Surrogacy in the US vs International Surrogacy

US-based agencies such as Circle offer the best protection for international intended parents to help ensure the smoothest and most secure surrogacy journeys.

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Choosing the right agency is important.

Choosing the right agency is important.

Growing your family through surrogacy is a tremendous emotional – and financial – undertaking. Choosing the right agency is key to ensuring the safest and smoothest journey.

Circle Surrogacy has helped gay and straight international parents build their families for over two decades. As a full-service agency, intended parents work closely with a journey coordination team, as well as lawyers who are experts in reproductive and surrogacy law.
International Parenting International Parenting Why Choose Circle Why Choose Circle

International surrogacy agencies may be cheaper, but that doesn't mean better.

The cost of surrogacy depends on your personal situation, and the services needed. International parents will find that U.S. agencies may cost more than some international agencies. Circle’s priority is ensuring you have a secure and healthy surrogacy journey. That includes your safe return home with your baby. That is not a guarantee with international surrogacy agencies. The additional costs with US surrogacy cover your security and safety during the process.

3 reasons International Parents should work with a US surrogacy agency

1. Your child is a US citizen.

Any child born in the United States is a US citizen. Your baby will receive a US birth certificate and is entitled to a US passport for travel purposes (you can usually get one in 24-72 hours from application). Your surrogacy lawyers will do the legal work to establish your parentage (either via a Pre-Birth Order, post-birth order or possibly through a second parent adoption). You will be the sole legal and physical parents under American law. By establishing the rights of parentage in the United States, you can travel home safely and securely. Some countries – such as Spain, Sweden and Germany (amongst others) – accept the US Declaration of Parentage.


Conversely, a child born with an agency in the Ukraine, for example, is not considered a Ukrainian citizen. This can be challenging because you will need to establish citizenship and/or parentage under your home country prior to leaving the Ukraine, making it difficult to get travel papers or a passport to return to your home country. Your child cannot fly home without a passport.

Image for 1. Your child is a US citizen.
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2. Surrogates are fully screened and get the best medical care.

Agencies such as Circle follow strict guidelines and screening protocols for women who are interested in becoming surrogates. Women must complete a lengthy application, undergo medical and psychological testing, and identify a primary support person for her journey. In fact, Circle only accepts 1-2% of the women who begin the surrogate application into our program.


All of Circle’s surrogates live in the United States, have strong support systems and are financially stable. They have access to the most-advanced medical care, and the world’s top hospitals. Plus, Circle’s surrogacy program is built on a relationship model: surrogates and their intended parents develop a relationship throughout the process. They meet each other and agree to be matched prior to any documents being signed. Their relationship then develops over time, as Circle encourages weekly communication.


Comparatively, women who live internationally and become surrogates for international agencies may get moved away from their homes while they are pregnant, so that they could be closer to a hospital. They are separated from their families, which can be emotionally stressful. The medical care they receive, while cheaper, may not live up the standards of medical care women in the United States receive. It is not uncommon for intended parents to not have much of a relationship with the woman who is carrying their baby; communication can be difficult, and oftentimes the parents aren’t as emotionally part of the journey as they would be in the US.

Image for 2. Surrogates are fully screened and get the best medical care.
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3. Financial security.

In the US, when you embark on a surrogacy journey with most agencies, your money is safe. Circle is a well-established, secure company. The money you send to the agency is secure, held in an IOLTA account (Interest on Lawyer Trust Account). IOLTA accounts are kept only at regulated and approved financial institutions.

Image for 3. Financial security.
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Your family's security is our first priority.

Your family's security is our first priority.

When selecting a surrogacy agency, it’s important to do your research. Circle has helped families from 73 countries achieve their dreams of parenthood, safely and securely. Circle is always available to answer any questions you have.

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