachusetts.

Readoption requires filing in the Probate and Family Court in the county where the family lives. The petition is generally simpler than an original adoption — the foreign decree and the child's immigration documents do most of the evidentiary work. Attorney fees for readoption typically run $1,500 to $3,000.

Costs of International Adoption

International adoption is generally more expensive than domestic foster care adoption and competitive in cost with domestic infant adoption. Typical cost ranges for a Massachusetts family:

The 2025 Federal Adoption Tax Credit of $17,280 per child applies to international adoptions, though for international adoptions it is only available in the year the adoption is finalized (not in earlier years based on expenses, as is sometimes permitted for domestic adoption). Income phase-outs begin at $259,190.

Some Massachusetts employers offer adoption assistance benefits that cover international adoption costs. Liberty Mutual reimburses up to $20,000 per adoption. Fidelity Investments has an adoption assistance program covering qualifying expenses. Check your employer's HR benefits documentation before assuming you're paying the full cost out of pocket.

Alternatives Worth Considering

For Massachusetts families whose primary motivation is providing a home to a child in need — rather than a specific international experience — the domestic DCF foster care adoption pathway is worth serious consideration alongside international adoption. DCF adoption involves no agency fees, a financial support package that continues after finalization (daily subsidies, MassHealth, college tuition waiver), and approximately 2,800 children in Massachusetts waiting for permanent homes.

International adoption remains a legitimate path for families who have specific reasons to pursue it — existing cultural connections to a country, a preference for a very young child from a specific region, or other personal factors. But the decline in available programs, the increased complexity, and the total cost relative to outcomes make it worth an honest assessment against domestic alternatives.

For a complete guide to the Massachusetts adoption landscape — including the DCF foster care adoption process, private domestic infant adoption, and how the Probate Court finalization works across all pathways — see the Massachusetts Adoption Process Guide.

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