| 2. |
Complete an adoption home study with your local member agency. You will also be offered training or pre-adoption education as part of this process.
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| 3. |
Choose a country program with the help of your local adoption worker, who can provide you with itemized fee schedules and descriptions for each program.
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| 4. |
When the home study is completed and approved by your local member agency, you will be guided in preparing the “dossier” for the foreign country. This file will contain all legal documents required by the country for adoption, and may include birth, marriage, divorce certificates, police records, medical evaluations, financial statements, the home study, and other papers specific to the country you have selected.
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| 5. |
Upon completion, the dossier will be forwarded to international agency representatives or officials overseas. Once it has been translated, registered and processed according to the laws of the country, you will typically receive a referral of a specific child. Referrals may contain photographs, medical history, and social and developmental information. If you decide to accept the child referred, your agency will communicate your acceptance and the adoption process will be initiated overseasy.
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| 6. |
When the process in the birth country is nearly completed, your agency will notify you of the anticipated travel dates and then confirm travel dates when the time is right. They will coordinate travel arrangements with you, and guide you in obtaining a travel visa, if required. The agency representative in your child’s country will assist you during your trip. You may travel individually or as part of a small group depending on circumstances.
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| 7. |
While you are in your child’s country, you will complete the adoption process and also finish the immigration paperwork. You will usually conclude the trip with a visit to the US Embassy in your child’s country and obtain their visa to enter the United States.
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| 8. |
After you return home, your local social worker will meet with you for a series of “post-placement” visits and complete reports required by the country of origin. Finalization of the adoption in a court in your state may be required as well.
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| 9.
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In most cases, your child will automatically be granted US citizenship under the provisions of federal law (Child Citizenship Act of 2000). If not, your local agency will assist you in applying for citizenship.
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