Adoption is a legal process in which an adult person assumes responsibility for the care and support of another person (usually a child) who is not the adoptive parent's biological child. Intercountry adoption is the process by which you adopt a child from a country other than your own through permanent legal means and then bring that child to your country of residence to live with you permanently.
In Minnesota, adoption is governed by state statutes that outline the legal process for an adult to become the legal parent of a child who is not their biological offspring. This process involves terminating the parental rights of the child's biological parents, either voluntarily or involitimately, and establishing a new, permanent legal relationship between the adoptive parent(s) and the child. Intercountry adoption, also known as international adoption, is subject to both Minnesota state law and federal law, as well as the laws of the child's country of origin. Prospective adoptive parents must comply with the Hague Adoption Convention, if applicable, which is an international treaty that provides safeguards to protect the best interests of children, birth parents, and adoptive parents who are involved in intercountry adoptions. Additionally, adoptive parents must obtain an immigrant visa for the child, which involves satisfying the requirements set by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before the child can legally enter and reside in the United States.