From Carrie Craft,
Your Guide to Adoption / Foster Care.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

You've decided on an international adoption and now it's time to begin the actual adoption process. It may seem like a lot of "hurry up and wait", but if you have a good start on things, you may feel a bit more in control of the international adoption journey. Know that you will have to complete the requirements for not only the country you have chosen, but for the United States government, your state, and the adoption agency.

Each agency and country is different so you won't be doing these things in this order with each adoption, but you will have to complete each step eventually.

First Things First

• Decide on an agency to work with. Fill out and submit the adoption application.
• Select a country that you are interested in adopting from. Some things to consider may include: travel, length of the wait to adopt, and cost involved with the particular country.
• Get your passports.
• Begin work on your dossier, or set of legal documents. Ask the agency for a list of needed paperwork for the country you have chosen. Be sure to ask for two or three copies of your marriage license, birth certificates, and other legal documents. You will also need them for your adoption home study. Don't count on being able to use the same marriage license for your dossier that you use for your adoption home study. Some countries will want original documents only. If you plan on adopting more than one child, some countries require a dossier for each child. So, plan on erring on the side of caution and get more than one copy. You never know when you might need them. You will also need copies of any divorce decrees, if applicable.
• Medical exams.
• Financial statements such as a W-2 or a 1040.
• Letters of reference. Choose people who have known you for some time and have seen you interact with children.
• Police/FBI clearances for child abuse and other violent crimes.

Immigration and Naturalization Services(USCIS) Needs

• Start on your adoption home study. For further information on preparing for your home study see What Is an Adoption Home Study?. Again, be sure to check with the agency on the needs of your selected country. Some countries want very specific information in the home study. Be sure that the person or agency you chose to complete your home study will be in compliance with these needs.
• Complete the forms needed for the USCIS. You can download the 1600A Form here or call 1-800-870-FORM. Payment will vary by office so call ahead and find out what is acceptable. For more information please see I-600A.
• Get fingerprinted.

Once a Child Has Been Referred to You

• Learn more about the adoption referral process. Be sure to fully evaluate the medical information contained in the adoption referral. Then make a decision.
• Commit to adopting the child.
• Plan the trip to pick up your child if the country requires travel.
• Plan and prepare to parent your child by reading and learning a lot about parenting internationally adopted children.
• Take the USCIS documents with you to the child's country: I-600 and Affidavit of Support.

Once You're Home

• Decide whether or not to re-adopt your child now that you are back in the United States.
• Don't forget the child's culture and heritage.
• Begin work on a lifebook.
• Prepare to write your post adoption report at the specified times as determined by your country of choice.