Did you know that there are hundreds of surrogacy and egg donation agencies in the United States? The selection of who to partner with when initiating a surrogacy and/or egg donation journey is pivotal, as it can shape both the experience as well as the success of the journey.
Intended parents (IPs) initially face the daunting task of understanding what different agencies offer, pricing and packages, timelines, and other important aspects such as the agency’s surrogate screening process. This requires a significant amount of research by the IPs, which can seem like a tall task.
International IPs looking to pursue surrogacy and/or egg donation in the United States need to take additional aspects into consideration, in comparison to domestic IPs. This adds an additional layer of complexity to the selection process.
In this blog post, we will explore important areas of consideration for international IPs that are looking to partner with the right agency in the United States, ensuring that they have the knowledge to make a well-informed decision.
More specifically this blog post will focus on the following 6 areas:
It is important for IPs to understand that every agency is different in its approach to the journey, but also when it comes to its focus on various kinds of clients. Some agencies focus mainly on assisting domestic IPs, while others might mainly work with international IPs. Others might mainly work with gay individuals or same-sex couples. Most agencies have a mix of different clients with different backgrounds and needs, including international IPs looking for a path to parenthood in the United States.
As an international IP, it is important to ask the agency what experience they have of working with international IPs, for example:
This might have implications on everything from understanding cultural differences to what services and support the agency can provide you as a client, which we will learn more about further down in this piece.
Much as with IPs, agencies cater to different groups of potential surrogates as well. This means that depending on the preferences of the agency, their current IP clientele, and their screening process (which varies from agency to agency), the potential available surrogates might look very different from one agency to the other. This has potential implications for IPs looking to choose the right agency.
Professional and ethical agencies will make sure to understand the preferences of a surrogate candidate. These preferences usually include what kind of IP the surrogate would like to match with and carry for. She might mainly wish to carry for a same-sex couple, or a heterosexual couple. Some surrogates prefer to carry for a single individual, while others might value the added support of two IPs. Then there is the consideration of wanting, or not wanting, to work with domestic IPs or international IPs – or all of the above!
Since surrogates bring their own expectations and preferences to the journey, it is important for international IPs to consider what the agency’s surrogate selection looks like. In other words, does the agency actively recruit surrogates that are willing to carry for an IP that does not live in the United States? Some surrogates might not be open to that for reasons including the distance between the IP and the surrogate, cultural differences, language barriers, or time zone considerations. This might have implications for the journey ahead and is something that international IPs should make sure to consider before choosing their agency. More generally, you will want to ask your agency to what degree they consider surrogate preferences in a match. The last thing you would want is to be matched with a surrogate that would prefer not to work with international IPs!
Understanding the expenses and fees for a surrogacy and/or egg donation journey can be a struggle for any IP. From agency fees to surrogate/donor compensation to insurance costs and lost wages, the list of potential costs might seem endless. On top of that there are different financial plans in the United States – ranging from estimated “pay-as -you-go” plans to fixed fee options that are more or less inclusive, which is better described in this article on surrogacy expenses, written by Hatch Agency President Greg Wiles.
Being an international IP, one needs to take in to account additional costs such as travel costs (something that all IPs face but usually related to a higher cost when traveling from long-distance from abroad) and newborn insurance, something that is better explained in this article about Considerations for International Intended Parents, written by Hatch International Manager, Edvin Fogelmark. These are costs that the vast majority of international IPs pursuing surrogacy and/or egg donation in the United States face and is something that the agency typically does not cover.
At some agencies, there will be additional charges for international IPs, just for the fact that they are international. This is usually called an “international IP coordination fee” or something else equivalent to that. The reasoning is that since the IPs are international the amount of coordination on the case manager etc. would be heavier in comparison than working with domestic IPs. For this reason, it is good to ask your agency if they would charge you a premium for being an international IP, so that you don’t end up paying $1,000-$2,000 additional fees on top of the agency’s total program cost, just for happening to not be in the United States.
