International Intended Parents
Become a Parent Through International Surrogacy in the U.S.
Circle Surrogacy helps intended parents who live outside of the United States build their families through surrogacy. In fact, we have Circle families living in 73 countries around the world. Working with a reputable agency such as Circle, surrogacy in the United States for international intended parents is legal, safe and secure.
Where Is the Best Place for International Surrogacy?
The United States is widely considered to be the ideal country for surrogacy services. International parents prefer the United States due to its favorable legal, societal and medical conditions, and 47 of 50 U.S. states permit commercial surrogacy.
Top International Countries Where Parents Seek Surrogacy Services
Circle has worked with intended parents from all over the world (73+ countries) for decades. Some of the more popular countries for international surrogacy include:
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Australia
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China
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New Zealand
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France
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Germany
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United Kingdom
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Norway
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Denmark
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Sweden
Why International Intended Parents Choose Us
At Circle, our success with international intended parents is based on the amount of time we spend addressing every country's needs and legal circumstances. With legal contacts in most nations and partnerships with local organizations and lawyers, we're able to ensure that we're providing our clients with a complete solution to safely return home after the birth of their child(ren).
1. Your Child Is a U.S Citizen
Any child born in the United States is a U.S. citizen. Your baby will receive a U.S. birth certificate and is entitled to a U.S. passport for travel purposes (you will obtain your baby’s passport after birth in order to return to your home country). 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 U.S Declaration of Parentage.
Conversely, a child born with an agency in a country other than your home country or the U.S., is not considered a citizen. This can be challenging because you will need to establish citizenship and/or parentage under your home country prior to leaving the country in which your baby was born, making it difficult to get travel papers or a passport to return to your home country. Your child cannot fly home without a passport.
Any child born in the United States is a U.S. citizen. Your baby will receive a U.S. birth certificate and is entitled to a U.S. passport for travel purposes (you will obtain your baby’s passport after birth in order to return to your home country). 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 U.S Declaration of Parentage. Conversely, a child born with an agency in a country other than your home country or the U.S., is not considered a citizen. This can be challenging because you will need to establish citizenship and/or parentage under your home country prior to leaving the country in which your baby was born, making it difficult to get travel papers or a passport to return to your home country. Your child cannot fly home without a passport.
2. Surrogates Are Fully Screened and Get the Best Medical Care
Circle follows strict guidelines and screening protocols for women who are interested in becoming surrogates. Surrogate applicants are fully vetted in our 3-step screening process, which includes an in-depth application, medical screening and psychological testing. 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. Read more about surrogate screening.
3. Financial Security
When you embark on a surrogacy journey in the United States with Circle Surrogacy, your money is safe. Circle is a well-established, secure company. The money you send to the agency is secure, held in a Bonded Escrow Account. These types of accounts are kept only at regulated and approved financial institutions.
3 Benefits of Choosing a U.S. Surrogacy Agency
How Do I Apply to Become a Parent Through Surrogacy?
We understand the idea of coming to another country for surrogacy to grow your family can seem intimidating, and feel as if there are quite a few “unknowns” about what the process is like. Our experienced team would be happy to guide you on your surrogacy journey. Circle also has international parents through surrogacy on staff who are happy to answer your questions and share their experiences about bonding with a surrogate, traveling with a newborn and finding confidence in the process.
Ideally, international intended parents come to the United States 2-3 times (for embryo creation at the fertility center and the eventual delivery of their child). We encourage our international intended parents to try and visit at least one additional time if possible; most parents will choose to come for the embryo transfer and/or the anatomy scan (usually around 16-20 weeks).
This varies based on the legal work required and the procedures in the state in which your child was delivered. As a general rule, we advise international intended parents to plan on returning home after approximately 4 weeks to allow ample time for any DNA testing, court proceedings, the issuance of any birth certificates and the application for any visas and/or passports. We will guide you through this process. Depending on legal work, you may be able to go home sooner. Read more about traveling with a newborn in our blog post.
Because of a legal principle known as jus soli, babies born in the United States are automatically entitled to U.S. citizenship and U.S. passports, regardless of whether the intended parents are themselves U.S. citizens. As a result, most intended parents who pursue American surrogacy are able to return home with their children without first obtaining a passport from their native country. Nevertheless, some international intended parents may choose to – or be required to – obtain either passports or temporary visas for their children at a local consulate in the United States in order to return home after the birth. Intended parents should consult with immigration attorneys in their native countries for information about the best procedures for returning home with their children. Circle will assist you in getting the U.S. passport through one of our partners, an expert in navigating the passport system.
No. All of Circle’s costs in our all inclusive, fixed cost program are for all intended parents, living in the U.S. or abroad. The only additional funds that international parents should factor in are any travel costs to the United States during their journey.
FAQs About Surrogacy in the U.S.
Below you’ll find answers to frequently asked questions about surrogacy in the United States if you live internationally. You can read our full list of FAQs about the general surrogacy process from intended parents here.
