The Home Study
There are five stages of the adoption home study process.
Randy Barlow demonstrates an adoption home visit.
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Home Study
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1. Initial Contact
Through email and telephone contacts, we will discuss your general adoption goals, security clearances, immigration regulations, agency selections and the estimated fees for our services. Understand the USCIS procedures and paperwork. There may be some variations of these requirements from one CIS office to another. You can always link to www.USCIS.gov for forms and information.
2. Contract
Prior to the home visit, a contract for services and fees is agreed upon. If you are adopting internationally, there is an additional agency fee.
3. Questionnaire
The home study report is compiled from information derived from several sources. The most important is the home study adoption questionnaire that we require prior to the home visit. The required documentation is listed on page one of the adoption home study questionnaire. These are the documents that are required for us to verify and complete your report.
4. Home Visit
The home generally takes several hours depending upon how much we need to discuss. Instead of several visits we prefer to spend a few hours of quality time to get to know our clients and their adoption goals. At this time we also discuss in-depth your immigration requirements.
5. The Home Study Report
We try to have the home study draft completed in a reasonable time frame. Once the home visit has taken place and all of the required documentation has been submitted to us, we will generally have the home study draft completed in approximately 60 days. It may take additional time to finalize the report with your adoption placement agency or to obtain the proper legalizations. Finalizations of the home study are usually completed within 30 days of the home study draft.