NCFA News : Archived News

State Department releases FY2003 adoption statistics

The State Department has released its adoption statistics for FY2003, regarding the number of visas issued for foreign-born children adopted by United States citizens. FY2003 saw an overall increase in the number of adoptions from foreign countries. The State Department issued 21,616 visas in FY2003, as compared to 20,099 in FY2002. China continued to be the top sending country with 6,859 adoptions, followed by Russia with 5,209. China 's adoptions increased significantly, from 5,053 to 6,859, despite last year's SARS-related travel suspension that temporarily stopped adoptions. Kazakhstan replaced Ukraine as the fifth largest sending country with 825 adoptions. Adoptions from Ukraine decreased by almost one-third in FY2003. Click here to read the State Department publication.

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