International Visas
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When traveling abroad for the purposes of adoption, it is important to familiarize yourself with and understand the visa requirements for the country you will be visiting. While the US does have relationships with some countries that do not require a special visa in order to visit, other countries like Russia require potential adoptive parents to obtain a specific type of visa, which is only available with an official letter of invitation.
To find out more about what the requirements are for the country you are traveling to, talk to your adoption professional. Often times, adoption professionals are very familiar with the program and country requirements where they operate and they can be an invaluable resource when it comes time to apply for your travel visa. Remember, when booking your tickets for travel, that some countries require a visa in order for you to leave the airport area, so plan your flights and layovers accordingly. Once again, your adoption professional should be able to assit you in finding out which countries require U.S. Citizens to obtain a visa for entry.
Before you can even apply for a visa, you'll need to make sure your Passport is valid and up to date. If you've already got a valid Passport that isn't in danger of expiring prior to your travels, that's one less step you'll have to take in the journey. However, if you don't already have a Passport, you will need to apply for that as soon as possible. Since 9/11/2001, the requirements for obtaining a Passport have changed and obtaining the needed documentation can take several weeks. Additionally, if you've never had a Passport before, you will need to apply in person at an Acceptance Facility or Passport Agency.
Obtaining a Passport and travel visas is just one of the many steps you'll take on your journey to creating your family. In addition to the steps you'll take to ensure you're traveling within the legal requirements of the country you're visiting, you'll also take similar steps when starting the journey home with your new child. Most children adopted abroad come home on one of two different types of visas issued by the United States, however, more often than not, this process is much more streamlined and takes less time than it does when you obtained your travel visa to visit your child's country of origin.
To learn more about the steps required to apply for a Passport, visit the U.S. State Departments Website.
