Pre-Adoption
Familiarize yourself with paperwork and immigration requirements. Select an agency.
Naptime at NCO Children's Home in Naxal, Nepal, 2009. Photo: Jesse Barlow.
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Pre Adoption
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Planning
Completing an adoption takes time.
• Understand this process will not happen overnight.
• Set short term and long-term goals.
• Consider the costs involved and the schedule of each fee. Some pre-placement fees include: USCIS application, home study fee, agency application fees and document and authentication fees. Once the referral of a child is received, there is another set of fees to be paid (country or program fee) to the agency, plus the cost of travel. There are also post-placement fees to the social worker for the post placement supervision, plus travel costs for this service.
• Anticipate that adoption laws and regulations may change for the country from which you adopt. You need to be somewhat flexible because your agency rarely has control over this.
• Understand the USCIS procedures and paperwork. There may be some variations of these requirements from one USCIS office to another. You can always link to www.USCIS.gov for forms and information.
Above all, remember you are you OWN CASE MANAGER. Your social worker and agency are there to assist, but the bottom line is YOU must be organized and stay abreast of your paperwork.
Paperwork
Keep everything compiled and organized.
• Start a notebook and keep everything in it. That way, you can quickly find a document as it is needed. Have a book, or section of your notebook, prepared for your home study with all the documents that your social worker needs to review in preparation for the home study. (This will save everyone a lot of time.) We ask our clients to scan all of the required documents for us so we can save them in your digital file. Your notebook and computer file will not only help you during the adoption process, but can be shared with your child someday, so they can see everything you did in preparation for their arrival. Scan copies of all your official documents, including the apostilled/certified documents. Take a complete set of copies with you when you travel to adopt your child (things do get lost).
• Remember you may have several actions going on at one time (e.g., USCIS application, home study, agency application, etc.).
• The largest part of the paperwork for international adoption is your official DOSSIER which is the packet of information that is submitted to the country in which you are adopting. The dossier generally consists of form I-171H (USCIS approval), birth certificates, marriage certificates, certified and/or apostilled Home Study, verification of residence, verification of employment, medical history on each person in your household, letter to officials, powers- of- attorney, application to search for a child, copy of passports, financial statement, police clearance forms, verification of agreement for post placement and letters of recommendation (may need to be notarized). In most cases, your agency actually obtains the proper translations and compiles the dossier for submission to the country from which you are adopting. (This is included in your agency fees. Your job is to obtain the documents required and complete the certification process for these documents.)
General Recommendations
• Paperwork for Home Study: At the time of the home visit by your social worker, it is expected that you will have all your required documents organized and ready for verification (birth certificates, marriage licenses, divorce decrees, financial information, health reports, criminal background and state child abuse registry checks, etc.) Discuss this with your social worker if you have questions. See our checklist on the home study questionnaire.
• Choose reputable professionals to deal with. If someone suggests "cutting corners", or tells you that a home visit is not necessary and they can write your home study report without a visit, beware! Not only is this an ethical violation, the USCIS will NOT approve your home study and your adoption can be delayed by months. When selecting a social worker for your home study and post-placement services, ensure that he or she is state licensed, has considerable experience and knowledge in adoptions (particularly with Americans living abroad) and is available/qualified to assist you throughout the adoption process. Whether you work with an agency or decide to adopt independently, you should make your expectations clear. Don't be afraid to ask questions and raise concerns. Adoption is a TEAM EFFORT.
• During the adoption process, unexpected events may occur. It is important to be flexible, patient and understanding. Some of these events are within your control, and some are outside your control. We discuss these with you at the home visit and make note of this in the home study report.
• Although an internationally adopted child may be eligible for U.S. citizenship, there are several options for how this may be accomplished. Make yourself aware of these options and which ones are the best and/or possible for your child. Randy, Jane, Debbie and their Associates can advise you more on this issue.
• Consulting on immigration. We are very well versed on US immigration issues and consult with our clients at length on how to obtain US citizenship and immigrant visas. This information can save you a great deal of time, frustration and money.
Adoption Fees in General
Adoption is expensive.
The estimated total cost of an international adoption is generally $20,000-$40,000, depending upon various factors. US domestic adoptions can cost anywhere between very little to $50,000+, also dependent upon a myriad of factors. Some adoptions, especially those involving children with special needs, have lower fees to help place these children in need of special services. It takes many people, at least 50 in many adoption situations, in a coordinated effort, to complete a successful adoption. You are paying these professionals for their services to assist you through the adoption process. No agency, social worker or other adoption professional can afford to work without pay. Most adoption professionals have the best interests of children and families at heart, but must charge for services. If you think adoption fees are "buying babies" and you resent the expenses involved, we suggest you reconsider adoption. It certainly may seem unfair that it is expensive, but for now, that is the reality.
Selecting an Adoption Placement Agency
At some point after you have made the decision to adopt, you will choose the source of your adoption.
Some people choose to adopt independently or through an adoption facilitator or private attorney; however, most people decide to adopt through adoption agency whether it an international or US domestic adoption.
Choosing your adoption placement agency is one of the most critical decisions of your adoption process. This decision should be made only after careful consideration and research.
You may select an agency at any time during the pre-adoption stage. Some people select their agency at the beginning of their adoption journey, while some people do not settle on an agency until after they have completed their document collection, their home study, and most other aspects of the pre-adoption process.
Some suggestions on selecting a child placement agency include:
• Discuss agencies with other Americans living abroad who have recently adopted successfully.
• Select a country or countries in which you are interested in adopting, and then contact various agencies to inquire if they have programs in those countries. When the USA implemented the Hague Convention on International Adoption on 1 April 2008 it created several new procedures for adoption and immigration. These new procedures had a profound impact for Americans living abroad. If you are considering a Hague adoption, become familiar with all of the requirements before you make any commitment. These requirements are primarily for US citizens adopting internationally in a Hague country. You can go to the United States Department of State web site for a list of Hague countries or contact us.
• Randy, Jane, and Debbie can also provide suggestions for some agencies that work with Americans abroad for both international and US domestic adoptions.
• Determine whether you feel comfortable with the agency you are considering. The agency should be able to answer most of your questions and demonstrate competence in working with Americans living abroad. They should be prompt, communicative and responsive. They should be able and willing to provide you with contacts to other adoptive families, especially those with similar circumstances who live abroad.
• Remember that international adoption and immigration go hand-in-hand. The adoption itself may be non-problematic, but immigration is a separate process, and often the most confusing aspect of the adoption process. We, along with your placement agency, will do all we can to assist you with this; however some aspects of immigration you may need to research yourself. In some situations, other professional assistance such as that of an adoption or immigration attorney may be required.
• Fees are an important part of the decision making process when selecting your placement agency. It is important to research exactly what is included in the agency fee schedule.
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