Home study for US citizen in UK wanting to adopt

Hi,
I'm new here and not sure if this is the right place to post this question? Anyway, here goes.

I have limited leave to remain here in the UK and want to do an international adoption (from Asia).
A US citizen, I'll get ILR in 2 years in 2014 but don't want to wait until then to start the adoption process.
A US agency has agreed to work with me and says I need to get a Hague-accreditted social worker to do a home study that would be valid in the US. Has anyone here done that? Where do you look for a uk social worker who does a Hague home study that would be valid in the US. 

Thanks from Rosie64

Hi Rosie,

Welcome to the forum.

It seems that no one knows the answer to this offhand. I had a search and found this group on Yahoo which might be a good resource.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/adoptionforamericansabroad

I hope that helps.

Hi, there -- thanks very much for that. I've joined that group as well.

 

Hi,
I'm new here and not sure if this is the right place to post this question? Anyway, here goes.

I have limited leave to remain here in the UK and want to do an international adoption (from Asia).
A US citizen, I'll get ILR in 2 years in 2014 but don't want to wait until then to start the adoption process.
A US agency has agreed to work with me and says I need to get a Hague-accreditted social worker to do a home study that would be valid in the US. Has anyone here done that? Where do you look for a uk social worker who does a Hague home study that would be valid in the US. 

Thanks from Rosie64

Hi Rosie,

Call your local council and they will give you information on where you can get a local home study. Just as a heads up- I know for my local foster care homestudy, I was told it could take 6-12 months to get one and it is at least as long a wait for adoption homestudies though YMMV.

Do you plan on having the child reside in the UK with you?

If so you will need to follow the UK rules for inter-country adoption. If you are using a US agency and taking the child back to the US to apply for a UK visa, you might be required to re-adopt the child in the UK.

To be eligible to adopt in the UK you must be domiciled in the UK for at least a year if you are single. If you have a British partner who will be going through the adoption as well, there isn't a length of time in country requirement (provided they reside here).

Note that if you do adopt with an agency from the UK you will be entitled to 52 weeks overseas adoption leave.

Intercountry adopting is not very easy in the UK is a lengthy process that can take 3-4 years. I would check out http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/parents/adoptionfosteringandchildrenincare/adoptionandfostering/dg_4018296 and call your local council for more information (especially look into registering foreign adoptions).

Think it's awesome that you are starting this process and wish you the best of luck! My adoption plans were put on hold for a few years, as we want to foster-to-adopt and that isn't an option in our current local care systems.