In September 2006 we got the call from the adoption agency in Japan that we had been paired with a 5 month old baby girl. That call kicked off a whirlwind of activity for us and I thought some people might find useful if I documented some of what we did.
If you’re adopting from Japan, you’re going to need to get there to pick up your child. Plan on staying about two weeks. Unlike Chinese adoptions (the most common from Asia), there’s no organized tour group. You are totally on your own. I’m assuming that if you’re even thinking about a Japan adoption that you’ve already been to Japan before, or have lived in Japan. If not, you should find a good Japanese travel web site to get the low down of how to travel there (it’s really not that hard).
Booking your flight. This was a new experience for us. We were a family of three becoming a family of four. So we had to book a round trip ticket for 3, and a one way ticket for 1. Most travel agents have never done such a booking. Important; you need to book the return ticket using the birth name of your adopted child because your baby will leave Japan as a Japanese citizen with a Japanese passport.
When you return to America, the baby and paperwork from the US Embassy in Japan will need to be presented to a special immigration officer. Essentially, your adpted baby will enter the US as a Japanese citizen with a green card. The adopted baby will keep his/her citizenship and name until a family court in the US finalizes the adoption proceedings. Remember, when you add your adopted child to your family’s health insurance, the child will also need to use her birthname until the adoption is completed.
Once in Japan, when do you actually pick up your adopted child? I suppose that depends on you and how your adoption agency works. In our case, we met our daughter a day after we arrived, but we didn’t actually take her “home” with us for a few more days. We wanted to take our son to Disneyland for one last outing as an only child, and couldn’t imaging taking a newly adopted baby along.
Next, assuming that you’re going to Tokyo to pick up your adopted child (I’m really not sure what happens if the child is in another city) you are going to need to go to the US Embassy to handle the immigration issues. For some reason, you need to also bring the baby along to the Embassy! As if the baby has to be interviewed or something. If your experience at the Embassy is anything like ours, plan on going there maybe 3 or 4 times to finalize the paperwork to take your child home. Because of this you should try to book a hotel that is in walking distance of the Embassy. If you don’t, you’ll get to experience morning rush hour in Tokyo’s packed subways (with a baby) to get your early morning Embassy appointment.
We stayed at a relative’s house about 30 minutes away by train, but a walking distance hotel would have been better. If it were just my wife and I, the morning commuter rush would have been tolerable. But because we had to drag our 3 year old son and new baby along, getting in and out of the trains was simply too eventful for them and stressful for us. We noticed that small children don’t ride the trains in Tokyo’s rush hour for a very good reason! If you have an older child, bring along a baby sitter so at least he/she doesn’t need to go with you to the Embassy. You’ll have your hands full with your adopted child anyway.
About the US Embassy. Japan is one of the US closest allies and Japanese people generally like Americans. This is why I was shocked at the level of security at the Embassy, so be prepared (I’d like to see what security is like at a US Embassy in an unfriendly country). The only thing missing from the security picture was a tank parked out front, but there was an urban assault vehicle. I wanted to take a picture but I didn’t want to get shot. You can’t bring in any food or drinks, no electronic equipment or large bags. Only your wallet and your essential paperwork is allowed in. Once in, be prepared for the same type of wonderful governmental experience you so enjoy at home. Our first visit took over 4 hours, but the subsequent visits were shorter. Still be prepared to camp out.
Another requirement for US immigration was to have the adopted child given a medical examination by an English speaking doctor. Our adoption agency (International Family) made this appointment for us. But it is possible that other agencies may require you to do this on your own. So you may need to be ready to find an English speaking doctor.
Paperwork to bring to Japan: I-600 petition (which was prepared when you applied for the adoption), I-600 notice of approval, husband and wife’s birth certificates & passports, marriage certificate, homestudy certificate, 3 years of tax returns, I-864, I-604, Exemption from Vaccination. When we went to Japan (in the Fall of 2006), this is what we brought along, but these requirements could change at anytime. So please only use this list as a starting point, you should consult with your adoption agency and the US State Department for updated details.
One final thought on packing for your adopted child. What to bring. Japanese baby goods are on par with stuff in the US so you could get everything you need in Japan. We really liked shopping at Akachan Honpo (which is like Babies R Us). But if you’re not that comfortable in Japan you should pack everything you might need; formula, diapers, bottles, blankets, baby soap, lotion and clothes. Japanese or American, diapers are diapers, and you don’t need to read an instruction manual to use them. But if you’re interested in reading the ingredients in the baby formula, than you’ll definately want to bring your own with English writing on the can. My 2 cents would be to pack everything for your baby before you leave home. Don’t count on your adoption agency to give you these things.
