In British Columbia, it is now possible to submit adoption applications to two countries at the same time. Adoption programs everywhere in the world have become hard to predict. In most countries, prospective adoptive parents must wait 2-3 years, and sometimes longer, before receiving a proposal. If adoption from one country becomes impossible, parents must begin the entire process again with a different country.
At the request of the British Columbia Adoption Agencies, the provincial government has agreed to permit parents to file two international adoption applications at the same time. While there is always the possibility that international adoption programs from both countries will close, we hope that BC's initiative will increase the chance that at least one application will result in an adoption.
The government has established strict rules for this process:
1. Both jurisdictions must be advised that the applicants have applied to another country;
2. Adopting parents must participate in trans-racial parenting education;
3. Once a proposal is received from one country, the adopting parents may not receive a proposal for a second child until:
(a) 12 months after the first placement; and
(b) a subsequent homestudy has been completed and submitted to the second country; and
(c) the second country has agreed with the change in circumstances and accepted the second application.
Allowing adopting parents to apply to two countries at the same time is a significant departure from previous practice in Canada. BC's new rules respond to the drastically changing landscape of international adoption.
Please note that we are not aware of any province, other than British Columbia, that permits this practice. As a result, this option is only available to our clients who are residents of British Columbia.