Group Picture

Here I'm (in the middle) photographed with my parents and a group of school children and teachers on an outing in Wuhan, China.

These are the steps for an international adoption:

1. Home Study Investigation

This is conducted in order to make sure that the child is coming into a nice and nuturing place. This has to be done by a licensed/authorized and a Hague Accredited adoption agency in the state where that person currently resides. Another thing that will need to be selected is a Primary Provider/International Adoption Placement Agency that is able to work in the same country that the parent(s) would like to adopt from.

2. Citizenship & Immigration Services Pre-approval

Anyone that is interested in adopting a child from another country has to apply to Citizenship & Immigration services. This can be done via forms 1-600A or 1-800A and this just ensures that the person who is wanting to adopt is approved.

3. Submission of Dossier to Foreign Country

After completing and passing a home study, a dossier, a collection of documents such as birth certificates, pictures, medical reports, etc., will be sumbitted to the foreign country.

4. The Wait

The hardest part of the whole process. There are factors that do influence the time of waiting for a referral of a child. Things like where the child is from, the number of childre, the age of the child and the health all contribute to when a child can be adopted.

5. The Referral

The Placement Agency will present a child that is eligible for adoption. A picture of the child or a medical report will be sent to the family. Two weeks is the required time limit that a Placement Agency must give when the parent(s) are deciding.

6. The Decision

There are two options here. The parent(s) could decide to commit to the child that they were presented with and continue with the adoption process. Or maybe they don't feel like they are the right fit, so the Adoption Agency can present another child for consideration.

7. The Adoption

Once the decision has been made then, the next step would be to travel to the child's country to complete the adoption.

8. Immigration of the Child to the United States

Once the child has been adopted in the foreign country, then that child will be immigrated with the approval of a Citizenship and Immgration Services (Via form I-600 or I-800). Along with that, a Visa will also be issued by the U.S. Embassy.

9. Transition Home & Required Supervision

This is a period of adjustment for the the parents and the child. For some time, supervision will be required to make sure that the child is settling in a safe and healthy manner. It is also to make sure that the family is adapting well to the new addition and changes.

A friend from the orphanage

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