[8/20/2008 Update: Please see my other stories about our Japan adoption:
Here she is, our Japan adoption
Japan adoption agencies
Bonding with an adopted child
Traveling to Japan to pick up our adopted daughter
Our Japanese Adoption - Update]
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Perhaps you’ll share your whole experience in a story that we can post on our website. Better yet, take a camera and record it. You will see that we have many visits recorded to orphanages, by many different types of groups. It would be nice to add yours… Just post it on the internet where we can get at the embed code, and we’ll put it on our site. About 3-5 minutes, edited, usually is sufficient. (Not that you won’t have a few other things to do…)
Best of Luck! Thanks for opening your home to an orphan.
Joe & Tatiana DiDonato
Left by Joe DiDonato on April 16th, 2007
Wow! After eight years living in Japan I have never heard of anyone adopting, especially a non-Japanese family. Good going, I know the number of people within Japan adopting is very low compared to the west. Sounds like a win/win situation. Staying at a hotel in near the embassy is very wise, commuter trains are jammed morning and night. No place for a couple and their new child. No place for anyone really. You can get everything for the child in Japan, when thinking of baby formula, the child is now on a certain brand and to disrupt the feeding with a new western formula would be unwise. Use whatever the Japanese have been feeding the child, slowly move to a new formula once back in your home country.
Please do post your experience, there are others wanting to do the same.
Cheers, Steve
www.eslspider.com
www.healthyexpat.com
Left by Steve on April 21st, 2007
Steve, good call on the formula. Our agency left us with a can of formula that she had been drinking, and we did exactly as you said…we gradually switched her over to US formula. Our poor kid was stressed out enough without changing her food on her too.
Left by Netsato on April 24th, 2007
Hi there!! We discovered your site while waiting to pick up our daughter in Japan. Thanks so much for all of the advice and information you provided here. We just returned after being in Tokyo for two weeks. The process was smooth- much smoother than our first adoption from Kazakhstan- and we now have a beautiful new (7 week old) daughter. We’d love to talk with you someday and excahnge adoption stories.
Take care!
The Cechs in California
Left by Cech Family on April 27th, 2007
Hi, I’m attempting to post a comment again (not sure if my first attempt was successful). I discovered your site prior to travelling to Japan to pick up our daughter. We found your tips to be invaluable as we didn’t know anyone else who had adopted from Japan. We recently returned with our new 7 week old and found the process to be pretty smooth (much quicker than our Kazakhstan adoption two years ago). Would love to chat with you someday and exchange adoption stories.
Congrats on your beautiful little girl!!
-Eryn and Greg Cech, and Co.
Left by The Cech family on April 27th, 2007
When you say Japanese adoptions are expensive, could you give me an idea of how much? Also, how much of that is for traveling? My husband and I live in Japan, in the Tokyo prefecture, so we could probably do without some of those incurred costs. Thanks for your insights! Your information is invaluable.
Left by Tara on July 7th, 2007
My husband and I are taking the steps to adopt internationally and are hopting to adopt from Japan. We were wondering if you might share which agency you used? I have not found many that offer Japanese adoption so we were very encouraged by your story.
Lori in Arizona
Left by Lori on July 22nd, 2007
Hello there! I, like many others, am very curious about how the costs differ in Japanese adoptions vs. Chinese adoptions. I know it likely depends on which agency you were to go through, but I would greatly appreciate a ballpark figure. My husband and I both speak Japanese, but are not of the Japanese heritage. We would love to include Japan as a possible country to adopt from. Your story warmed my heart and I am so excited to hear more about your experiences!
Take care,
Emelia
Orlando FL
Left by Emelia G. on January 22nd, 2008
Hi there! You had written to us months ago (when we had come home with our daughter) after we had posted a comment to your wonderful site. I have misplaced your e-mail address and figured I’d just leave you another comment.
Miya is now 14 months old and the sweetest, most energetic little girl. Quite the handful but so incredible at the same time. Anyhow, we’ll be heading to the islands in a few months to catch up with a fellow Japan-adoptive family and would love for you to join us!
Please e-mail me when you get a chance! Hope you’re all doing well!
-Eryn, Gregor, Emi and Miya Cech in CA
Left by Cech family on May 18th, 2008