Ok, i know i just typed out the MEGA response to Shel in another post, but for some reason this site doesn't seem to let me copy & paste!!   so i thought i'd type it out again, for all to see...  Maureen can we stick this to the top??  or wait, maybe i have that ability seeing as i'm a moderator for this forum!

anyways, people might be curious what is the first step in the adoption process (a homestudy) or what the homestudy entails... so here's the list & a brief description once again...

first you find a licensed social worker, some adoption agencies will provide one to you through their agency, simplifying the process a bit.  *Make sure to check references for the social worker!!!* as i myself have gotten a HORRIBLE one!!!

the SW will come to your home about 2-3 times, and each time they will ask you & your spouse some questions, some together, then some seperately...  they usually ask about your family background & why you want to adopt, etc...  they will usually walk through your home looking for things that could be updated for safety measures, such as adding safety latches here & there, or changing the battery in your smoke detector, etc...  they basically want to see that it would be a safe, clean & loving environment for a child to be adopted into.  my SW just walked through real quickly and said "looks good!"   they also want to see the room where the child would be living, and some countries require the child have their own room, while others don't (depending on age/gender, country, etc.).

So here's a list that my SW gave me, of all the documents he would be collecting from us, which ALL need to be notarized...  my bank, WAMU, does this for free!!  (notaries can go for about $10/document).  also your business might have a notary there, or sometimes you can find someone you know who has a notary stamp.

-- autobiographies (our SW gave us a long questionnaire, then he typed up into paragraphs later for the homestudy).

-- genogram (family history of diseases, etc).

-- copies of birth certificates

-- copies of passports

-- 2/3 references per person  (my references got 2 seperate forms, both of which need to be notarized by each individual).

-- State Patrol & Child Protective Service background checks

-- medical statements (are you in general good health? doctor's signature will need to be notarized, may need a "traveling notary").

-- financial statements (debts vs. assets, i.e. can you afford a child??).

-- employment verification (letter from employer/s).

-- copies of tax returns

-- copies of marriage certificates

-- copy of divorce decree (if applicable).

-- guardianship form (who will care for the child, if both parents decease?).

the homestudy is a MAJOR part of the dossier (doss-e-a), but additional documents will be required (the fun never stops! ).  you will also need to contract with your adoption agency, unless you are adopting independantly from 1 of the FEW countries that allows this, such as Ukraine or Haiti. 

the next step is filing form I-600A (capital "i").  this is a form that is submitted to USCIS- United States Citizenship & Immigration Services.  you will submit to the nearest USCIS office to you.  this application to adopt an orphan abroad, costs about *$800* for 2 people (adults in the adopting family) but is 1 of the MAJOR documents needed for the adoption...  you will then get a fingerprint appointment which will go through the FBI!!  to check your background, etc...  Also documents will need to be apostilled through your state (and state of birth/marriage if different than state of residence).  This is just another form of further certification, which can run anywhere from $6 to $20/document!! (CA is $20, the state of my birth & marriage!).  Some states have a "cap" on how much money you will spend on apostilling, such as Texas... thank goodness!!  when you get something apostilled, you will get the pretty, shiny gold seal (if getting a CA apostille anyways) on your documents .

once the I-600A is cleared, you will get a I171H form, which is the "golden ticket" which allows you to finally travel overseas to adopt your child!!  it's also another very expensive form, but 1 if not *thee* most important one to go adopt your child!!  the I171H form is another MAJOR part of your dossier...

so the dossier will include the homestudy, additional documents such as I-600A & I171H, photographs of family & home, etc...  then you wait for a referral & travel abroad to go get your child!!!!!!!!!!!!!  then of course, there is more paperwork to be done in-country, to finalize the adoption .  in Vietnam, the adoption is official after the "G & R" or giving & receiving ceremony, which apparently happens very shortly after arriving in-country, like almost immediately :)  :)  :)

this is a very *brief* overview of the adoption process...  but i hope someone finds this useful & not overwhelming!!!  lol.  it's really just "1 step at a time."  each day you can make 1 small thing your goal, and then before you know it you'll have a completed dossier!!!

besides, for those of us eagerly seeking a DD (or DS!!), it's VERY worth all the "trouble," isn't it??  : P

Thank you Alice, this is really good information to know what needs to be gathered up.  That is something I can do to keep "busy" while I wait to apply. 

well don't start collecting anything yet, because often times the documents are time-sensitive!!

but i just wanted to give a good run-down of all that's involved

 oh good to know.  Thank you. 

love your new avatar fratmom!!!

how sweet!!

