Job Discussion Forums

[Quibby84]

Hello, I have asked this to several people on the boards (by private messages) and I have researched this tons, but I have not gotten all of my questions answered. (and yes, I have used the search function)
I know that adopting from Japan is possible but is very hard, that was on the boards as well as other places on the web. But I am wondering if it would be possible to adopt from countries around Japan while being in Japan (such as Vietnam, Russia, Korea, or places like that). Has anyone ever done this? Or do you know someone (non-japanese) who has done this?
And if you know other things about adoption from Japan or adopting from other countries while in Japan please let me know.
The reason I am asking is because my husband and I are thinking about adopting one day (maybe while in Japan, if we stay for a while) and are curious as to how that goes.
Thanks!

[Brooks]

if you are American, it is easier to do the adoption in America.

If you and your spouse are both American, adopting a Japanese child in Japan will be complicated. Especially if you decide to move back to the US.

I think the US Embassy in Japan website spells this out.

I have looked into adoption since my wife can`t have kids, and it is complicated.
My wife is Japanese, so we could adopt a Japanese child.
The child`s name would go on my wife`s family register, if adopted.

There are at least a couple places where unwanted babies are taken to hospitals and left anonymously. I know this happens in western Japan.

[Quibby84]

yeah, I heard about the "baby drop off" thing where you put your baby down a slot...
So have you thought about adopting from Korea or Vietnam or Russia or some place like that? They dont have as strict age limits and are not as complicated.
So you decided not to adopt from Japan because it was to much hassle? What did you decide to do?

[Brooks]

right now my wife works two jobs and we have two dogs (just got a puppy 4 days ago) so it is on the back burner.
Adoption can also be really expensive.

Honestly, raising a child takes time and energy, and something has to give. Right now, we just don`t have time.

The problem really starts when you want to go back to the US.
The US has laws about adoption, that seem kind of strict.

[Quibby84]

Yeah. With all the visas and stuff.
the main issue is the money, and the sad truth is that if you have the money (and time) you can usually get what you want.
The average to adopt in Japan is $25,000, in china it is $20,000, Russia is $30,000, Vietnam is $20,000, Korea is $25,000....and so the list of prices goes on, it is sad that it costs so much. It is much cheaper to adopt from the US, the only problem is that we want to be in Japan, and we want to adopt a foreign baby....anyways, that is all on the back burner now for us to. We still dont know if we are going to try and have our own first or what....we will see...
Thanks for the responses

[Gordon]

If you can, have your own. I know one major concern for parents is whether or not the adopted child was subjected to drugs while in the womb. These problems may not become apparent until years down the road.

Children are very special, whether your own or anothers. We have been blessed with (almost) 3 and our best friends back in Canada have been trying for years. They are planning to adopt, but I know that they would do anything to be able to have their own kids.

[Brooks]

have a look at this:

http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/country/country_406.html

http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-adopt.html

[24601]

[Quibby84]

I am pretty sure that I can have my own, we havent been married long and all of that time I have been on birth control. But I have never had anyone in my family who was infertile and I have a clean bill of health but I WANT to adopt. I have always wanted to adopt. I think that it would be cool to have a child to carry on our blood line (and they look like you and cool stuff like that) but deep down I want to adopt. My parents always took in children for different time periods during my growing up, so the "loving a child that is not my own" thing is something that I have always had no trouble with.
So, I really want to adopt, I looked into adopting from Foster care in the US, but my husband wants to be in Japan...so I am looking into adopting from there. But we have to be 25, so we have a year to prepare (and save) and decide what we want to do. I would hate to just have my own because it is the easiest thing to do....so we will see what happens.

[Gordon]

[Quibby84]

Gordon, does you wife work? Or stay home? Is it possible to have children (as a women), work in japan, and stay home?

[Gordon]

[JimDunlop2]

I can't say anything about other countries, but if you are a foreign couple wanting to adopt a JAPANESE baby, it can most certainly be done -- but it doesn't come cheap, of course.

If you are really serious about this, I could probably try to put you in touch with some people who could advise you in this department. Some very good friends of ours (husband and wife both American) have lived in Japan for a number of years and adopted a Japanese baby (hardly a baby anymore though)... And THEY got the info from a foreign couple who (from my understanding) pretty much pioneered the process (and also have an adopted Japanese child)...

But as I said, you can PM me -- but only if you are indeed serious about it, because my friends are not forum-dwellers, and I'd hate to trouble them by asking basic or broad questions that could probably be researched on the Internet or better answered on one of the various Japan online forums like this one.