R501-7-10. Intercountry Adoptions

  (1) All intercountry adoptions are considered high needs per 62A-4a-601 and require compliance with 62A-4a-609.

  (2) In addition to complying with all other rules, laws and statutes regarding adoption, a child placing adoption agency that is a primary provider of inter-country placement services shall document that it has complied with all applicable laws and regulations of the United States and the child's country of origin, and including:

  (a) the agency is Hague accredited by a Department of State approved accrediting body;

  (b) the child is legally freed for adoption in the country of origin;

  (c) the agency verifies and maintains documentation and agreements regarding the credentials and qualifications of all associates working in their behalf in foreign countries; and

  (d) information was provided to the adopting parents about naturalization and US citizenship proceedings.

  (3) A child placing adoption agency that provides intercountry adoption services shall:

  (a) comply with all fee requirements from R501-7-6;

  (b) establish additional policies and procedures to be provided to the adoptive parent applicant(s) regarding:

  (i) agency and adoptive parent(s) responsibilities regarding intercounty adoption;

  (ii) post adopt responsibilities;

  (iii) identification and disclosure of medical risks in intercountry adoption;

  (iv) service planning; and

  (v) establish an official and recorded method of fund transfers to avoid the use of direct cash transactions to pay for adoption services in other countries;

  (c) additionally include in the written agency fee disclosure required in R501-7-6 the following:

  (i) itemization of all services and total cost of providing adoption in the child's country of origin and disclosure of whether the fees are paid directly or through the agency to include:

  (A) foreign country/legal fees;

  (B) cost of documents required by the agency and by the foreign government as well as costs of apostille or authentication of these documents;

  (C) required fees paid to USCIS;

  (D) estimated costs of travel to the foreign country;

  (E) translation of documents provided to the foreign adoption officials;

  (F) costs of child care;

  (G) parent education costs;

  (H) adopted child passport;

  (I) USCIS-required medical exam costs;

  (J) immunization expenses; and

  (K) any other miscellaneous fees that may apply;

  (ii) itemization of any mandatory payments to child welfare programs in the country of origin including:

  (A) any fixed contributions amounts;

  (B) intended use of payments; and

  (C) manner in which the transaction will be recorded and accounted for;

  (d) provide all applicants with written policies governing refunds;

  (e) notify adoptive applicants within ten business days when information is received that a foreign country is suspending its adoption program;

  (f) verify and maintain documentation regarding the credentials and qualifications of agents working in their behalf in foreign countries; and

  (g) in addition to adoptive parent(s) and child file content requirements in R501-7-11, intercountry adoption files shall also include:

  (i) signed agency agreements and/or contracts;

  (ii) USCIS approval to proceed with a foreign adoption;

  (iii) copies of adoption documents required by the adoption officials in the foreign country;

  (iv) copies of all child information provided by the foreign country;

  (v) post-adoption reports required by the foreign country; and

  (vi) copy of the adoption finalization from the foreign country.