International adoption is when a person or a couple in one country adopts, or becomes the official legal guardians/parents of a child from another country. In international adoptions, the child will typically come and live with the parent or couple who adopts him or her. This process must be done in accordance with the laws of both countries.
International adoptions can occur between parents in the United States and children of many different countries. For example, a U.S. couple could adopt a child from Russia, China, Japan, Australia, etc.
Adoption agencies screen prospective parents to make sure that they are good candidates for adoption. For example, they check to make sure that the prospective parents have not been convicted of felonies, do not have a history of drug abuse, etc.