How can you adopt internationally as a US citizen living in Italy?

Answer 1

"How can you adopt internationally as a US citizen living in Italy?"

Adopting while living abroad is possible ... the question becomes, by whose rules do you adopt?

I would put it this way:

If you have permanent residence in a given country then that country's rules apply in regard to adopting children in that country, or in adopting children from Another Country.

If you are temporarily abroad, and not considered a permanent resident of the country you live in, then you are keeping your resident status in your home country, and the rules of your home country apply.

So one factor is, does your home country consider you are a resident abroad, or still "residing" at home? It depends on the country, but to be considered still resident in your home country (while living abroad), it helps to have kept up such connections as these: a home, a spouse, a car or furniture, social ties, a driver's licence, bank accounts, credit cards and health insurance.

For the U.S. citizen living in Italy, I venture to say it would be preferable for the U.S. state where the citizen lived to say that said citizen is still "resident" in the state, though living abroad. Otherwise the person would have to adopt by Italian rules, likely to be a more difficult proposition.

For the rules of International Adoption for U.S. citizens, see
U.S. State Dept. - Intercountry Adoption
http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/adoption_485.html

Good luck!

--Robin Hilborn
Box 1353, Southampton, Ont. N0H 2L0 Canada
Editor, Family Helper, http://www.familyhelper.net
Content Specialist, Adoption Council of Canada, http://www.adoption.ca