Baha'i Lotus Temple
International Adoption
The Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption is an international adoption agreement between participating countries on best adoption procedures. In order to adopt a child from a Hague Convention country, you must be found eligible to adopt within the United States. The form, I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country, needs to be completed and properly filed. Once found eligible to adopt, your ASP will send your I-800A along with your adoption home study to the foreign country's central adoption authority. They will then review the information and determine if you are eligible to adopt under their country's law.If found eligible, the country will send an Article 16 report, which is an official report on a child's psychological, social, and medical history. 4.Once you have accepted the adoption referral, you must apply for the approval to adopt the child via form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative. Once this is submitted, your ASP or you must submit a visa application to a Consular Officer at the U.S. embassy or consulate. The form I-800 will also be reviewed again by the foreign country. The above steps must be completed before moving forward with the finalization of the international adoption. This process will vary from country to country.
Domestic Adoption
While domestic adoption rates in the United States have declined since the 1970s, the number of adoptions in the country still number 25, 000 to 30,000 a year, a figure which represents an average of 19 000 more than international adoption rates.Eligibility requirements for domestic adoption vary from state to state. Birth families are becoming increasingly involved in the type of home into which their child will be adopted. This is known as an open adoption. Because of this, parents under 25 and over 45 will generally have a longer wait; also, couples and people with smaller families usually get selected more often than singles or families with several children. Domestic adoption is less expensive than international adoption because adopting parents don’t have to pay for expensive travel costs or foreign documents. Also, with a domestic adoption, your chance of adopting a newborn is higher, whereas in international adoptions children are generally placed from orphanages and so they tend to be a little older. On the other hand, domestic adoption is more difficult. Unlike in international adoption cases, where children are generally more needy, domestic adoption has more selective criteria, making it harder to adopt a child.
Single Parent Adoption
Agencies and institutions may give singles a hard time with approving their request for adoption. Some agencies have certain policies in regards to single adoptions. Meanwhile, other agencies do not accept single applicants at all. Single males who adopt children encounter more difficulties as compared to female singles. Men have difficulty adopting a child both within the country and overseas. Some nations overseas may accept female applicants who are single, but will not consider a male applicant. When rejecting male applicants, experts refer to a child’s need for nurture. Females are considered as nurturing, and capable of caring for a child. Meanwhile, suspicion is applied to the male who wishes to adopt a child. Isn't it ironic that we want more men to step up to the plate and take care of their children (aka not be deadbeat dads)but yet we don't allow them to adopt.
Same Sex Couple Adoptions
In a society that that deems that heterosexual couples are the norm, it is no wonder that same sex couples have difficulty adopting. What is really sad is that there are a lot of children who need homes and remain unadopted because of society's crazy stereotypes and pre-concieved notions about gay men and lesbians. Countries overseas will not let same sex couples adopt, they have to adopt as a "single man" or a "single woman". In a recent interview with The New York Times Senator John McCain appeared to imply that it is preferable for parent-less children to go un-adopted than be adopted by gay couples. So a child should grow up homeless or in a group home with no one to nurture them or with no family until the age of 18 once they are no longer a orphan/ward of their state? I think not Mr. McCain. Even though Florida is the only U.S. state that still has a legal ban on gay adoption, it is very difficult for same sex couples to adopt because the laws in most US states are NOT clear on this issue.
Singles/Couples who Have Filed for Bankruptcy
Being in the midst of a recession, it is no surprise many couple have or will have to file for bankruptcy. If you have a bankruptcy on your credit it may or may not impact your ability to adopt depending on the agency. Adoption agencies will go through your financial background with a fine tooth comb and "get all up in your business." Some adoption agencies may have no problem considering your application so long as a sufficient amount of time has passed since the bankruptcy -- as with mortgages and other loans, you should assume that "sufficient" time is at least two years.
Singles/Couples Who Have Been Convicted of a Misdemeanor or Felony
Criminal Background checks on all adoptive parents are required period. Unfortunately a lot of agencies frown upon and will not accept applicants who have a criminal record even if you made a mistake back in the days when you were "young and dumb." International agencies are very strict when it comes to this and I only found one domestic agency during my research that will let applicants apply with a criminal record because they let the birth mother's pick the parents.
