How many children in one room?

As far as the foreign countries from which Americans adopt, remember that in some of them, whole extended families often live in one or two rooms. In some countries, even where there are larger apartments, it is customary for children to share a bed with siblings and parents. So you aren't going to run into any problems with regard to room sharing, when it comes to the foreign countries, unless there is any suspicion that a child will be molested by the other child or adult in the room. Russia, in particular, is acutely aware that there have been some Russian children that were subject to sexual abuse by American adoptive family members. As an example, despite a favorable homestudy, a father was found guilty of long-term molestation of his daughter, with whom he shared a bedroom. If your child will be sharing a room with a child of the same gender and not too different in age (not a toddler with a teen, for example), that shouldn't become an issue. However, one thing you should know is that, if you are adopting two older children, it may be a good idea to place them in separate bedrooms, and not with your homegrown children, for a while, when they first come home, if that is possible. The reason is that, unfortunately, you probably won't know for sure whether either child was subject to physical or sexual abuse, either by a member of the biological family or, in an orphanage, by another child or a staff member. Children who have been bullied or molested may attempt to bully or molest others, and especially children who are younger than they are or perceived as weak. You may decide, once the kids come home, to have them sleep in your room for a while. This may be a good idea, even if they are perfectly healthy in their behavior, because they are likely to be a little scared. They may have nightmares, experience more grief at night, and so on. Having you close to them could be important for reassurance, and may enhance bonding. But it can also help you to keep an eye on them, just in case there are some behavioral concerns. And do remind your bio kids that children who have been in orphanages sometimes have behaviors that don't work well in families, and that it will take time for their new siblings to learn how to act. Let your bio kids know that if their new siblings do anything that make them uncomfortable, they should tell you immediately, even if the kids threaten to hurt them if they tell. As to the U.S. side, the laws of your home state will govern whether you can have children share a room. Before you even start your homestudy, you can ask the social worker about the sleeping accommodations you have, and whether they are likely to meet state requirements. In most cases, you will find that state law is quite liberal. As long as the sleeping rooms meet state and local codes, there should be no problems. Most laws allow room sharing by children of the same gender and roughly similar ages, as long as there is adequate space for appropriate beds and separate storage space (closet or dresser) for each child's possessions and the room meets basic size, fire safety, and other rules. Some states even allow very young children to be brought home to one-bedroom apartments, where they will share a room with their parents or use an alcove off another room as their bedroom. And some states allow children of opposite genders, such as newborn twins, to room together for the first couple of years of their life. The USCIS will have to approve you to bring two children to the U.S. When you file your I-600A or I-800A (depending on whether you choose a country that has ratified the Hague Convention on intercountry adoption or one that has not), you will have to provide the USCIS with a copy of your homestudy report, as well as other documents. Interestingly, the USCIS will not pay a lot of interest to your home and its bedrooms. As long as your home meets all state and local requirements, that is sufficient. The USCIS is much more interested in issues such as whether you have a history of substance abuse, a history of child abuse or domestic violence, convictions for felonies, physical or mental health issues that could impair your parenting, or a history of financial instability that could result in inability to raise a child without public assistance. So if your homestudy report is favorable, you really don't need to worry all that much about the USCIS view of children sharing a bedroom. I hope this is helpful. Sharon