The Adoption Journey

Most families do their research online. Some agencies, like Bethany Christian Services, offer a one page application to fill out on their website. This preliminary application will help determine from what countries you will qualify for adoption. Depending on your information, like your age for example, will help to narrow the search since countries have unique criteria concerning age. There’s no fee for this application, so there’s no pressure.

Once you’ve done your research and you’re ready to go all in, you’ll fill out a formal application. This application is really your first step into the adoption process. Typically there’s a fee for this application. For most agencies this fee is $500. This application will also be more exacting of your personal information.

A Home Study is defined as a family assessment. After you fill out more paperwork regarding your home life, a social worker visits your home to verify you’re a good fit for adoption, and will help you determine age and place of child. For example, you may discover that your family is better suited for an Asian child. Or perhaps you’re cut out for special needs. The Home Study will provide a range of child types. Other questions you can expect to find in a Home Study:

Are you financially stable?
Do you have a criminal background?
What is your view of adoption?

A Home Study is a legal requirement that insures your home is financially able to have an adopted child. It also serves to educate you on adoption in general.

Once approved and assessed in your Home Study you will receive a document from your agency saying you’re ready. Congratulations! Now you’ll be approaching U.S. immigration saying, “We want to bring a child into our family from another country.” The immigration process is basically paperwork saying you’re ready to move forward.

OK, get ready. A “dossier” is your official packet of information regarding your adoption. It’s about two inches thick. If you have a bad back, get a friend to lift it for you! This document is submitted to foreign governments. It contains all your background records and your Home Study, criminal checks, etc.

The dossier also includes “Why you will be a good fit to adopt a child from their country.” This document can take months to develop and get correct. Your paperwork needs to be legitimate, it often needs to be translated into foreign language, and it can take weeks or months to finalize. So take a deep breath. Don’t get discouraged. Everyone has to do it. Remember the final goal. Now wipe your eyes and get going.

So, now begins the placement process of your child. During this process the government goes through that big stack of paper you sent them. The placement process can take months or even years. Sometimes there can be back and forth between you (and your agency) and the foreign government. Your immigration paperwork is reviewed and approved by many people--the orphanage, immigration, government. etc.

During that time, however, some agencies provide you with resources to read and review. Families also do things on their own to further educate themselves and prepare their home for their new family member. Just remember, though it varies from family to family, this waiting period is lengthy.

This is the call you’ve prayed about and dreamed about and waited on for probably months, perhaps years. Your child referral means the foreign government agrees that you can adopt baby Sally. Call Delta! You’re officially approved to adopt Sally.

Keep in mind, in many cases the country picks the child for you. You can identify a child that you would like but you are not guaranteed that child (these are typically special needs children). And, in most cases you can’t turn the child away. Typically you don’t know who your child is until you get him or her.

This is you flying to the country to meet and pick up your child. You will go to the U.S. embassy and finalize paperwork with them and the foreign country, letting them know you will be bringing in a child with an immigrant visa.

When you arrive home in the U.S. you will file immigration papers to make the child an official citizen. The citizenship process takes a few months.

Most adoption agencies, along with the social worker who did your Home Study, will visit your house and see how you’re doing. Most foreign countries require a certain number of reports the first year, up to four. This step insures the child is good hands and is thriving, and that you and the rest of your family are adjusting well.

Some agencies will continue to offer you educational opportunities via resources such as books, magazines, and websites along your adoption journey.