Its part of my positive thinking.  DH may be stressed about the cost of adoption.  He may also being telling me to look at high tech (like that is not expensive) or TMB (I told him all about it)... But I just feel in my gut I am meant to adopt a dd.  I am doing a lot of praying that things will fall into place and I also am just putting out there a positive vibe I thought the new avatar would help me : ) so glad you like it. 

Oh and in case you can't see it there is a ladybug on the leaf next to the panda. 

fratmom i sent you a PM, or responded to that old one we have...

Thank you for typing all of that out...  It certainly helps tremendously with us *newbies* who feel sooo over whelmed with trying to get started...

Hi momof2boys,

Just reading through this (and similar to OZ). Just wondering what happens if you don't know your family history of medical diseases (genogram) etc? I am not in contact with my father or his side of the family and would so hate to have to deal with them if it is not necessary!! I am sure my mum can fill me in on most things but how detailed does it have to be? Was talking to an aquaintance whose cousin is adopting and she seemed to make a big deal out of needing all this info.

Also how long does it take in US from time fo first applying to adopt to final approval and dossier being sent to relevent country?

Just trying to get an idea.

Thanks!!!!

well i'm sure things are a bit different in Oz vs. US.  if you don't know all your family's medical history, i would think that wouldn't be a huge issue, at least not here anyways...  i mean not everyone knows every detail about their family's medical history.  and it's funny b/c they want all this info, but often times PAP's get little to ZERO medical history on the child they are adopting!!!  my genogram form was just like a checklist, and i just checked the ones that i knew our families had a history of, like kidney failure & asthma/allergies (dh's side).

as far as how long it takes, it really varies...  first is the homestudy, which takes anywhere from like a couple weeks to a couple months, if you have a bad social worker like i do!!   once you get the HS done, you can get the ball rolling for the dossier, which usually takes at least a few months.  then you send the dossier to the country of choice, and how long it takes until a referral varies *greatly* from country to country, and even agency to agency!  my agency quotes about 6 months from the time your dossier is logged in, until you get a referral.  China quotes 3-4yrs.!!!  then after you officially accept the referral, the time until travel varies greatly too, my agency says like 2-4 months after referral.  some countries require 1 trip, while others 2 and sometimes people opt to make it into 3 to have shorter stays in-country (getting work off, etc. is an issue for a lot of people.  also the cost of lodging, etc. can often be more than just making a seperate trip!).

hope that helped!  now i have a very sick & fussy toddler to attend to

What fantastic info to share!!! Thanks for providing that to everyone!  xoTJ

Wow, I was reading the posts here and it all sounds like so much work! I forgot for a minute there I went through all this.

My process was really quick. I started the process in July 02, sent the dossier in Sept 02, took our first trip in November 02and picked her up in January 03. I didn't let the agency tell me that they were waiting for "something", and they always are.  I called them everyday, as I did the SW, and immigration.  I'm sure they had a special ring tone just for me. I was either going to drive them crazy or they were going to do it to me, it was a race.

When you get your list from your SW, call every agency, tell them what you need and ask them what's the easiest way to do it.  Most of the time they'll fax you whatever you need to fill out before you get there.  Ask what times they're open for business. Some places have strange hours.  Make a schedule, and take into account your DH might have to go in person for some of the doc's they request. 

My DH couldn't miss work all that much so I dedicated a day for him and a day for everything else.  That was it, it took me two physical days. I think the real wait comes from the other side of the stick.  You have to wait for responses and things that will be sent to you. Oh, and be wise, very wise, about who you ask for a recommendation, just because they say they will doesn't mean they will. So ask away, too many is better than not enough.  

 I'll be here cheering you on. 

i'm just now starting the Russian dossier, ay yay yay!!!!!!   25+ documents!!!  but i know i will get through it, 1 by 1...  just 1 step at a time