Adoption Costs
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As you can see adoption is a valid avenue towards starting a family however, it is a journey wrought with many twists and turns. I applaud anyone who has had the patience and sheer determination to go through this process and achieve their happy ending to becoming a parent. My hope is that people will understand that as wonderful as adoption is it is NOT the best avenue for everyone, and Surrogacy offers a different viable avenue for singles and couples who otherwise would not have been able to adopt.
Sarah Jessica Parker & Matthew Broderick
Since having given birth to her 6 year old son Parker, Sarah had been unable to carry a subsequent succesful pregancy to term. Sarah & her husband Matthew turned to Gestational Surrogacy and were blessed with twin girls.
Marisa Jaret Winokur & Judah Miller
After surviving a battle with cervical & uterine cancer, Marisa & Judah turned to a surrogate to concieve their son Zev. In an article for People Magazine Marisa encouraged others who are struggling to concieve by stating, "You can find a way to do this. If you want to have a baby, you can adopt, there’s in vitro, there’s surrogacy. With my surrogate, its a whole different world. There is no, like, ‘Is she going to change her mind?’ It’s my egg, it’s my biological child…This is the most intense time of my life."
Dennis & Kimberly Quaid
When Dennis' wife Kimberly suffered from at least 5 known miscarriages, they turned to a "Gestational Carrier" as Dennis Quaid likes to say and are now thankful to have twins Thomas Boone and Zoe Grace.
Ricky Martin
Ricky who recently came out on his website for the benefit of his own self-acceptance and his family, had twin sons via a Gestational Surrogate in August 2008.
Katey Sagal & Kurt Sutter
Katey suffered from medical issues after the birth of her two older children from a previous marriage but when she married Kurt Sutter who did not have any children of his own, they turned to a Gestational Surrogate and baby Esme' Louise was born.
Laurie Metcalf & Matt Roth
After the birth of their son Will 11 years earlier, Laurie & her husband turned to Gestational Surrogacy to concieve their daughter May in July 2005. Laurie also has an older daughter named Zoe from a previous marriage.
Kelsey & Camille Grammer
Kelsey & his wife Camille turned to the Center for Surrogate Parenting when they were unable to conceive a child together becasue she suffers from a form of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which her doctors said could present serious health risks if she attempted to give birth. They decided to turn to a Gestational Surrogate to help them build their family. Their daughter Mason Oliva was born in 2001 and their son Jude Gordon was born in 2004.
Chris Meloni & Sherman Williams
Chris & his wife had both daughter Sophia and son Dante with the help of a Gestational Surrogate. 
Joan Lunden & Jeff Konigsberg
Joan has three grown daughters from her first marriage concieved naturally. When she remarried in 2000 she and Jeff wanted children together becasue he had none. After 5 failed IVF attempts, Joan and Jeff turned to Gestational Surrogacy and have been blessed with two sets of twins. Joan has become a spokesperson for Gestational Surrogacy.
Taylor Dane
Songstress Taylor Dayne embarked on her journey toward single parenthood in 2001, after her twins, Levi and Astaria, arrived via a Gestational Surrogate. Taylor used her eggs and had a friend donate the sperm. 
The Ever Growing World of Pro Surrogacy in India
Commercial Gestational Surrogacy became legalized in India in 2002. The cost comes to about $25,000, roughly a third of the typical price in the United States. That includes the medical procedures; payment to the surrogate mother, which is often, but not always, done through the clinic; plus air tickets and hotels for two trips to India (one for the fertilization and a second to collect the baby). Pros: India is known for having skilled medical professionals. The Indian clinics are making it even more convenient for International Intended Parents knowing that at times the lifestyles of other cultures can be quite hectic. You can start your IVF cycles in the U.S. with your own fertility doctor so your stay in India is minimal. If your husband can't be there you can ship or carry his sperm to India or if you guys have frozen embryos you can ship those to India as well. Surrogacy Law is governed by contracts and under guidelines issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research, surrogate mothers sign away their rights to any children. A surrogate’s name is not even on the birth certificate. Surrogates help foreign couples achieve the possibility of having a child biologically related to both or one of the Intended Parents and the Surrogates are able to earn an income to provide a better way of life for their families. Cons: Once the baby or babies are born, the process to bring them back to the United States in our case and getting their U.S. can be quite overwhelming. On top of getting a Passport and an Exit Visa for your baby you have to fill out various forms at the U.S. Consulate and this process can take anywhere from 2-4 weeks.
