Want to know more about the adoption process? We’ll be honest: Like most
important decisions, it involves a good deal of paperwork. Once your child is
in your arms, you’ll probably forget about all the forms you filled out. But
until then, here’s a step-by-step guide.
A. Application form
Use WACAP’s two-page application
form to give us basic information about yourself and the child you want to
adopt. There is a $250 application fee. After we process your application, we’ll
send you our Adoption Handbook (a detailed, full-length guide to adopting a
child) and contact you about starting a homestudy.
B. Homestudy
No matter what kind of adoption you are considering, you’ll need to complete
a homestudy. An adoption counselor from an agency licensed in your state will
visit your home to discuss your lifestyle, immediate and extended family,
finances and reasons for adopting. Homestudy guidelines vary from state to
state, but the process usually takes four to six weeks.
The agency that conducts your homestudy doesn’t have to be the same one
that helps you find a child. WACAP conducts homestudies in Washington, Oregon,
New York, Connecticut
and Alaska; in other states, we can give you the names of several licensed
agencies who will provide WACAP your homestudy, and then we will work with you
through the completion of your adoption.
C. Adoption Documents
USCIS clearance—To begin an international adoption, you’ll
need to complete forms for your local U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS) office. WACAP can send you these forms, or you can obtain
them from the USCIS.
The first USCIS form is I-600A, "Application for Advanced Processing
of an Orphan Petition." You must turn in a completed I-600A to get a
visa, so your child can legally enter the United States. We’ll give you
step-by-step instructions on filling out the I-600A, as well as the
supplementary form I-600, which will be required later in the process.
The normal processing time for an I-600A is six to 12 weeks. With your
I-600-A, you’ll also need to send the following items to your local USCIS
office:
A letter of intent
Birth certificates
Marriage and/or divorce certificates, if applicable
A copy of your homestudy
FBI fingerprint clearance for each family member 18 and older. The USCIS
will make an appointment with you to take your fingerprints.
Payment of a $670 USCIS processing fee, plus $80 for each person to be
fingerprinted
You can download forms I-600A,
I-600 and I-864 from the USCIS Web site, or call the USCIS at
1-800-870-3676 to order them.
Dossier—Several foreign countries require adoptive applicants to
submit a dossier. Your dossier is a collection of documents required by the
government in your child’s country. Requirements vary, but your dossier can
include the following items:
Birth, marriage and divorce certificates
Financial and employment statements
Your medical information
Local police clearance
Your homestudy
USCIS approval
Photographs
Copies of your passport
D. What Happens Next
After you’ve completed your paperwork and paid your fees, it’s a waiting
game. The length of time is different for each adoption and each country, and
can depend somewhat on the type of child you want (there’s usually a higher
demand for girls, so you may have to wait longer). Here’s how adoptions are
processed once your homestudy/dossier is finished:
International adoptions—WACAP sends your homestudy and dossier, if
required, to a placing agency in your chosen country. Officials there
review your dossier and match you with a child. The waiting time depends on
how long it takes to identify and complete legal processes for a child who's
a good match for your family.
African-American Infant adoptions—WACAP sends copies of your photo
album and birth parent letter to counseling agencies across the country.
These agencies work directly with birth parents, who review the information
from several families and choose one. The waiting time is a matter of
waiting for birth parents to select your family.
US Kids adoptions—WACAP sends copies of your homestudy to state
social workers, who send us photos and profiles of children who match your
preferences. The waiting time depends on how long it takes us to gather
several profiles for you to consider.
Family Finders adoptions—These are unlike any other WACAP adoption,
in that you can review profiles of many children in need of families.
The waiting time is often shorter.
