International adoption is the process of adopting a child from a different country through legal means.

All family members (including non-traveling), and non-traveling close contacts of the family, should be sure that they are up to date on recommended immunizations including Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B , T-dap, MMR, and Chicken Pox (or have a history of the diseases).  Adults over 60 years of age might consider receiving the Zostavax Vaccination for Shingles. These are carried by Global Health Services, Inc.

The varied geographic origins of internationally adopted infants and children make appropriate medical evaluation of these children a complex and important task. This evaluation should be performed within 2-4 weeks of the child’s arrival in the United States.

A new subsection of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act requires that any person seeking an immigrant visa for permanent residency must show proof of having received the vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) before immigration. Adoptive parents are required to sign a waiver indicating their intention to comply with the immunization requirements within 30 days after the infant's or child's arrival in the United States.

Additional information about the medical examination and the vaccine exemption form is available on the Department of State website: http://adoption.state.gov/.