International adoption is a wonderful way to incorporate cultural awareness and help a child who needs a family. The process varies in time and expenses, depending upon the country that you select. The process includes specific steps to follow:

1. Complete an Adoption Home Study
The Home Study agency that you choose to work with should be a place where you have confidence in their expertise and educational ideas. The study consists of three parts; meetings with a social worker, documentation, and educational classes. Going into this process with a positive outlook certainly makes it more fun and enjoyable. Ask the hard questions, be honest and open with your worker. You will hopefully learn more about the process as well as information about yourselves.

2. Hire a placing agency
Your Home Study agency may be your Placement Agency or you may choose another agency that identifies your child and helps complete your adoption in the foreign country. Choosing a placement agency may take some time. It is good to compare and talk to others who have used that agency and its specific program. Then we will work cooperatively with that agency to make sure all Home Study information is written the way the country requires.

3. Understand the rules
The process differs if you are adopting from a Hague or non-Hague country. Our staff can assist you in understanding the USCIS regulations, so it is really important that you speak with us. Providing assistance to a birth family or child that you intend to adopt can only be done in certain ways; it may even be prohibited in the country that you select. So be careful before jumping in when offered a referral. Check in with us.

4. Immigration Pre-approval
It is necessary to make an application to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). If you are adopting from a Hague Country, you will be filing an I-800A; if you are adopting from a non-Hague Country, you will be filing an I-600A. The approval process takes several months. Your Home Study is required when filing either application.
Make sure that if you are filing an I-800A, you may not complete your adoption in another country prior to receiving the USCIS approval.

5. Prepare your dossier to country
Every country has a list of documents required when making an application; this may go to a central authority, the attorney or court. The list must be provided by the placement entity, the organization working in or with the foreign country. The list is similar to your Home Study documents, including but not limited to: Home Study, medicals, employment verifications, references, and income verifications. It is likely that you will be asked to sign a post placement agreement with the specifics of when reports are due to the country. Some countries have more than others, but it is all worth it. After you are completed, you will be amazed at how much you have accomplished toward reaching your goal of becoming parents! Really!

6. Receive a child referral or assignment
The agency with whom you are working will identify a child that matches the request that you have made. When you receive this referral, it should include not only the pictures of the child, but also medical and psychosocial information. Some information may be very limited, while other countries provide more detail about the child.

Please consult with your pediatrician or a doctor who specialize in the placement of international children. They can give you reassurance about the child’s development and let you know if there are concerns. In some situations, we are able to obtain more information and answer questions that may arise after reviewing the information. Check out our resources or call us for a referral.

7. Child Acceptance
There is generally a form that the adopting parents sign after they review their child’s referral information. The Hague process allows for families to have enough time to review the information with medical professionals so that they make an informed decision before they sign their acceptance. Some acceptance forms may require notarization. Once the child acceptance is done, you are on to the final stages.

The physical placement of the child should only happen when you are sure of your placement. It is really important that you never accept a referral that you believe is not right for you, and we will advocate for you. The child’s needs should always be the priority.

8. Pre-placement and Placement Travel
Some countries may require visits to the country prior to placement. It is generally so that the family makes an informed decision after meeting their child. It is also important in some programs that the foreign country officials or social workers can assist the family with the adjustment of the child, so that prior to travel home, the family is able to meet the needs of the child. Placement may be days or weeks prior to USCIS approval, and in some countries, USCIS approval must be complete prior to any travel.

9. Complete Post Placement Supervision State law requires that you have meetings with a social worker after your child is in your home, and our agency requires at least one post placement within 60 days of U.S. entry. We take this opportunity to provide support, education and guidance in making your child’s transition and attachment as healthy as possible. At the end of the supervision, your social worker provides a recommendation to the courts to finalize the adoption. The number of visits required depends on the country from which you have adopted. It is significant to know if you have received guardianship or a final adoption. Some of the countries that provide guardianship are Korea, Pakistan, Uganda and Iran.

10. Finalize or Readopt Don’t neglect this very important step! We will walk you through how to file the right court documents, compile all of your adoption documents, and we will write a recommendation to the judge so that you can receive your final Adoption Decree and a new birth certificate that reflects you as the parent/s. Although readoption is not required in our state, it is the easiest way for families to obtain a US birth certificate.

11. Post Adoption Support for Adoptees and Adoptive Families
ADOPT believes that adoption is a life long issue, and we will support you whenever an adoption issue arises. If your child begins asking questions you aren’t sure how to answer, give us a call or sign up for our annual kid-group. We are so fortunate to work with families who understand the importance of being open with their children. The support group for kids helps them understand more about their history and appreciate learning pieces from their past. Our picnics and parties help families stay connected with one another, helping parents share with one another, and learn more about how to answer questions that may be arising.

Ways That You Can Continue to Get Support

• Chat on the phone with another family starting the process after you have your child home
• Make play dates with other families that have children the same age, or from the same country
• Come to our parties and events
• Have your older child attend one of our summer workshops
• Make suggestions, serve on our board, volunteer, become a fundraiser