Agencies offer a wide variety of services, and it is important for any IP to understand what is covered within the agency’s services, and what is not. Some agencies provide in-house legal support, while others partner with top talent in the field of family law. Others might offer both egg donation and surrogacy services, while some only focus on one of those services. An agency rarely controls every aspect of the work involved during a surrogacy and/or egg donation arrangement.
This means that top agencies build robust and long-lasting relationships with third party experts in this field; for example, attorneys, mental health professionals, escrow trust services, etc. which they can connect with their IPs. Sometimes the costs of those services are covered within the agency program, sometimes they are not.
IPs navigating the selection of an agency will first and foremost need to understand what the agency will cover and coordinate, and costs for which the IP needs to be responsible. However, international IPs, most of whom are unfamiliar with the system in the United States, will likely need more support, as they might be unfamiliar with how to find great attorneys, the selection and operation of an escrow account, insurance considerations, etc. in the United States.
For this reason, it is pivotal that international IPs find an agency that can not only offer those very valuable connections, but ensure those third-party providers are well vetted - professional, knowledgeable, ethical, and at the top of their field. This means providing the best possible service and experience to international IPs looking to navigate this journey.
An enjoyable and safe surrogacy and/or egg donation journey rests on a foundation of sound and experienced legal support. From drafting the surrogacy and/or egg donation agreement, to connecting IPs with great local support in the state where the surrogate lives and making sure that the parental establishment process is initiated timely – the role that a competent legal team plays in a journey cannot be overstated.
While it is important to trust your agency, it does not mean that you need to follow advice on who to work with as your legal support blindly. Experienced agencies usually work with a curated list of legal firms to offer a diverse selection of legal partners. As an international IP it is important to speak to those attorneys to understand what their experience in the field of family law it, but also what experience they have of working with IPs from your home country. While US attorneys are very rarely licensed to operate in other countries, some have more experience than others working with the legal process in a foreign jurisdiction.
International IPs should ask their agency if they are well connected with local experts as well, in the IP’s home country. If so, the agency can connect you directly with invaluable local resources to give international IPs more knowledge about the local laws around parental establishment and recognition before commencing a journey.
At the very end of a surrogacy and/or egg donation journey the IP has finally realized their dream, having a bundle of joy in their hands. While this is a very precious time, it does not mean the end of the road for your agency’s or legal team’s work, rather it initiates the last phase.
After the birth, the process of parental establishment commences, including ensuring that the IPs get all the legal documentation necessary to legally claim the child as their own. This process can look a bit different from state to state. Hatch encourages every IP to connect to legal counsel to understand the legal process before initiating a journey.
For international IPs there are additional steps and requirements for being able to travel back home. The authorities in the home country might also request specific documentation that domestic IPs don’t necessarily have to provide. For example, it is sometimes necessary for international IPs to acquire a US Passport for a safe return with their child, since that child is not yet a citizen of the IPs home country.
While the process of applying for a US Passport can be done by the IPs independent of an agency or passport agent, it can be a stressful experience while trying to care for a newborn at the same time. Mistakes during the application stage could also mean that the time to process such an application takes much longer than necessary. International IPs should ask their agency if, and how, they assist IPs with this step of the process, and if it is covered within their fees.
For over 30 years, international IPs have been coming to Hatch when needing assistance to build the family of their dreams! We are the most established egg donor and surrogacy agency in the country, and the families we work with receive complete guidance through their journeys, every step of the way. Nearly all our team members are former surrogates, egg donors, or intended parents, so they understand this journey better than most. Our unique Peace of Mind Program covers everything intended parents need, with no surprises, for medical and non-medical expenses.
We believe that having a family is a human right and will serve people regardless of their walk of life. Our egg donation and surrogacy services are available to people of every orientation—heterosexual couples, gay partners, single men and women, married or not. We’ve helped make dreams come true for intended parents from every continent (except Antarctica). Our goal is to make families possible inclusively.
Here are some of our highlights:
For more information, book a consultation with our International Manager, Edvin.
These Stories on Surrogacy - For International Intended Parents
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