Currently, WACAP is accepting applications for Vietnam only from families who intend to adopt a specific waiting child.

In 2007 WACAP became licensed and approved by Vietnam's Department of International Adoption at the Ministry of Justice to place children from Vietnam's Thai Binh province for adoption in the United States. We're currently accepting applications from parents who seek to adopt a waiting child, and are willing to be "pioneers" with us as we establish our adoption services in Vietnam.

There are many unknowns involved in a new program, and pioneer families must be flexible and open-minded regarding an adoption process that no WACAP family has experienced before. However, being a pioneer family can also be an exciting and rewarding way to expand your family through adoption.

A child in Vietnam generally comes into orphanage care when birth parents or relatives relinquish the child due to complications within the family. (The death of a birth parent coupled with poverty is a common reason.) On occasion some children are abandoned and no birth information or medical background is available. Because adoptions from Vietnam are just starting up for WACAP, the average age of infants at the time of their referral is unknown. Families hoping to adopt infants must be open to a child up to 12 months of age. Any family may choose to be matched with a boy. Families with a majority of boy children may choose to be matched with a girl. Many children who are older or have special needs are already waiting. We anticipate that sibling groups may also need families.

Parents interested in entering our pioneer program in Vietnam should be very flexible and comfortable with uncertainty.

Currently, Vietnam is open to married and single applicants. Although Vietnam has no upper age limit for adoptive parents, pioneer families whose youngest spouse is over 50 or a single applicant over 50 should be open to considering a child older than 18 months. Vietnam law requires at least 20 years' difference between child and adoptive parents but does not limit the number of children in the home or the length of the parents’ marriage.

At least one parent must travel to Vietnam to adopt the child. Only one trip is required. Parents should be prepared to stay in Vietnam for approximately 21 days, though some flexibility may be required (i.e., the trip can be longer or shorter).

• Approved homestudy
• Certified marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Photocopy of divorce decree (if applicable)
• Photocopy of birth certificates
• USCIS immigration approval notice
• Current passport for each parent
• Employment letters
• Financial statement
• Police clearances
• Medical clearance forms

At this point, the length of the wait is unknown. Currently, WACAP accepts Vietnam applications only from families wishing to adopt a waiting child. The waiting times will depend on the number of WACAP families waiting to adopt from Vietnam and the number of children who are brought into the orphanages in which WACAP works. 

WACAP's fees are among the lowest of any international adoption agency. Consult our fee chart for details. Please let our know if you have any questions about fees.

Are finances a barrier to adoption? U.S. families may receive a tax credit of up to $11,650 when they adopt a child. Find out about this and other sources of of financial assistance.

Thinking about adopting a child from Vietnam? Hundreds of children there need loving adoptive parents. us for more information. Or download an application form. (You will need Adobe Reader to download the application. Please click on the link below to download this free software from Adobe.)

Every adoption is different. During the adoption process, you may be asked to supply more documents, comply with new policies or meet other requirements. Our staff will always do their best to keep you informed. See our Vietnam adoption FAQ for further details.